when the time comes

Ayla baying - October 2018

There comes a point in every dog handler’s life when a decision will need to be made about one of your dogs. Some people think when the time comes it will be an easy decision. Those thoughts – while comforting – couldn’t be further from the truth.  A freak accident occurred this weekend with one of my dogs, Ayla. I had to rush her to the Vet and after hearing the news, which wasn’t good, I was faced with one of these decisions. I had to decide whether Ayla was going live or be put down.

This is not a light or easy decision. The outsiders of dog hunting think that our animals are tools, that they are some type of throw away animal that we have no emotional attachment to. Dog handlers know different but are rarely given the opportunity or forum to explain their investment in their dogs. Social media is a good avenue to explain the emotions that are involved in raising, training, and caring for our dogs. We are the lucky ones. We have chosen a life style where we can experience these wonderful animals in the act in which they were bred. In the field we get to see them with joyful exuberance while trailing and pursuing game. We see their dedication, athleticism, heart, and tenacity at the tree.  We also get to see them when they lounge around. We see their different personalities. We find the spots where they completely relax when we rub them. We also have the great obligation to care for them when the time comes. These choices and obligations are what make us who we are. I don’t believe this is something we chose without the support of our family and friends.

The decision to have your dog put down is an emotional time. I would caution to not make a rash decision and weigh the options. First and foremost is the quality of life that your dog will have from this point forward. Second, make sure that you understand what the Vet is telling you.  Despite the misconceptions of our dogs being tools, we understand they are a living breathing creature with an attachment to you and your family. Third, is your financial obligation going to impact you to the point where your family will suffer unduly. Fourth, your dog cannot make the decision for themselves, they are trusting you to make the decision for them. Your decisions impact you and your family, but they impact people you wouldn’t even think: coworkers, neighbors, and friends. These people do not have a physical or emotional connection to your dogs, but they have listened to the stories of adventure that you’ve shared with your canine partners.

 As a proud houndsman, I have shared my adventures with people around me. I was surprised when I recounted the events of this weekend with some coworkers and friends. Their shock and concern surprised me. I feel that my stories of hunting ignited a connection to my hounds in a way that I never could’ve imagined. My stories have painted a picture of my dogs that have people invested. Dogs have a fascinating way of establishing connections even if a person has never met the dog. My dogs have established these connections through my stories. Stories of hunting, I feel, are the best way to shed a positive light on the sporting dog way of life.

Social media is a doubled edged sword. The positive aspects of sporting dogs are rarely noticed; however, the negative depictions or accounts are used against us constantly. I have seen the anti-dog-hunting propaganda machine in work all over social media. I don’t agree with their summation of me or my dogs. I feel that if I do right by my dogs, then they will do right by me. I understand that my decisions will affect them. In this situation, Ayla was the first born of a litter that my hunting partner and I decided to breed. This breeding was from two of our finest dogs. My wife and I, more so my wife, delivered this liter in our home. Ayla was the first born. We were there for Ayla’s first breath and now I was faced with being there for her last. I recounted all the joys she had brought to my life and I had thought of the night before where she had laid her head on my chest and went to sleep while I petted her. I recounted the day she trailed her first bear. I remember the excitement and pride I had when she finally put her front legs on a tree and bawled. I remembered the feeling of excitement when I walked her on a lion track and she put her nose in each track until she almost jerked the leash from my hand. I remembered when my wife was sick, and Ayla wouldn’t leave her side. I recalled these moments and nearly broke down. My dogs are not tools and I take great pity on the people who say they are. They don’t understand the attachment my wife and I have with our dogs. Nor do they understand my deep sense of responsibility I have for their care.

I would like to thank the incredible Veterinarians at both the Carson Valley Veterinary Hospital in Gardnerville and the Animal Emergency Center in Reno. They showed great compassion and care for Ayla. They gave us their honest opinions and helped us make the decisions for Ayla. My emotions were unbalanced, and I did not fully understand what the Veterinarians were telling me.

I believe this saying may have been used by someone other than the person I am quoting, but I feel it’s appropriate. Cleave Dwire said “If you’re gonna have’ em, you’re gonna loose’ em.” I am not looking for sympathy. I just wanted to give my thoughts on the relationship between dogs and their handlers. Compassion, dedication, and a deep sense of responsibility are what I believe we owe our sporting dogs. I hope this recount of my experiences, have impacted you in just a fraction of how my dogs have impacted my life.  This chapter of our lives has come to an end; however, the final chapter Ayla still needs to be written.