We lost Lori yesterday.

[Adam Helmer]

Lori was a 55 pound Yellow Lab/German Shepard cross. We got her in August 2005 when she was 3 months old at the SPCA shelter. Yesterday at 1:40 p.m. she got the needle at the vet's office. She had been slowing down for the last year and finally could not get up without my help and she hobbled on three legs as her right hind leg was only dragged. Yesterday the other hind leg gave out; she dragged both hind legs to get to her feed dish. So, I made the call to the vet.

My nearby vet is a dog lover and a good man. Once before he came out of his office and gave the needle to my Golden in the rear seat of my club cab truck. The same happened yesterday for Lori. I was holding Webley and Lori at their end. I believe I am guilty of waiting too long to do what was necessary. It was a hard decision, but Lori had no quality of life and I did what was needed. That in no way ends the pain of the loss of my best buddy and range officer. Lori rests now in the big hayfield here on the farm next to Webley. One day I will also rest there. I prefer to rest among my best friends.

Adam

[Jack]

I am sorry for your loss, Adam. It is never easy to lose a family member.

[Adam Helmer]

Jack,

Thank You for the reply. No, it never is easy.

Adam

[FIJI]

"Between Two Breaths" By Lu Hart

They slip into my hands
Sputtering, gasping at the shock of air, muzzles questing blindly.
Scent and touch are their world:
Mother's scent, human scent, milk scent.
Warm mother's flanks, warm human hands, warm bedding.
Plump and sleek and golden
They breathe my scent and I breathe theirs;
Lovers from the first breath.

They slip out of my hands.
Muzzles grey now with age, nostrils widening softly at my familiar scent.
Their eyelids close gently while I stroke their flanks.
My hands are cold this time-- or is it just that my heart is chilled?
Their scent segues to death, and mine to weeping.

And between the first breath
and the last breath
There is never enough time.

[Adam Helmer]

FIJI,

MANY Thanks for that wonderful poem. My latest best buddy is gone. Just yesterday, a friend advised his Blue Healer female will welp on July 11 and I have first dibs on a female pup.

After 12 years with Lori, I do daily miss my buddy. I soldier on because her replacement will be here by Labor Day. The way I figure, we will BOTH depart this farm together and Rest beside Webley and Lori.

Adam

[FIJI]

Ive been a professional dog trainer for over 40 years

trained several hundreds personally (including 200+ dog guides) and bred over 4,000 puppies for the Dog Guide school I worked at (no thats not a typo)

I'm personally addicted to Golden Retrievers and have two sleeping on my feet as I type this

Dogs>>>>People