Saying Goodbye to my old friend

[Dave Schwartz]

A sad time in my life and I wanted share it with my friends on PA as well as the HorseStreet BBS.

Saying Goodbye to an old friend (http://www.horsestreet.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/001341.html)


Regards to all,
Dave Schwartz

[boxcar]

My heart is breaking for you, Dave. I just love animals. These critters and humans can form such a bond -- such friendships and loyalities.

I will keep you in my prayers that the good Lord above will give you the inner strength and peace to do what must be done.

Regards,
Boxcar

[Lefty]

A sad thing, Dave. I've never met Butkus but you have told me about him and you also know my love for animals. I'm coming to tears as I write this.
My heart's with you and Butkus.

[chickenhead]

Very sorry to hear about this Dave, I've been through this before and know how heartbreaking it can be. It sure is hard to let them go, but you are doing the right thing.

Take Care,
Raleigh

[Steve 'StatMan']

I'm so sorry about your dog friend Butkus, but glad you've had a wonderful time with him for so many years. I was just remembering one of ours that we had to make a similar choice, and that was 4 years ago. The better choice of tough options is never easy, and never feels very good. Love is wonderful, but it sure is painful at times.

[GaryG]

Dave, my Max is about the same size as Butkus and is fading fast. I will be facing the same decision soon. I truly know how you feel and my prayers are with you.

Gary

[Bobby]

Im so sorry.

I ran over my parents dog. My mom cried for weeks. Vet told us to go get another one quick. However, it looks like you already have another one, unless of course you want a lab!

[Wiley]

Dave,
So sorry to read about your dog Butkus, to live 13 years for a big dog like that is remarkable, you must have given him great love and care. We had a big retriever who lived about the same amount of time and it was tough on our family to let her go. Enjoy the little guy but I guess at 20 lbs. he's not too little.
Bill

[46zilzal]

But they never leave your heart. What honest beings these creatures are.

[Tom]

Very sorry, Dave. Hug the little guy.

[DJofSD]

Dave, so, so, sorry to learn about the loss of a beloved pet.

It's never easy whether its a dog or a horse, it hurts just the same.

And I can really identify with the black lab part of it. My last dog was a lab. Great, great dog for hiking, trail rides, going to the beach, messin' around in the snow and just generally great all around breed. Every time I see the see-eye or living assistance dogs (they're all labs), it reminds me of Shadow.

Take care.

[so.cal.fan]

Dave, I just read your thread.
I'm so sorry about the loss of your dear friend.
Like 46Z said, these honest beings are always in our heart.
You were a wonderful "Dad" and gave Butkus a happy 13 year life.
We humans are put on the planet to evolve and learn.....it usually takes us at least 70 years in this dimension to evolve to the level of these wonderful dogs, they "get it" Dave, they are LOVE. Remember what doG is spelled backwards.
RIP sweet Butkus.

[twindouble]

A sad time in my life and I wanted share it with my friends on PA as well as the HorseStreet BBS.

Saying Goodbye to an old friend (http://www.horsestreet.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/001341.html)


Regards to all,
Dave Schwartz

Dave, I feel your pain, I was very reluctant to hit the link. It's been over a year now and I even feel guilty thinking about getting another. My golden had my heart, we were so connected it was just sign and body language. She knew my feelings sometimes better than I. Wouldn't you know, your little one was a golden as well. I'm lost for words, except to say I'm sorry you have to go through it.

T.D.

[Secretariat]

Whew...just went through this with an animal I had for 18 years. It is still painful. Just be thankful you had Butkus in your life. It's the only way to get through it.

As to Rodney, he's really gonna miss the Butkus, and wonder where he's gone, but he'll be a comfort that the house still has animals around.

Very sorry to hear Dave, and my sympathy goes out to you and your family.

[Dave Schwartz]

Isn't it amazing what friends we can have without ever meeting face-to-face?

(Except Tom, of course. He and I slobbered chowder together.)


Thanks for all the kind thoughts.

Butkus has been quite a character in his life. His mom was a rottweiler-lab and dad was a st. bernard-great dane. That is how he wound up at 218 pounds.

Smartest dog I ever had. Not only did he have a vocabulary of about 50 words (we counted them one day), but he did this "I love you" thing that was about as clear to understand as one might say after they'd had a few too many. (Yes, alas, Butkus slurred his words <G> but did not have drinking problem after he left the water bowl.)

How smart was he? Ever know a dog that understood what "Over there" meant and would actually follow where you pointed? He did that.

I remember a time when these two guys who were delivering a bed just walked right into the house; no door knock, nothing.

Butkus knew they did not belong. (In order to be allowed into Butkus' house, I had to tell Butkus that it was okay. And if I touched them while I said it, then they didn't even need to be watched.)

Anyway, I am upstairs and I hear this tremendous snarling and growling. (In his youth, he had the classic rott-growl: making the growl noise when he inhaled as well as exhaled. It was quite terrifying.) So I come down stairs just in time to see one of the guys slip out the front door and the other one backpeddaling slowly.

After I rescue the guy and let him out, I smell something funny. My first thought was that the guy crapped his pants. Nope. Butkus dropped a perfectly round turd about the size of a quarter on the floor behind him. (I think I would like this story more if it was the guy that did the dropping.)


We lived on a cul-de-sac for several years with a major street behind us. Butkus' job was to watch the back wall for the "bouncing heads" of people who would jog, walk or bicycle past. When an intruder came within his range, he would run along the wall barking with great vigor, escorting them to the opposite end. More than once people chose not to walk past, even though the wall was almost 6' on our side. (It was a foot shorter on the other side.)


One time three teenage skate boarders were looking for a backyard to cut through. The kids were playing on the cul-de-sac and tried to tell them that each yard had dogs and they did not want to do this. When they chose our yard, one of the kids said, "You REALLY don't won't to pick that one," but they didn't listen.

So, we are in the family room, watching TV, and Butkus is laying on the patio just outside the house doing the sphinx pose (if you have ever owned a watchful dog, you know what that is) being master of all he surveys, and waiting for his next prey to walk along the wall. The kids have stationed themselves at the gate; they don't want to miss the forthcoming action.

"What's this? Someone actually inside MY yard? And another? And still another? Wonder if I am allowed to eat them?"

By this time the third guy is within 30' of the fence and here comes Butkus! (What a closer!) The first two guys make it over the fence but the third one falls over into the yard next to us, actually crying he was so scared.

When we went out to look over the fence the kid had recovered but had actually wet himself. I swear, Butkus was smiling.


Told Schmidt that story and he sent us a sign with a picture of two dobies to post on the gate: "We can make it to the fence in 3 seconds. Can you?" Perfect.

And all this from a dog that never bit anyone in his whole life.


Cats? I'll just say this: Butkus was sure that they were good eating, if he could just catch one. Unfortunately, the one he caught (we had 2 at the time) was a calico who always ran our block. She straightened him right out.

He was just 4 or 5 months old, asleep on the floor. The cat was asleep on the dresser above him. I watched this, as I was reading in the same room. When she woke, she jumped down to the floor and walked past him. Suddenly, she stops, looks at the sleeping dog, and punches him in the mouth.

No claws, no hiss. Just a pure ambush.

Butkus awakes with a start. The look on Jezibel's face is, "You want some of this?" Butkus just looked bewildered, like, "What did I do?" He steered clear of her his entire life.



Found memories. Felt good to write them down.

Thanks for listening.


Dave

[xfile]

Well dude I don't really know you but I can feel ya. My dogs are like sons to me. They don't call them 'man's best friend' for nothing. My best wishes to you during this tough time.

[rokitman]

Watch out for Rodney absorbing some of Butkus' personality after he is gone. I know that sounds like feel-good hocus pocus but keep in mind that we are floating on a big rock in space right now in a universe with no apparent end and all of us have grown from something akin a poppy seed. So, what could possibly not be possible?

Everybody I have said this to has seen it happen. Could just be wishful thinking. Could just be. The latter, for me.

[PaceAdvantage]

Wow Dave, that is tough....about all you can do is reflect on all the great memories you'll have when he passes on....thank you for sharing this with all of us.

[GaryG]

Watch out for Rodney absorbing some of Butkus' personality after he is gone. I know that sounds like feel-good hocus pocus but keep in mind that we are floating on a big rock in space right now in a universe with no apparent end and all of us have grown from something akin a poppy seed. So, what could possibly not be possible?

Everybody I have said this to has seen it happen. Could just be wishful thinking. Could just be. The latter, for me.Yes! I think some animals just have a dominant personality. I have seen it with cats as well. R.I.P Butkus.

[rokitman]

Yes, it does apply to cats too!

[toetoe]

Dave, it's all about quality of life, isn't it? If only the little guy could stay little! We're setting ourselves up for heartbreak every time we get a dog, and thank God we do. Happy dog days. :)

[so.cal.fan]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful stories, Dave.
I believe you about Butkus talking! It's true, everyone......I swear to you all that I have a 7 year old Rat Terrier, Girly.....she says "I love you" clear as a bell to our son and our close friend, Sherry.
She is very co-dependent, a whirlwind of destruction when left alone, very naughty little girl....but we love her more than life.
She is our life!

[Bobby]

My grandma got a cocker-lab mix thats 22 years old. No joke. She's got cancer, had to have teeth removed, and so forth. Vet says she's got another year

[kenwoodallpromos]

My sympathies, Dave.

[keilan]

My thoughts are with you and your family; this is always a tough one.

I know how much you loved Butkus as his name almost always came up in conversation. You were lucky to have each other.

[GeTydOn]

So sorry to hear this. Thoughts & Sympathy to you & your family.

[Dave Schwartz]

My old friend is gone now.

It was hard but we'll manage.

Thanks for everyone's support, kind words and emails.

Dave

[CryingForTheHorses]

My old friend is gone now.

It was hard but we'll manage.

Thanks for everyone's support, kind words and emails.

Dave


Imso sorry for you Dave, I do know how you feel,I had a Dalmation and a Jack Russel, They were 2 years apart,The Dalmation lived untill she was 13,She used to play chasing lizards at the back of Gulfstream,past the parking lot where the Helicopters land,I had my vet put her down in the field as she tryed to play with my other dog,I buried her under the huge palm that she would always rest under, 2 years later I had to do the same with my beloved Houston.Its a sad day

[Tee]

Dave,

My condolences on the loss of Butkus.

I give my big fella huge luv every day just knowing that someday he will be gone as well.

Enjoy the hell out of that Golden Retriever pup!!

[JohnNUtah]

As a fellow dog lover, I am almost in tears to think of your loss. I had a family of fine friends: Pink (da mom), Peppy (da pop) and finally Peppy Jr (PJ). When I finally lost PJ a few years ago, I went into severe depression. I have yet to be able to own another dog, hopefully someday.

I can honestly say PJ was the finest being to grace my life, with his dad a close 2nd.