Wow...this really hits home, my friend.
I feel your pain and then-some.
Christmas was on Friday last year and on that night around 7 p.m., my wife and I had to say goodbye to our 4 legged child, Jack....our phenomenal 10.5 y/o Black Lab was my best friend, hunting partner, and side kick 24/7 for all but his first few weeks of life before we adopted him. I can count on one hand the number of times he and I were apart overnight.
We lost Jack to a small bowel torsion which was a mystery to it's actual cause and his prognosis was terrible. The surgeon said his chances of surviving the surgery were slim to none. He and I hunted ducks and geese for 2 days prior and he had a fantastic time making over 20 retrieves for us in that 2 day period. He was in top shape and nobody could believe he was 10 the way he hunted. For those 2 days I am eternally grateful.
It was and still is a devastating loss for us as I'm sure it is for you and only now have we started to consider bringing a new boy into our lives but he'll never fill Jack's place and we won't ask him to.
Tonight, I will be tipping a full glass of The Macallan 18 in a toast to my boy Jack, several of his departed 4 legged hunting friends, and we'll certainly include Rustler in our toast.
Our best goes to you and your family.
Jack's last hunt seen here with my ol' timer friend Norm. As ALWAYS, he was caught lickin' the ducks and geese right before I snapped the photo.
Jack in his Hidee-Hole waiting for another retrieve...