Goodbye Wonder Dog

[mountainvisions]

<p><a title="In The Mountains of NH, Men are made. by Mountain Visions, on Flickr" href=" title="In The Mountains of NH, Men are made. by Mountain Visions, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/379803157_eafd7affcb_o.jpg" alt="In The Mountains of NH, Men are made." width="700" height="468" /> </a><br>

<em>Pentax Program Plus, 28mm f/2.8 @ f/8.</em></p>

<p><em>-<br /> </em></p>

<p><a href="http://mountainvisions.blogspot.com/2009/07/hike-and-swim-at-kayaderosseras_27.html">Sunday Caney hiked a mile, swam/waded in the Kayaderossas where he herded bugs and enjoyed a beautiful creek one last time. He showed us a glimpse of puppy Caney that we first saw in 1999, and why he is Wonder Dog. </a></p>

<p>Monday he stopped eating his food, which was a perfectly cooked rare steak. Then he stopped eating the Goober-licious PB treats (the dog equivalent of a deep fried Twinkie) that he picked out a few weeks ago at PetSmart. I noticed Monday the edge of the couch cover was out of place, Aim asked me what happened, and I said I think he tried to get on the couch but couldn't.</p>

<p>I noted to myself a few weeks ago, as long as he was getting on the couch, and eating his Goober-licious he was not ready to go no matter what else was the case.</p>

<p>Yesterday, after a few days of Caney softly telling me it was time, and Aim and I hoping it was just a few bad days after Wonder Dog appeared at the Kayaderosseras, he began whimpering and groaning, sounds I'd never heard from him before. I promised him I wouldn't let him suffer when this all began. Aim came home from work early, we called the vet and they came to our house.</p>

<p><a href="http://mountainvisions.blogspot.com/2009/07/goodbye-caney-dog-serpico.html">At 5:25pm on July 31st, fittingly on a sleeping bag, he left us as peacefully as we found him. </a></p>

<p> </p>

[andrewg_ny]

<p>Justin, deepest condolences. I know (as many of us here do) that he was a deeply beloved family member and his love and companionship will never be forgotten. I heard that there's a bountiful grove of Goober-licious trees just a short swim across a pond that Caney will no doubt find shortly if he's even half as smart as you've told us he is.</p>

[mcmanamey]

<p>justin - <br>

so very sorry to hear Caney had to give up, your blog is making me tear up.<br>

Happy to know he had a great last hike - he was obviously a great dog, and I'll miss seeing new exploits of his.</p>

[paul_noble]

<p>Justin,</p>

<p>I know that, right now, there are probably no words to describe your feelings. We lost Rusty, our Cocker Spaniel that we had from puppyhood, three years ago. We still look at pictures of him and the pain returns. Dogs become part of our families and losing one is no different than losing a human loved one.</p>

<p>The pain will never really go away, but it will recede into the background of your life. The memories of Caney will last for the rest of your life. Even if you get another dog, as we did, that dog can never really replace the one you lost.</p>

<p>When I think of Rusty, I try not to think of the last painful months of his life, but rather the fun times we had, the mischief he got into and just what a wonderful companion he was. You had a few months of pain, seeing him go, but you had ten years of joy. Remember the joy.</p>

<p>Paul Noble</p>

[eric merrill]

<p>Caney sounds like he hit the canine jackpot in landing a home with you. There's not much tougher than being forced to be humane at a time like that. He's lucky that you were his human.</p>

<p>Eric</p>

[Matt Laur]

<p>The only heartache worse than losing a beloved dog is knowing that you didn't make the most of their lives with you. You have no fears on that front it seems, and need only remember that dogs live in the moment - not in abstract fear of some unpleasant future. So he had a lifetime of in-the-moment moments, and you should find joy in that - just as he surely did.</p>

[celasun]

<p>I have read your blog also.<br>

I am a prospective dog friend and your lines brought tears to my eyes:<br>

- <em>I always felt like you were a person trapped in a dogs body. If that is true, I will gladly be your dog next time around.</em><br>

My condolences...</p>

 

[les_lammers]

<p>Justin,<br>

Condolences for the loss of a friend.</p>

[duane_mills]

<p>I am very sorry for your loss. Loosing an old friend is never easy. Caney will be missed by all of us who had the privilege of sharing his exploits through your photographs. The Caney in the canoe shots were always terrific.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>So sorry.</p>

[r.t. dowling]

<p>Justin, I'm so sorry. Sincere, heartfelt sympathy to you and your wife. My pets are my family, and when I've lost pets in the past, I cried just as hard as when I've lost members of my human family.</p>

<p>You may have already seen this, but if not, check it out:</p>

<p>http://www.petloss.com/rainbowbridge.htm</p>

<p> </p>

[michael_kuhne]

<p>Justin, I am glad for him and for you that he came into your life, and I am glad his departure was peaceful and quick. I had to do the same for our Smokey, and I know it is a very hard thing to experience, but at the same time a relief to end their suffering, which was considerable at that point. I am very glad Caney had such a good time on Sunday. I enjoyed the above report very much.</p>

[roseberry guitars]

<p>I'm so very sorry , Justin.</p>

<p>After reading your post it took me a few moments to compose myself. I've lost many canine friends over my life and it never gets easier. I occasionally think of the the end moment that I will face with the two that are now lying at my feet.</p>

<p>I suppose the best we can do is be a friend that is worthy and deserving of the love they show us. By all accounts and the smile on his face, in all the photos, I would say you and your wife have been most worthy.</p>

[rogerdaltx]

<p>Justin, Please accept my heart felt condolenses at Caney's passing. I so enjoyed getting to know him through you're hiking adventure photographs over the past three years and shed a tear after reading the news of your loss. As I type I'm watching Bogan lay on the couch looking out the window onto a rainy Saturday afternoon longing to play fetch. My hope is over the years ahead I can share a fraction of the adventures with Bogan you had with Caney. He had a wonderful full life and the loss of such a loyal companion can simply not be expressed in words. May the memory of joyful shared outings together bring you a smile for the rest of your days. <br>

/Roger & Bogan</p>

[donnie_strickland]

<p>Please accept my deepest sympathies Justin.</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>Deeply felt sympathies, Justin. These are very hard things when the bonds have been so strong. You can take comfort in knowing that you gave him a very happy life.</p>

[miserere_mei]

<p>I'm crying, Justin. I'm so sad for you and Aim, although I am happy for Caney. He lived a Life worth living, which is more than most of us can say for ourselves.</p>

<p>In these years that I've known him through your blog and p-net posts, I've made a lot of fun of you, as he always seemed to be the one who knew what was really going on in every situation. On top of that he was damn handsome! More than once I told you I would have to meet Caney one day and get my photo taken with him. Now I know that will never be. But your photos and stories will remain forever on this thing we call the internet, and decades from now people will still be able to read of him and see him standing gallantly on the edge of a cliff, staring into the vastness that lay before him. Maybe he was wondering what was over there, beyond the horizon.</p>

<p>At last he will find the answer.</p>

<p>Rest in peace, dearest Caney.</p>

 

[johnw436]

<p>Caney is the shining example of the life every dog should wish to have with the family other dogs should dream of having.</p>

<p>Our lives on earth are a journey where we learn the lessons our spirits came to find. Death is not the end of anything. </p>

<p> </p>

[jgredline]

<p>Justin, After reading your blog and knowing many of your adventures, It is not possible to hold back tears for you. Only you and your better half really know what your going through, but we grieve with you.<br>

Blessings to the Serpico family.</p>

[personalphotos]

<p>Justin, It's difficult to write something that could give you any solace at this time. As sappy as this sounds, I'm having a hard time typing through a few tears. I know only too well how painful things are for you and Aim over this. Of course you can take some comfort in having lived life to the fullest with Caney. Knowing he was a border collie, you couldn't have made things any more fun for him. Roaming the trails, being in the wilderness, climbing mountains, going on canoe rides and herding the pack to get off their asses and move on up the trail. </p>

<p>Of course the most difficult thing is loosing such a dear friend. Every once in awhile we have a dog that we just connect with on every level. Caney was that for both of you. He will always live on in your pictures and stories. My favorite will always be him climbing the ladder up the mountain.</p>

<p>I hope he knows now how much his friends here loved him and will miss him. I can only offer you both a virtual hug and I wish it was more.</p>

<p> </p>

[s_brown2]

<p>Very sorry to hear that Justin. I know exactly what you mean by thinking of Caney being a person in a dog's body. My cat is like that and I will be devastated when one day I lose him. It makes me upset just thinking about it now.</p>

<p>There's not much to say, but life is truly bittersweet isn't it. When something is hurting real bad you know you've lost something very special. But far better to have experienced the beauty of life, and then lose it, than to miss out on it altogether. RIP Caney you beautiful animal..</p>

[jpo3136b]

<p>Very sorry to hear of your loss, Justin. My condolences to you and your family.</p>

[stemked]

<p>Justin,<br>

I've been there too with a special dog that time and circumstance took away. In fact it was almost 30 years ago for me, sometimes it seems like yesterday. The good thing is I remember most clearly the best of times. I hope time and memory leaves you the same.<br>

Best wishes,<br>

Doug</p>

[jdemoss99]

<p>Justin i don't know you or Caney that well but I know how it feels to lose a dear friend like that. I am so sorry and hopefully in time there will be another Caney to come along. Jordan</p>

[snik75]

<p>I'm sorry, Justin.</p>