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  1. #1
    Puppy
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    Still miss ya boy


    JesseJames Hagen-Daazs

    D.O.B. December 14, 1995 / D.O.D. January 01, 2011
    “PALS”

    Jesse James was a very special friend to me during our time together. We came together at a time in my life when I was a young man starting out on my own, and in need of a good friend. He was such a friend to me throughout the 15 years he was by my side. He & I shared many adventures together. Sometimes it was just a quick trip to the corner store for a soda. Other times it would be week long road trips; camping, hiking & fishing our way throughout Arizona. His favorite words to hear were: "Jesse; wanna go for a ride in the Jeep?”He loved visiting family or friends for an afternoon barbeque & a chance to test out their swimming pool. Or an afternoon trip to the Salt River, where he loved to swim out to greet the passing Tubers; usually with a stick (sometimes ½ a tree) in his mouth as an invitation to play fetch with him. And sharing my dinner with him when there wasn’t enough money for dogfood until payday. (He didn’t mind of course) And he & I watching the Monsoon rains from the front porch for hours. In his later years, he helped us raise our rescue Scottish Deer Hound girl "Sheba”; now 7 years old, and missing her big brother. Her gentle cries and whimpers continue tonight still as she constantly looks for him, waiting for him to come home.


    I was blessed to be there as this little Yellow Labrador took his first breath as he was born. Fifteen years later I was there to hold him one last time in my arms as he took his last breath on our way to the emergency vet after coming home to find him unexpectedly coughing and unable to stand. As it became ever more apparent that he was dying as we rushed to the hospital; I will never forget the wagging tail,and the absolute trust in his eyes as I spoke to him to try and comfort him in what would be our last moments together. As I held him in the back seat of the car,I could see his suffering was getting worse by the minute and I silently prayed,“If you’re going to take him anyway Lord; please take him now.” My prayer was immediately answered………….. He lay there silent and peaceful………. his suffering had just ended…….mine had just begun…….I gently; reluctantly closed his eyes……………my old friend was gone………..time stood still for what seemed an eternity.

    He was buried very early yesterday morning, wrapped in my wife’s old baby blanket that he loved to sneak off with and curl up in; despite the scolding that would surely follow. I tucked a fresh bone and his favorite toy between his paws and under his chin;just how he’d often sleep with them. He was buried in a 2 acre pasture under an old cottonwood tree between Murphy Brown, his mother, and Wheezie, his sister. My wife and a few close friends joined to help me bury him yesterday morning. They knew Jesse very well too. Everyone that ever met him loved him. He was that dog. Jesse was the last of 11 siblings to pass.
    He lived a long and happy life, and the memories of our time together will be forever etched in my soul.
    You will be deeply missed my friend; but never forgotten. You are part of me.
    January 3, 2011



    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I just received a phone call from my good friend this morning, who owns the property where Jesse was buried 3 years ago. He was faced today with no option but to sell the property; due to the divorce he has been going through since October. A divorce he did not ask for or ever imagine. Despite his best efforts to keep the land and the house he built 14 years ago, before this marriage, there were no options left. This, the home where both his children were born and raised. The pasture where our dogs often played and were eventually laid to rest. Where I would visit Jesse beneath that cottonwood tree whenever I came by. Where good friends often came together to enjoy life and share stories. It is a special place to me as well.
    After my friend moves out his home by the end of next month; I know I will not likely get to visit Jesse in his final resting spot again. This pains my heart today. But I know my friend’s pain far out weighs anything I am feeling right now. He has countless memories of what was once his home. The last home he ever really wanted. Now he must move on in his life against his choosing. So must I. January 24, 2014








    I found a way today to make it by one last time to put 12 Yellow Roses on Jesse’s grave. (Jesse loved smelling flowers. Hilarious to watch) I sat here for quite some time today, lost in the memories of a great dog, reflecting too on my life and how I came to be leaning up against this tree today. It started getting dark and I headed for home; where a young Labrador, Wyatt James of Willowynde , would surely be waiting; wondering where I’m at. February22, 2014







    Where to Bury a Good Dog
    I am
    thinking now of a retriever;whose coat was golden in the sunshine, and who, so far as we are aware, never entertained a
    mean or an unworthy thought. This retriever is buried
    beneath a cottonwood tree, under four feet of pasture loam, and
    at its proper season, this cottonwood strews its leaves upon the green
    lawn of his grave. Beneath a cottonwood tree, or a fruit tree, or
    any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to
    bury a good dog.


    Beneath such trees,such shrubs, he slept in the drowsy
    summer, or gnawed at a flavorous bone, or lifted his head to
    challenge some strange intruder. These are good places, in
    life, or in death. Yet it is a small matter, and touches
    sentiment more than anything else. For if the dog be well
    remembered, if sometimes he leaps through your dreams
    actual as in life, eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing,
    begging; it matters not at all where that dog sleeps at long
    and at last.


    On a hill where the wind is unrebuked, and the trees are
    roaring, or beside a gentle stream he knew in puppyhood, or
    somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where most
    peaceful cattle graze. It is all one to the dog, and all one
    to you, and nothing is gained, and nothing lost -- if
    memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a good dog.
    One place that is best of all.


    If you bury him in this place, the secret of which you must
    already have, he will come to you when you call -- come
    to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the
    well-remembered path, and to your side again. And
    though you call a dozen living dogs to heel, they shall not
    growl at him, nor resent his coming, for he is yours and he
    belongs there. People may scoff at you, who see no
    lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear no
    whimper pitched too fine for mere audition, people who
    may never really have had a dog. Smile at them then, for
    you shall know something that is hidden from them, and
    which is well worth knowing. The one best place to
    bury a good dog is deep in the heart of his master.


    In Memory of; Jesse James Hagen-Daazs
    December 14th, 1995 - January 1st, 2011


    Where to Bury a Good Dog”, re-written from the original by Ben Hur Lampman, written in in 1926.






    "That'll do dog, that’ll do .Go on home now my friend, for it seems your work here is done."

    Sadly, Jesse’s work here is done. But he took my heart and ran with it, and he's running still, fast and strong, a piece of my heart bound up with his, forever.



    And as you set off my old friend for what I believe awaits you, may you always be warm and well fed. May the windy breeze run through your golden coat and gently lift your cinnamon ears as in my memories. May the ground be always soft beneath your feet. As you run and play with brothers and sisters and get lost in the daily games, take time to hear the sound of all the life that abounds as you always did. To see the beauty, and smell the aromas that intoxicates your gift of scent. Enjoy the clear, clean water of endless pools.
    You gave more to me, than I to you Jesse. Perhaps someday I will be with you once again. Until then my friend, I will see you in my dreams.
    Last edited by AZ Labs; 01-27-2015 at 05:45 PM.

  2. #2
    Senior Dog beth101509's Avatar
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    Sorry for your loss.
    “Don't allow your happiness to be interrupted by overly judgmental people. The problem is not you, because even if you do good all the time, they would still find a way to judge you wrongly.”
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  4. #3
    Puppy
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    The Next Chapter Begins

    Jesse passed away the evening of January 1st, 2011. Three long weeks later my wife heard of a litter of Labrador puppies from a lady she works with. They were at a friend of this lady’s house and they were starting to look for homes for them. My wife called me from work to tell me the good news; and I was not really interested. I had walked the halls of the local animal shelters the past week or so; finding only sadness and despair in the eyes of all the dogs I saw it seemed. At some point I had to realize I was just not ready yet. It had only been 3 weeks, and the hole in my heart was too big to fill it seemed. Of all the suffering and death I’ve experienced in my 40 years, this was much different somehow. It totally consumed me in every way. A lot was to be learned about myself and who I really am; and what is important to me. A few more days went by and I finally gave in. I wasn’t really ready, but our Shebadog was very sad still it seemed, and I was getting quite concerned for her wellbeing as she still would barely eat at all and would only get up occasionally to go outside. She would whimper in her sleep every night until she would wake herself up from it. I needed to do something. Her grief was fueling mine as well it seemed. So we scheduled a time the following Sunday to go see these pups. Sunday morning we showed up to meet this litter, and I remember absolutely shaking inside as I saw the litter in their puppy pen. I was at first overwhelmed and just wanted to leave. I took a deep breath and fought through it and started talking to the lady about the pups. She was very nice and seemed to sense my uneasiness, and we had a nice chat. I did not speak of my recent loss of Jesse with her as it was still hard to bring up. When I asked her when the litter was born, the answer she gave me still gives me chills to this day. They were born January 1st in the evening between 5 & 10pm. Jesse had passed at about 7:30pm that exact same night 3 weeks earlier. I also realized this house we were at was only about Ό mile from the main road we were traveling when Jesse passed that night.We had come right by here on the way to the Vet with Jesse as these pups were being born. It all hit me at once and I rushed outside to collect my thoughts.My wife and I spent quite some time outside and together came to the realization that maybe we were not ready yet. Especially me. Just as we were about to go back in and tell the lady that we were going to go home and think about it a little more; the lady came outside holding one of the puppies . When I asked what was up with this one, she told us that this little guy has been going crazy in the pen ever since we walked outside. She had to get him away from the others as he was wreaking havoc amongst the others and yelping. I gently took him from her and held him in my arms and he instantly calmed down and fell asleep. Long story short, this little guy came home with us 4 weeks later and we call him “Wyatt James of Willowynde” these days.
    Last edited by AZ Labs; 01-27-2015 at 05:31 PM.

  5. #4
    Puppy
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    Photos

    -cottonwood-jpg-jesse-jpg
    Jesse James


    -072-jpg
    Wyatt James

  6. #5
    Puppy
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    Thank You.

  7. #6
    Moderator
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    My heart breaks for your loss. I've known that loss many times. Maybe too many times. Every one who has passed left a hole in my heart, a hole that was filled by another who came along with their tail wagging and ready to go. There is no doubt in my mind that Ella, Missy, Dusty, Clancy, Elvis, Fannie, Jake, and Noah are all smiling down on Sophie and Bruce, knowing they are bringing me the same joy and happiness that I enjoyed with them.

  8. #7
    Senior Dog
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    Jesse was well loved and still is. Both pups are handsome boys. Enjoy your Wyatt.

  9. #8
    Senior Dog Jollymolly's Avatar
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    Always in our hearts.

  10. #9
    Senior Dog Maxx&Emma's Avatar
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    Very special memories of a well loved boy and a new beginning.
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    Tammy
    Maxx and Emma Jean

    Ozzy - 10/2002 - 06/2011 - Rest well my sweet boy. You are forever remembered, forever missed, forever in my heart.

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  12. #10
    Real Retriever Zookeepermom247's Avatar
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    Hello, I have many tears. But I believe that your sweet labbie was reaching out to you. In the end, he had the final say and you went and gave your love to a new baby. I am so sure your labbie arranged the whole thing. He knows you will never stop loving him even in death.

    Sophie's mom

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    AZ Labs (01-28-2015)

 



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