BigAl
Gone But Not Forgotten
It was 1998 when he came into our life . I knew him ,but did not like him at first . He always acted like the tough guy ,always wanting to fight . I had met him through a dear friend who had stopped by the shop . I'll never forget he had a red banbana tied around his neck and as I walked out to meet him he growled at me . Yes he was a dog . His name was Chip
Not just any dog ,but a 2 year old pure blood Springer Show dog that was as beautiful as any dog I had ever saw .He had not made the show circuit because of one bad habit . He growled when approached . Something had scared him of people when he was young and he had never over came that reaction to his fear .
His new owner was one of my best friends who often stopped by the shop on his way home from work . He ran a huge gravel plant and Chip Was always by his side . Chip was the newest addition to the family and was not fitting in well with his other old dog . Bill, Chips owner, mentioned he might have to give him up as his wife was getting tire of Chips attitude . They had been working with Chip for over a month and the dog still was unsure about liking it .That was in October .
A week later found me in the high country of Colorado Elk hunting . I called my wife and was informed the Bill's Dad had passed away and Bill and the family were flying his plane to Nevada to pick up his other son and the family would fly on to Montana to attend his fathers funeral .My wife also told me a big storm was coming in , so stay warm .
3 days later I made my next call . My wife told me she had been trying to reach me as Bill and the Family had never arrived in Nevada and it was assumed they had crashed . After the fourth day of not finding anything in the Nevada Desert I told my wife to call and have the Twin Bonanza fueled up and ready for me when I returned ASAP . I planned to join the search team looking for my friend .
I recieved the phone call before i could finish packing my gear in camp . They were gone ....all gone in the blink of a eye . Only the son they had not picked up yet had been spared . In a blinding snow storm ,Bill had iced up and flow straight into the ground killing everyone on board .
It was the biggest funeral this county could remember .Over 2000 people came to show respects Bill and the family knew everyone . As I talked with Lance , Bill's son I asked him what his plans were . He was going to move back and help run the family business . I asked how old Chip was doing and Lance informed me that Chip was going to be going to the pound as Lance and his wife had small children and they were afraid of the dog . I made a instant decision and told Lance to call me when they were ready and we would give Chip a home .
We picked up Chip the next day . He growled all the way home .
Now its time to tell you about my wife . That girl loves animals and has a touch like no other with animals .
She refused to give up on Chip and would sit for hours on the floor holding that dog and telling him he was ok and we would take care of him . Chip would sit there growling with his teeth bared and would wag his tail at the same time
. Karen , my wife was convinced Chip wanted to trust us but just too afraid .
I gave up , but Karen never did . Chip slowly started to come around but if he got scolded he would revert right back to his old ways . He would growl and show his teeth . He still does even to this day .
Something happen about 2 months after Chip came to live with us . He somehow became my dog and buddy . I would get mad when he growled and I would send him to the kennel with him growling the whole way . He had a personality like know other dog I ever knew . He did not like to be waken up in the morning or at night . If he had a cold he was grouchy and would refuse to even look at anyone . He would sulk .
He loved to have his butted scratched and would wiggle his way between my legs sometimes damn near knocking me over . He also seemed to love one other person . My Dad . When Dad was still mobile before he became ill, Chip would go nuts with excitement when dad came over .Dad would spend hours talking with Chip . Chip would just sit in front of Dad looking into his face . Dad always said Chip understood everything Pop told him . I would yell at Chip and Dad would laugh telling me that someday I was going to really miss that Dog when he died , to which I would reply "No way in Hell".Dad told me many times that Chip was special .
Fast forward to today . Dad has now passed away a year ago and Chip is still with us . I was not sure the old dog would still be with us, as he is looking old and tired . I called daily from Panama over the last 2 1/2 months checking on him .
I believe Chip was waiting for me to come home before he decided his time was up . Chip is deft now and can only see a few feet in front of him . His favorite spot is in the middle of the driveway and he will not move to give a car the right of way , Life is on Chips terms . Maybe it always was . His Hips have finally given out and if he goes down we have to help him up . He will lay there till help arrives . He will not bark for help no matter how long it takes for someone to help him .
I realize the time is near . Chip knows it too . His eyes are telling me good bye .
He's always been a pain in the ass and I am going to miss that dog , just like Dad said I would , many years ago .
Its funny but Chip is the best damn Dog I ever had ,that I never wanted .
I'll see you on the flip side , you old bear ..........I sure am going to miss you......
Not just any dog ,but a 2 year old pure blood Springer Show dog that was as beautiful as any dog I had ever saw .He had not made the show circuit because of one bad habit . He growled when approached . Something had scared him of people when he was young and he had never over came that reaction to his fear .
His new owner was one of my best friends who often stopped by the shop on his way home from work . He ran a huge gravel plant and Chip Was always by his side . Chip was the newest addition to the family and was not fitting in well with his other old dog . Bill, Chips owner, mentioned he might have to give him up as his wife was getting tire of Chips attitude . They had been working with Chip for over a month and the dog still was unsure about liking it .That was in October .
A week later found me in the high country of Colorado Elk hunting . I called my wife and was informed the Bill's Dad had passed away and Bill and the family were flying his plane to Nevada to pick up his other son and the family would fly on to Montana to attend his fathers funeral .My wife also told me a big storm was coming in , so stay warm .
3 days later I made my next call . My wife told me she had been trying to reach me as Bill and the Family had never arrived in Nevada and it was assumed they had crashed . After the fourth day of not finding anything in the Nevada Desert I told my wife to call and have the Twin Bonanza fueled up and ready for me when I returned ASAP . I planned to join the search team looking for my friend .
I recieved the phone call before i could finish packing my gear in camp . They were gone ....all gone in the blink of a eye . Only the son they had not picked up yet had been spared . In a blinding snow storm ,Bill had iced up and flow straight into the ground killing everyone on board .
It was the biggest funeral this county could remember .Over 2000 people came to show respects Bill and the family knew everyone . As I talked with Lance , Bill's son I asked him what his plans were . He was going to move back and help run the family business . I asked how old Chip was doing and Lance informed me that Chip was going to be going to the pound as Lance and his wife had small children and they were afraid of the dog . I made a instant decision and told Lance to call me when they were ready and we would give Chip a home .
We picked up Chip the next day . He growled all the way home .
Now its time to tell you about my wife . That girl loves animals and has a touch like no other with animals .
She refused to give up on Chip and would sit for hours on the floor holding that dog and telling him he was ok and we would take care of him . Chip would sit there growling with his teeth bared and would wag his tail at the same time
. Karen , my wife was convinced Chip wanted to trust us but just too afraid . I gave up , but Karen never did . Chip slowly started to come around but if he got scolded he would revert right back to his old ways . He would growl and show his teeth . He still does even to this day .
Something happen about 2 months after Chip came to live with us . He somehow became my dog and buddy . I would get mad when he growled and I would send him to the kennel with him growling the whole way . He had a personality like know other dog I ever knew . He did not like to be waken up in the morning or at night . If he had a cold he was grouchy and would refuse to even look at anyone . He would sulk .
He loved to have his butted scratched and would wiggle his way between my legs sometimes damn near knocking me over . He also seemed to love one other person . My Dad . When Dad was still mobile before he became ill, Chip would go nuts with excitement when dad came over .Dad would spend hours talking with Chip . Chip would just sit in front of Dad looking into his face . Dad always said Chip understood everything Pop told him . I would yell at Chip and Dad would laugh telling me that someday I was going to really miss that Dog when he died , to which I would reply "No way in Hell".Dad told me many times that Chip was special .
Fast forward to today . Dad has now passed away a year ago and Chip is still with us . I was not sure the old dog would still be with us, as he is looking old and tired . I called daily from Panama over the last 2 1/2 months checking on him .
I believe Chip was waiting for me to come home before he decided his time was up . Chip is deft now and can only see a few feet in front of him . His favorite spot is in the middle of the driveway and he will not move to give a car the right of way , Life is on Chips terms . Maybe it always was . His Hips have finally given out and if he goes down we have to help him up . He will lay there till help arrives . He will not bark for help no matter how long it takes for someone to help him .
I realize the time is near . Chip knows it too . His eyes are telling me good bye .
He's always been a pain in the ass and I am going to miss that dog , just like Dad said I would , many years ago .
Its funny but Chip is the best damn Dog I ever had ,that I never wanted .
I'll see you on the flip side , you old bear ..........I sure am going to miss you......
