garyl62
Active member
We planned a weekend snowmobile trip with 3 other families for Feb 27-March 1, 2004 to Hayward, WI. We all rode a lot on Saturday the 28th but the high temp was 48 degrees and there were only a couple people riding liquid cooled machines so we started evaluating our plans for Sunday the 29th. That morning we woke up to a sunny sky and a projected high temp of 50. So, after a quick ride in the morning we opted for plan B. The girls took most of the kids to the mall in Rice Lake while the guys stayed back at the cabin and sat in lawn chairs around a makeshift fire pit on the lake enjoying the sun and a cold one or two. Little did we know how our lives would change because of those “stupid warm temps” that kept us from riding that day.
The girls met a family selling Saint Bernard puppies at a “Home Show” in the mall. It didn’t take long for the other wives and kids to convince my wife she “just had to buy” the last puppy they had for sale as a surprise anniversary gift for me since the next day was our anniversary. So they hurried up and finished their shopping, picked up the dog and brought her back to the cabin. They hid her behind themselves as they walked out on the lake and yelled “Surprise!” as they brought her out.
There were a lot of memories made that day, and those that followed, but the most important thing we needed to do was come up with a name. We debated over a few different ideas but we wanted something easy to say, identifiable, not common but not unusual either. It wasn’t long and we realized the weekend before Hayward had hosted the 29th annual American Birkebeiner ski race known to many as “The Birkie”. That was it, something that fit the bill, and would always keep in mind where and when we got her. On that day we welcomed “Birkie” to our family.
It’s been just over nine years now and we have shared a lot with this great dog. She has been the gentle giant that has endured, protected, comforted and played with everyone in our family but we noticed three short weeks ago her steps were slower, getting up was becoming harder, and she regularly evaluated the reward for the effort she was going to put out. While we began to expect arthritis or hip problems a trip to the vet revealed a fast moving bone cancer. He told us we should be ready to make some choices in 2 or 3 weeks.
So after telling some friends, who then all came this week to visit, taking a lot more photos, spending some extra time rubbing her tummy and just saying goodbye, I took her on her last ride in the truck today. We went through the McDonalds drive-thru, bought her 3 burgers, cruised around town then brought her to the vet where I went with her into the exam room and sat by her rubbing behind her ears as she slipped away.
I know many of you have done the same thing, but today was my turn and while it’s never easy it was the right thing to do.
Here are a few photos starting with the day we got her and ending with today.
The girls met a family selling Saint Bernard puppies at a “Home Show” in the mall. It didn’t take long for the other wives and kids to convince my wife she “just had to buy” the last puppy they had for sale as a surprise anniversary gift for me since the next day was our anniversary. So they hurried up and finished their shopping, picked up the dog and brought her back to the cabin. They hid her behind themselves as they walked out on the lake and yelled “Surprise!” as they brought her out.
There were a lot of memories made that day, and those that followed, but the most important thing we needed to do was come up with a name. We debated over a few different ideas but we wanted something easy to say, identifiable, not common but not unusual either. It wasn’t long and we realized the weekend before Hayward had hosted the 29th annual American Birkebeiner ski race known to many as “The Birkie”. That was it, something that fit the bill, and would always keep in mind where and when we got her. On that day we welcomed “Birkie” to our family.
It’s been just over nine years now and we have shared a lot with this great dog. She has been the gentle giant that has endured, protected, comforted and played with everyone in our family but we noticed three short weeks ago her steps were slower, getting up was becoming harder, and she regularly evaluated the reward for the effort she was going to put out. While we began to expect arthritis or hip problems a trip to the vet revealed a fast moving bone cancer. He told us we should be ready to make some choices in 2 or 3 weeks.
So after telling some friends, who then all came this week to visit, taking a lot more photos, spending some extra time rubbing her tummy and just saying goodbye, I took her on her last ride in the truck today. We went through the McDonalds drive-thru, bought her 3 burgers, cruised around town then brought her to the vet where I went with her into the exam room and sat by her rubbing behind her ears as she slipped away.
I know many of you have done the same thing, but today was my turn and while it’s never easy it was the right thing to do.
Here are a few photos starting with the day we got her and ending with today.
