Scott and I had the pleasure to meet an incredible dog that changed our life in the summer of 2010. We were visiting a new found falconry friend and his wife at their summer home in Buxton, Maine.
Dave and Sandy welcomed us into their old refurbished farmhouse and we met their two fantastic dogs, one a Beagle and one a Vizsla. This was my first encounter with a Vizsla and at this point in the game I liked Scott's older dog, Sadie, (because she's Sadie & she came w/ the 'Scott package'), but I wasn't interested in petting, admiring or awing over any furry things.
However, there was something about Abby, the Vizsla, that I liked immediately. I found myself wanting to pet her and talk with her...she was friendly, and beautiful, and didn't smell like a "dog" and leave hair all over me...I liked this! She was mild mannered and would let you love her, but clearly attached to her people and home. We visited a few times throughout the summer and I found myself really liking Abby and enjoying seeing her.
Scott up to this point had been set on purchasing a puppy to replace the aging Sadie in the field as she had only a few years left of hunting and wanted Sadie, whom he'd crowned, 'the best hunting dog he'll ever own', to teach the young one a few of her old tricks. He had a firm mind to purchase another English Pointer from the same breed line as Sadie, even if this involved an over seas adventure. Scott and I began to consider purchasing a Vizsla. I began campaigning hard. He took some time and a lot of research, discussion, and fellow hunters' affirmations that a Vizsla was in fact good in the field, including Dave's.
On January 16, 2011 in the process of completing the major home renovation to our newly acquired 1890's home in Kennebunk, Maine, Scott committed to buying a then three day old Frannie from a breeder in Northern Maine, Widdershins, whom he had been in contact with throughout the previous few months.
The same day he also proposed marriage to me in our not quite finished kitchen, me dressed in my now famous work clothes, saw dust in my hair! It's a day that forever will be remembered as a special day...the beginning of life with our Frannie and the beginning of a long saga of Mr. McNeff eating some serious Crow (& not the literal kind).
Just a few weeks ago we were told by Dave that he and Sandy had lost their sweet Beagle, and had found out Abby had a terminal illness all in a very short period of time. The vet projected Abby would have a couple more months. Sadly just weeks after this prognosis, Abby went for her last hunting adventure with Dave, although a successful one, she passed within the last couple days.
Scott and I are very saddened by this news, and both feel honored to have known Abby. We both feel sure there would be no Frannie in our life, if we had never met this special dog.
"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." -Anatole France
 |
| Abby, last Quail hunt, January 2013, Oklahoma |
No comments:
Post a Comment