Heat wave and Outdoor Animals

[swamp rat]

Sad news to report this evening. Earlier today I found one of my wolfdogs lying lifeless in her dogloo due to excessive heat. This inspite of various preventative measures such as 80% mesh sunscreen, 40+ gallon water tanks, and even a homemade evaportive air conditioning system using pvc tubing, sprinkler heads, and an automated timer. I BEG all of you with outdoor pets and animals to do what you can to prevent this from happening to your four legged loved ones. As I have learned even the above measures cannot guarantee a loss will not occur.



#ad






We miss you Little Feather, yet we know you, Smokey, and all of the others are romping, playing, and enjoying eternal health and happiness while you await our arrival to the other side of the bridge.





For My Son Smokey







Smokey, look for me on the other side of the bridge my son



I promise, I will be there to play when my work is done.



Until the very next time I lay mine eyes upon you



I want you to give my love to Dakota and good Ole Blue!







And by some chance you should happen to hear or see,



Snow Walker, Sioux, Dakota II, Cheyenne, Annie, or Oakley



Tell them in my heart that I shall always hold them dear,



And as each of the crew arrives, they need show no fear.







As the time approaches, for your children finally to pass,



Show them each and everyone, how it is to have your class.



Teach them the challenging for Alpha-Beta here on the ridge,



For there is no need of it after they have crossed the bridge.







Remember all these things Smokey, everything that I say,



Make them learn from you and your great sense of fair play.



Teach each one, the things you have taught me my son,



And many games we will play, when my earthly work is done! .











Love from your Dad, friend, soul mate and earthly caretaker.

 

[Ramboy]

Sorry about your loss. It doesn't ease the pain any but you can take some comfort in the knowledge that you had done about all you could do.

Phil

 

[Batman]

Swamp rat

I'm real sorry to hear about your loss It's funny how pets eally are a part of our lives and families. Nice poem you wrote also.

George

 

[Doc Tinker]

I'm really sorry, swamp rat



Doc

 

[Doc Tinker]

swamp rat



Ever try putting milk jugs filled water and frozen in with the dogs? My niece's rabbits have those for hot weather.



Doc

 

[Skydiver]

Swamp Rat

I am very sorry to hear about your loss. Let me know if we can do anything to help.

I hope to see you Wednesday. Take care Bud.

Tim

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I just lost my 12 yeard old Rottwieler in April, he was my best friend and i still miss him dearly. A dog is like a family member, not a "pet" as some people think. I buried him at a pet Cemetary near me and just had his headstone put in. I went to see it sunday but it was too much for me, i had to leave. I am trully sorry for your loss, i cared more for my dog then i did for alot of people i know.

 

[Bigsaint]

Real sorry to hear of your loss. I know the feeling, my first dog, Dodger, I had from 1971 to 1988, yep, he was 17 years old and grew with me from a boy to a man. We had to put him down as he was completely blind and had no control over his bowels. He also had hip displacia(sp). I had him cremated and have his ashes in a tin on a bookshelf.



My second dog, Ruger, only made it to 12 YOA and then got cancer, which came on real quick. I will always remember her last night at home, which I spent with her lying on the floor as she breathed her last breaths. She was a great and loyal dog, my wife, 1st daughter and I cried many nights over her loss and I had to take 3 days off from work before I was even able to function again.



After Ruger passed, I made it a whoping 2 weeks before I found my first Saint, Barkley. About 1 year later we found Baxter. Both are truely incredible dogs and real gentle giants, we all love them as they are part of our family. Sadly, the giant breeds have a short life expectancy, maybe 8-10 years, then I'll be mourning them.



Scott W.

 

[swamp rat]

Thank for those kind words everyone. Lil' Feather was not the first one we have lost nor will she be the last. When you have as many as we have, one cannot help but go through this numerous times, and it never gets any easier.



Tim, my apologies if you tried to contact me today or Y-day. I've been out of pocket making arrangements to have the our Little Girl cremated so she can join Smokey over here:





#ad




The above is a pic of my tobacco farm near Dover, TN from the exact spot where we let Smokey go home to roam the hills forever. As time goes on and we lose more of the crew, all of them will be cremated and their ashes strewn about on the farm. It is the right thing to do allowing them to go back to the wild from whence they came. When my wife and I pass on,we intend to be cremated and have our ashes strewn in this exact location.



Everything you see in the above pic belongs to me, and will eventually be turned into a Lupine Sanctuary for unwanted wolves and wolf crosses.