Had to say good bye to a friend

Well yesterday I had to say good bye to a really great friend, my dog Ricky. He was one of the first conservation detection dogs and started working in '97. He had worked in almost dozen countries and helped advance scientific research a great deal. For the last 2 years he has been living the easy retired life at my home here in Oregon. On most days he was content to lay on the couch out on the front porch with his cat. In the last couple months he was the designated babysitter to the two pups (a kelpie and a border collie).

Wednesday night I could here him screaming from the other room and I ran in to see him struggling to stand his right rear leg being held up. The slightest touch to his hip area would again cause him to scream and whimper something was seriously wrong. We sat up with him all night in hopes that he may have just hurt it when out with the pups and it would get better with some rest. Sadly it did not and he was worse by the following morning. The local vet came out to our home and administered the shot. It has been a sad couple of days here but we are just trying to think about all the good that he did.

Rick in the field with some researcher

Thats a shame, a good dog is a great friend. At least you can say he lived a full life and he did a lot of good while he was here.

My folks still have my childhood dog - a smallish mutt named Suzie. Shes as sweet as they come, but shes really going downhill. Weve all "had the talk" with my parents. But despite having some type of chronic breathing issue, and hip displaysia, shes still a tail wagger when someone comes home, and is happy to see anyone who she thinks might tickle her behind the ears. Im not sure what will happen when she goes. Im sure it will be emotional, but when they get along in years, I have to find comfort in the fact that they are in pain, and we are doing the most humane thing for them.

Sorry for your loss. Heres to your buddy! Godspeed!

Very sorry for your loss. Stories like this make me go hug my dog.

Basically the same thing happened with my dog Sadie. 15YO, broke her hip rasslin with another dog. Extreme pain, no fix the vet said, so put her down. I don't think I ever cried so hard. Two years on, I still miss her. Yeah, they get deep into your heart.

What an awesome dog. Cheers to a life well lived.

So sorry for your loss - Ricky sounds like an awesome dog!

Sorry to hear of your loss. The pups here at our house will get an extra hug and a cookie tonight.

He has a great look in his eyes in that first pic. Reminds me of our newest guy here at the house Quinn. He's 2 now, was rescued from the shelter last year (black dogs are hard to adopt, first for PTS) and is awesome! He's not doing real work, but he paints and does other tricks! In fact, he just sold his first work last night -- and one of the local rescue groups is now $50 richer for his efforts.

And in case you're wondering -- he paints in a Jackson Pollack kind of style in mixed media -- he paints with his paw or with a brush held in the mouth.

Again, very sorry to hear that you lost your furkid......those first days are rough, attending to your two other pups will help with the heal.....

That dog has done more than a lot of people I know. He live a good life and was loved. I can think of no finer tribute.

I am sorry to hear about your loss. But a big cheer to Ricky for a life well lived.

I can't add much, but please know I echo the sentiments above.

Rufus has been gone a few years now, I still miss him. I loved the way he laid down, just kinda fell over. He guarded the garage by smell inspecting everyone that came across the threshold, didn't flinch when hit with weld spatters, never left the property and could hear the peal of little kids a few blocks off. Loved kids.

Sorry for your loss, but you made Ricky Ricky and he helped you be you.

Thanks for the kind words guy. He really was a great dog and a good buddy, he would always meet me at the gate with a big goofy grin and those flopped over ears.

He really did live more of a life than most people I know. Heck I don't know if I will even manage to travel as much as he did.

This whole event really broke Tiff up. She really got to love Ricky over the last couple of years and has been in tears most of the last couple days when it started looking like he would have to be put down. I also always felt better when I was away from home knowing Rick was there to take care of her.

That picture of Rufus reminded me of this pic I had of Ricky guarding a pile of parts for my Olds.