G. Festerling Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 I am so sorry. What a terrible way to loose your girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chesney's Girl Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Sorry I'm getting to this late. Anna, I'm sorry to hear about Lucky. She was such a cool dog! I bet she's getting to work her cows all day now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaos Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 I'm so sorry for your loss. damn foxtails, there has to be a better way to detect them. Sara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 I'm so sorry Anna--just got a chance to get on the computer and saw this awful news. I'm thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers. Lucky is in a better place now, waiting for you. It sounds like she was well loved and had a wonderful life with you. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdogranch Posted June 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Thanks, everyone. I wish I could say she was "my dog," and that I had given her a wonderful life. I gave her what I could. She was raised and trained by Loren Holmes. He trialled her, and did really well with her for many years. He bred her to a Stetson dog named Russell a number of times, and that cross produced his wonderful Puzzel dog, and my Riddle, among many others. She produced a great number of really stellar cowdogs. When he retired her, probably about 3 years ago, he felt bad that she wasn't working anymore, as he had so many younger dogs to do the work, and she was just hanging out in her kennel, so, through me, he let her go to a ranch down near me. These folks are associated with the Orange County Rescue Mission, and it's a ranch where folks in recovery can go to get their lives back together. They have a horse program at the ranch, and lots of at-risk youth have a chance to come out for a day or two to learn a bit about horses and such. The residents also have a goat project--raising and selling Boer goats. They needed a dog to do their work, and so Lucky went there to be their dog, and I helped them to learn to work with her to get their jobs done. She was very happy there, as she had real work to do every day. Those goats can be tough, but she was always tougher. Last summer, she started showing her age a bit and slowing down, but in the meantime, I had gotten them two younger dogs and they were working to get them up to speed on the goats. So when they told me last summer that she might be nearing her second retirement, I suggested that when that time came, rather than just have her hanging out there in the kennel, that she could come live out the rest of her days sleeping on my couch watching lots of TCM. She came here to live with me 2 days before Christmas. So she wasn't here long, but she certainly adapted to life on the couch (and raw food) quickly. She was indeed a grand old lady, and I have always had the utmost respect for her. I wish she could have had more time living the soft life (and going out to do the occasional really tough job, as she still loved to work, of course), as she had worked hard all her life. That'll do, Lucky, A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue R Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 Thanks, everyone. I wish I could say she was "my dog," and that I had given her a wonderful life. I gave her what I could...I wish she could have had more time living the soft life (and going out to do the occasional really tough job, as she still loved to work, of course), as she had worked hard all her life. That'll do, Lucky, A Anna - You know that while she enjoyed the soft life, she lived for the work. I think you did wonderfully for her, and for all those young folks who needed her fine example in helping them to turn their lives around. No apologies, you hear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Bo Boop Posted June 20, 2009 Report Share Posted June 20, 2009 So very very sorry for your loss, she was a beautiful gal, and sounds like you gave her a wonderful retirement (crying here now ;-( ) It's very scary to think how insidious those foxtails can be, and you have no idea they're in there cooking up a nasty infection, until its too late. RIP lucky gal. Betty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody & Duchess Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 So, so sorry about Lucky, our hearts break for you and your family (including the four legged ones). Take care..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C Crocker Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Thanks, everyone. I wish I could say she was "my dog," and that I had given her a wonderful life. I gave her what I could. She was raised and trained by Loren Holmes. He trialled her, and did really well with her for many years. He bred her to a Stetson dog named Russell a number of times, and that cross produced his wonderful Puzzel dog, and my Riddle, among many others. She produced a great number of really stellar cowdogs. When he retired her, probably about 3 years ago, he felt bad that she wasn't working anymore, as he had so many younger dogs to do the work, and she was just hanging out in her kennel, so, through me, he let her go to a ranch down near me. These folks are associated with the Orange County Rescue Mission, and it's a ranch where folks in recovery can go to get their lives back together. They have a horse program at the ranch, and lots of at-risk youth have a chance to come out for a day or two to learn a bit about horses and such. The residents also have a goat project--raising and selling Boer goats. They needed a dog to do their work, and so Lucky went there to be their dog, and I helped them to learn to work with her to get their jobs done. She was very happy there, as she had real work to do every day. Those goats can be tough, but she was always tougher. Last summer, she started showing her age a bit and slowing down, but in the meantime, I had gotten them two younger dogs and they were working to get them up to speed on the goats. So when they told me last summer that she might be nearing her second retirement, I suggested that when that time came, rather than just have her hanging out there in the kennel, that she could come live out the rest of her days sleeping on my couch watching lots of TCM. She came here to live with me 2 days before Christmas. So she wasn't here long, but she certainly adapted to life on the couch (and raw food) quickly. She was indeed a grand old lady, and I have always had the utmost respect for her. I wish she could have had more time living the soft life (and going out to do the occasional really tough job, as she still loved to work, of course), as she had worked hard all her life. That'll do, Lucky, A Anna, That was a class act to take Lucky in her last period of life. She was your dog as much as anyone else's I suspect and the hurt is just as bad as it would be if she had lived with you all her years. Carolyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soda-pop Posted June 21, 2009 Report Share Posted June 21, 2009 Anna, I'm so sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carson Crazies Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 I'm so very sorry Anna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokjbc Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 Hi Anna, I thought it might be "that" Lucky, I have a very distinct memory of her at one of our Nevada trials hanging off a cow nose and doing a very dramatic swing because she wouldn't let go . Very nice cow dog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizmo Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 I'm so sorry, Anna. What a good dog. Rest in pease, Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaryP Posted June 23, 2009 Report Share Posted June 23, 2009 I'm very sorry for your sudden and unexpected loss. I was really hoping for good news here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ripley Posted June 24, 2009 Report Share Posted June 24, 2009 I used to live in California, so I know how nasty those foxtails can be, but this is by far the worst story I've heard. I'm so sorry for your loss. Lucky sounds like a very special girl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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