[over3Owithabrain]

What a sweet story - thanks for sharing. I had to put my border collie Sadie down in April after 16 years of life. Like your Setter, she had her days in the sun (and water), days which I was privileged to share with her and I will never forget. She got old, senile and very gimpy at the end, but I will always remember her in her prime - leaping off a pier into the lake or getting lost in the Blue Ridge mountains chasing wild turkeys.

Man's best friend indeed.

[mountn man]

Back when I was about 17, I had told my mom, that someday I wanted to get a dog and that I wanted a Golden Retriever. I liked there looks and there personalities.

MONTHS later she came home from worked and asked about the type of dog I wanted. I told her a Golden Retriever. She asked about the red dogs that look similar. An Irish Setter. I had never thought of them. She told me a lady at work had one and they could no longer keep her.

So we went to check her out. When I got there, it was like we were N and S pole magnets. We were made for each other.

Ginger was JUST A WEE BIT on the high strung side. The vet we had, an older gentleman, who had some experience, said she was the most energetic Setter he had ever seen. Setters as a breed are known for being very energetic. All my friends said she was a dog version of me. Always wound up and ready to go, and ALWAYS up to something, with a strong stubborn streak.

To this day, I think God matched me up with just the dog I needed.

Today, at my feet as I type this, there is another Irish at my feet, Molly. Not as high strung as Ginger was, but no less the character.

[mountn man]

My sympathies for you of Sadie. May her memories never fade.