Oliver passed away this morning

[Boondox]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( <font color="blue"> surrounded by dozens of smaller stones for dogs.
</font>
Pete - Did you make the stones yourself or buy them. Our cocker turns 16 in July. Although she is still in pretty good health, the years are now starting to take their toll. This is my wife's last "baby" and she is dreading it. And I have to admit that I am very attached to her myself. We plan to bury her up on the "farm" where we will eventually move and I would like to come up with a nice marker. )</font>

Barre VT, a couple of valleys over, was settled by stonecutters from Italy. It's also where some of the best granite is mined for monuments across the nation. Not sure what it is about the stonecutters, but they really love dogs. Plus I let them hunt on my land. Not sure if this is the standard price, but a 150# granite monument for one of our dogs costs about $185...and each one is a work of art!

Pete

 

[Boondox]

We buried Oliver this afternoon in a steady rain after reclaiming my backhoe from a football sized nest of wasps who had set up housekeeping under the dipper. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Despite an entire winter with no practice, I quickly dug a hole with a perfectly flat bottom -- something I had always had trouble with. Tamara lined it with the fleece of a white lamb Oliver used to enjoy chewing on. We put him and his favorite toy inside, covered him with his blanket and buried him. He has a large stone for a monument (needed the backhoe to place it) and around it we planted the irises he used to eat.

We sure miss the little guy! But we're glad he found happiness with us, and we're glad one of us was here when his time came. We had worried a lot that he'd pass on alone, or that he'd suffer. Fate was much kinder than that.

Guys, thanks so much for all your support. Loosing a loyal companion is hard enough, but losing a pup so young is really tearing us up. So many things he deserved to experience. In the end all he knew was love and belonging, which we hope for his sake was enough to let him go happily.

Pete and Tamara
Molson, Glenfiddich, Tetley, Harley, and Tuppence

PS: It feels so strange to list only five dogs...

 

[AndyM]

<font color="blue"> We sure miss the little guy! </font>

It's amazing how attached we get to them in such a short period of time. Allie is our spoiled baby dog, and even though she's only 2 1/2 years old, we think about the day she won't be around anymore.

By the way, Oliver sure was a GREAT name for a dog! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Junkman]

Oliver had but a brief time on this earth, but his time, I know was filled with love and joy. Even though it was only 4 months to us humans, it was a lifetime of joy for him. I know you and Tamara had done your best for him to make his short life pleasant, and that is a noble gesture. May he rest in peace.... Junkman..

 

[dmccarty]

Pete,

I know that Oliver had been given a short time but I had hopped he would make it longer with all of those other dogs hanging around. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I have lost so many dogs over the years and I'm afraid I'll loose many more since we have to have dogs in the house. It never is easy when they go. So strange how they take a bit of your soul when they leave. Course they give far more in return. But danged it it still hurts when they have to leave.

They are a heck of lot nicer, warmer, kinder, caring, etc., than most people I have to deal with....

Take Care,
Dan McCarty

 

[Cliff_Johns]

It's tough when they die at any age, but especially when still a pup. You have my heart-felt condolences.

Cliff

 

[RonL]

Pete

Dogs, beyond a doubt, are the most domesticated of animals. There is much of us in them. And, much of them in us. Godspeed, Oliver.

RonL

 

[isucrazy]

You done good by him fer sure hand, he knew.

 

[om21braz]

Sorry to hear about Oliver, but nice to hear he had a wonderful family for his short time here. Deepest regrets from here in NC.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Pete,

Thanks for sharing.

My wife and I feel your pain.

Kyle