Ttfjlc Posted December 20, 2022 Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 I am currently sitting in front of the laptop trying to write this as best as I can as some sort of tribute to my old lab Ronnie who we had put down yesterday. The tears flowed Sunday when I knew the day was coming, then when the appointment drew closer I was questioning if I was doing the right thing, he was still eating fine but the incontinence was getting worse, getting up was becoming more of a challenge and the random falling over was getting too frequent, he was 14 years old in august, I have read countless times, "you know when its the right time" well to be honest I really didn't, because he was able to eat I thought about waiting longer but the weight loss on his rear legs was becoming more apparent, fast forward to yesterday when SWMBO and I travelled to the vets, I somehow managed to walk in and asked if they could carry out the procedure while Ronnie laid in the boot, the staff were outstanding and as I fussed him for the last time as he slowly passed the tears flowed as much as the tides in the creeks he swam in many times over the years. I will always feel guilty that I didn't do him justice, certain content isn't allowed on this forum so lets just say I honestly believed his KC reg name could of involved somewhere very hot and not too pleasant, he was so 'hot to handle' in the right hands he could of excelled but unfortunately for him he got me, we sometimes had a love/hate partnership, one example of this was dogging in some woodland, I was walking down a ride, he looked at me, I waved him to go left, he went right cue the hate, seconds later he flushed half a dozen pheasants back to where we needed them cue the love, that was Ronnie, able to upstage me without trying. In his prime his nose was outstanding, from finding shot woodcock which had seemingly disappeared in deep snow to finding wildfowl on the marshes which had carried on before perishing from an organ shot. I have gone over this a few times, still don't know if I've said enough or too much, no tears today just feeling numb at times although writing this and remembering the good times does help. Ronnie you were certainly a character and will be sorely missed, if there is a great marsh in the sky I have no doubt you won't be waiting for me you'll be off doing your own thing A few pictures of Ronnie from previous seasons This one I love, Ronnie's last season from November '21 during near 30mph winds, only one place we both wanted to be, aged 13. Final picture of the ol' boy from Sunday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billytheghillie Posted December 20, 2022 Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 Feel for you mate, but remember all the good times you had with him, chin up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted December 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 @billytheghilliethanks mate, writing this has helped as I was thinking of which good times to mention 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harrycatcat1 Posted December 20, 2022 Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 It's always very sad when we have to say goodbye to a good friend who was always happy to see you and never answered back. Try and remember the good times 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted December 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 thanks @harrycatcat1 its the dog walks I'm finding a little surreal, none of them run off like Ronnie did so walks are a bit more peaceful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted December 20, 2022 Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 all my dogs have been let go with their head in my lap in the back of their landrover...............my god it is never easy...and ends up with a totally shattered heart i feel for you my friend.......but the good times past will make you smile and chuckle when you are on your own.....your friend thanks you for doing the right thing at the right time......forfilling your final responserbility... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted December 20, 2022 Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 What a wonderful companion you were blessed with for 14 years,,,, thanks for sharing your story 🙂 Aren't dogs just great ?! ATVB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted December 20, 2022 Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 As I have said many many times...It does not get any easier no matter how many dogs you have.... My thoughts are with you. I have been through it too many times. By far the best for you is to get a new pal ASAP. He looked a cracker, lovely eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted December 20, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 @ditchman @JKD @Walker570thank you for your comments they are much appreciated and help a lot, he was indeed a nice looking dog in his prime, I did have a brief look to see if I could trace his relatives to consider getting another in the near future but I do have another dog who is in his first season on the shore 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WalkedUp Posted December 20, 2022 Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 Sad news, he had a great life no doubt. Loved and lived the life he was born to live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morkin Posted December 20, 2022 Report Share Posted December 20, 2022 My thoughts are with you, like said it's very hard but you will think of the good times you had when you where out together and he did something which just sticks with you. Many things I suppose 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted December 21, 2022 Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 They give you their heart while they're here. They each take a piece of your heart when they go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob85 Posted December 21, 2022 Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 Really feel for you, its never an easy thing to have to do but we have to do the right thing when the time comes. At least he had the best life a dog could have and not going to lie that picture of him in the wind gave me a real chuckle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted December 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 Thanks again all, today has been better, coming to terms with it all but its amazing how things become the norm over the years, there was still a plate of leftovers on the side this morning which would of always had Ronnie's name on it, he seemed to have an extra yard of pace when he saw a plate of food compared to his normal dry food Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry78 Posted December 21, 2022 Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 Feel for you mate your shooting best friend may be gone but you still have Brilliant memories actually brought a tear to my eye reading your post My big lab is 8 it’s special the bond we create with field dogs Lovely photos the big dog looked as if he lived a fantastic life under your care That moon light photo magical 🙏 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted December 21, 2022 Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 I feel your pain, when my Jake had to go in June he seemed so well, and i question if i got it right all the time, but deep down i know it was time i just wanted him to be by my side forever. Time slowly eases the pain, and remembering all the times out in the field where he was totally immersed in doing what he did best, and the little tail going like the clappers as he walked toward me with another Pheasant in his mouth that i really thought was lost forever. They forever etch themselves on our hearts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted December 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 50 minutes ago, Gerry78 said: Feel for you mate your shooting best friend may be gone but you still have Brilliant memories actually brought a tear to my eye reading your post My big lab is 8 it’s special the bond we create with field dogs Lovely photos the big dog looked as if he lived a fantastic life under your care That moon light photo magical 🙏 Thanks mate I love being under the moon, don't always do very well but one night I shot 3 pinks, you always hope you're sending the dog in the right general direction but Ronnie made it look easy and he was soon back to me after his 3rd trip with 3 geese in the bag, he earn't his cheeseburger that night 37 minutes ago, welsh1 said: I feel your pain, when my Jake had to go in June he seemed so well, and i question if i got it right all the time, but deep down i know it was time i just wanted him to be by my side forever. Time slowly eases the pain, and remembering all the times out in the field where he was totally immersed in doing what he did best, and the little tail going like the clappers as he walked toward me with another Pheasant in his mouth that i really thought was lost forever. They forever etch themselves on our hearts. I know what you're talking about, because Ronnie had been by my side for 14 years I hadn't thought about life beyond, I think good genes and a good bit of luck combined helped him work till the age of 13, granted at a much reduced workload and me not normally near the geese , however it was just 'the norm' to let him out for the toilet before loading up the car, in the boot on the way there then always in the passenger footwell with the heater on for the journey home, more than one occasion at mcdonald's the staff would comment on how nice he looked whilst we sat in the drive through Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted December 23, 2022 Report Share Posted December 23, 2022 Really sorry to hear of your sad loss and I know exactly how you feel , I have gone through losing a ( family member ) six times now and if anything each new one is harder to get over than the last one . We take it for granted when your dog do a run of the mill retrieve and don't often give them all the praise they deserve , they must be like us in a way where they don't always feel like sitting in cold water and working a muddy area out to find a wounded bird , but they do it for you and they don't at any cost like letting you down , weather it is a what we would call a easy retrieve or a hard one I always praise him up to the hilt as he hand it over and I swear blind he know exactly what we are thinking , you develop a relationship that is very hard to describe and how I wish at times they could just tell us how they feel. I moan and groan at times when my dog sniff where other dogs have been but never lay a hand on him , same when we are sitting near a splash of water down the marsh and all you can hear is his bloodx tail swishing from side to side while sitting in the water , but to be honest if I tell him no then he do it even more so I just let him get on with it . Mine is only coming up to 8 and already showing signs of stiff joints after a days work , he is on Youmove and hopefully he will keep active for another couple of years or so , then I will be in a situation I have never been in before by seriously thinking weather I will be able to cope with a puppy when not far short of being 80 , take one on that is ready or nearly ready for work , or face facts and call dog ownership a day , the day haven't arrived yet and I don't look to far in the future , so it will be a case of wait and see. They say time is a great healer and I hope in time you will come to terms of losing Ronnie , you had given your dog a life that a lot of dogs could only dream of and now ole Ronnie is having a long rest that he richly deserve . R I P Ronnie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ttfjlc Posted December 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2022 geez @marsh man I knew I should of asked you to write something for me, that was lovely as usual! You'd better get another dog when the time comes as this forum would be a poorer place without your wild fowling forays, hope you're having a good season and merry Christmas 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.