See Glenn Beck's Emotion Tribute to his German Shepherd, Victor

The BlazeTV ^ | December 12, 2012 | Mike Opelka

[chrisinoc]

At the end of tonight’s Glenn Beck Program, the host paid a special tribute to a member of the Beck family not often mentioned on radio or television, the family’s canine elder statesman, Victor the German Shepherd.

[chrisinoc]

Sorry about any spelling or typo errors, one of my German Shepherds keeps pawing me.

[chris37]

God Bless Victor, the German Shepherd.

There is no better friend to man than dog, and there is no better dog than the German Shepherd.

My shepherd is well more than 13 years old now. He has lived past his expectancy. He is still very healthy, solid, alert and still squeaks his toy every night like a pup.

I think he is still healthy because he helps keep me healthy by walking me every day. Or at least seeing to it that I walk him every day.

I know the decision Glenn is facing, I have faced it before and will face it again soon enough.

We do this because we love them and we don’t want them to know pain. We will see our friends again in the end.

[Dick Bachert]

Amen.

[Sarah Barracuda]

I saw this and it brought tears to my eyes. I have two little guys of my own(A Shih Tzu named Maxie and a Pomeranian/Maltese mix named Nemo) I couldn’t imagine anything ever happening to them..they are my babies. God Bless Victor he is a special dog

[Jayster]

I will face this with my BIG Rottie soon. Not looking forward to it. Bear carries his toys around with him and has to sleep with them. Sometimes even in his mouth while he sleeps and farts. You don't want to be around when he farts. Old man ones. God bless you Glenn in you decision.

[GraceG]

It’s good for Glenn to face loss like this, it will prepare him him for the loss of the country in the next four years...

[chrisinoc]

Chris37,

Thank you for your devotion to your German Shepherd.

Here are mine:

http://gsroc.org/available_dogs_detail.asp?ID=1982

http://gsroc.org/available_dogs_detail.asp?ID=2122

plus one current foster dog:

http://gsroc.org/available_dogs_detail.asp?ID=2526

[Kartographer]

George Graham Vest (1830-1904) served as U.S. Senator from Missouri from 1879 to 1903 and became one of the leading orators and debaters of his time. This delightful speech is from an earlier period in his life when he practiced law in a small Missouri town. It was given in court while representing a man who sued another for the killing of his dog. During the trial, Vest ignored the testimony, and when his turn came to present a summation to the jury, he made the following speech and won the case.

Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.

The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.

George Graham Vest - c. 1855

[chris37]

Simply beautiful dogs, chrisinoc.

I especially like the third picture of Charity where I can see the friendliness of her brown eyes.

Jake reminds me of my own with his floppy ear. When I first adopted Grianger, I also had a chow who was alpha. He showed Grainger the fang right away, so Grainger’s left ear never straightened until Red Dog had passed away some 10 years later.

Robbie is a gorgeous male Shepherd. His build reinds me of my dog’s, sleek and muscular. He also looks so friendly.

Did you adopt these three dogs? I am just curious because those pages make it seem as if they are up for adoption.

I thought that after Grainger passes I may have to take a break from dogs, even if it’s just to de-hair the house a bit...but seeing those dogs and knowing that there are so many good dogs that need good homes, I may have to adopt again sooner than I thought.

I had thought sometimes in the past, when I was sad about losing a dog, that it is the Lord’s way of giving us an opportunity to give a home to a new angel, and when I did, that sadness was gone.

[chris37]

Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.

The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.

George Graham Vest - c. 1855

Those words are truth and beauty. Thank you for posting them, Kartograhper. I have not seen those before and I am very happy to have read them.

[Kickass Conservative]

When our little girl Chow Chow farts, she looks back to see what made the noise.

She’s not quite as dumb as (call me) Senator Barbara Boxer, but she isn’t far behind.

She only gets “smart” when Food is involved. Kind of like a Democrat when my Wallet is involved.

[Spunky]

I have been blessed with quite a few wonderful dogs. One about 10 yrs old (dachshund/Yorkie mix)died at me feet under my desk. I didn't know it until I called for her to come to bed. Another one a Shih Tzu, 15 yrs old died in my arms while having a seizure. But before them I had a Terrier mix who was 19 yrs old. He went down in the yard one cold morning and couldn't get up. We took him to the vet and they put IV's in him. We went to see him everyday for about 5 days but the Vet said he wasn't eating. We made the decision that it would be best to have him put to sleep. I told the Vets assistant that I didn't think I could bear to be there when they did it and she said, "Well the doctor doesn't allow anyone to be there"

I am at peace with my two dogs who passed naturally at home, but I will forever be haunted leaving my wonderful Scruffy at the Vets, never really knowing how they got rid of him. It is so much easier when that decision doesn't have to be made.

[MasterGunner01]

We have two dogs, Sam (elder, 9 years) and Moe (younger, 6 years). Both were shelter dogs; both are half Scottie and half Shepherd. Moe has canine epilepsy and takes both phenobarbital and potassium bromide. Both are great guard dogs and alert us to anyone outside the house. This is good, because the wife has a hearing disability (both ears) and I feel secure leaving her alone with the dogs if I have to go out. Nothing gets past these two without us being aware something is amiss. The dogs are family and we know the kind of trauma Glenn and family are experiencing.

[Spunky]

I feel sad for Glenn as it is a very hard decision to make. I have seen an heard that German Shepards hind quarters go out on them and they end up dragging the hind quarters.

[Nowhere Man]

Believe me, it is tough, I went through with with many of my cats. We lost Whitey, my half Snowshoe Cat, exactly two months ago.

[chris37]

Yes. That is also what happened to my beloved junk yard chow, Red Dog.

I believe he lead a rough life before he came in off the streets of New Orleans and adopted me. He had 10 good years of daily walks, ball fetching, squirrel chasing, begging strips and rib bones before he became unable to lift himself at the rear. He lost control of his business at that time as well and then went blind. All of this happened inside of 2 months or so. He had to be sent home then.

Grainger’s hind quarters are still solid. It is my hope that our daily walks keep them strong as long as possible. I don’t want to face any days without him.

[Nowhere Man]

I feel sad for Glenn as it is a very hard decision to make. I have seen an heard that German Shepards hind quarters go out on them and they end up dragging the hind quarters.

I know. I know a older man, he's 74, still has to work as an auto mechanic full time to make ends meet. He lost his German Shepard last year to hip problems. I remember here in Pittsburgh, we had a talkshow host named Bob Logue who had a Shepard too, he lost Paxton, his dog the same way.

BTW, like you name, Spunky, that is the name of one of my two cats. We took Spunky in back in 2001, she was the mother of three kittens. We lost the last kitten at the age of 11 two months ago, Whitey, a half Snowshoe Cat, Spunky is grey and white so we only have the mother left and one male cat, unrelated but like an adopted son.

[beaversmom]

I feel for Glenn Beck. Prayers for him, the family, and the dog.

[SatinDoll]

I know this is a dog thread, but last night when I went to go to bed, I found my cat Sugar dead on her favorite chair in my bedroom. She died in her sleep.

Sugar had been a bedraggled, pregnant stray dumped at the local shelter. She was pure white with green eyes, and a wonderful loving character. I adopted her out of the shelter as a companion for my invalided mother, dying of lung cancer. Mom passed away in 2006 and Sugar decided to cozy up with my Dad, who was afflicted with Alzheimers. When Dad went into assisted living mode, Sugar moved into my bedroom, I suppose deciding it would be the best place to sleep during the day, right under the covers.

She probably never experienced good nutrition when young, and had an array of allergies and health problems that we eventually controlled. She was loving towards people and other animals, especially towards my English Springer Spaniel. She fostered a couple of kittens I had taken in as rescues and maintained a close affectionate relationship with them when they became adult cats.

Sugar will be missed, and not just by myself. She loved people and loved attention. There was not a mean streak in her.

For everyone who has a good canine and feline friend, I know your pain. It will be a long time before the emptiness leaves me. Good thing I have six more cats and two dogs.