Cascade Crew

[IROCDave]

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44271018/ns/today-today_pets_and_animals/?GT1=43001

Sorry for the downer, just thought this was something that should be shared.

[blue89]

Wow, thats sad and amazing. To all those who have fallen.

[Al Hasse]

So sad...

It reminds me of the true story of a Japanese Akita, Hachikō, from the 1930's.

http://www.lotusroadjournal.com/?p=421

[IROCDave]

There are so many ways to look at this. First I have to say thank you to the fallen hero that was sent into harms way to protect our country and paid the ultimate price. I hope everyone appreciates what our military personell does for our country.

The other thing that picture made me think about was the loyalty the dog was displaying. I see this in my dog, and dont understand why my wife doesnt see it the same way. She will yell at him for sticking his nose in the back door and drooling on the carpet, but doesnt think twice about telling him to " go see" when something is in the backyard or campsite. He listens and will do what ever she or I ask, no hesitation.

He has been sent out to investigate packs of raccoons, possums and a black bear. He didnt pause, just went out to protect. My wife trained him to not even look at her two cats and he never did, but chomped the crap out of neighbors cats. He (Tezzo) is a 115 pound chocolate lab. I got him when he was 7 weeks old in 1999. We had our first child in 2003 and our 2nd in 2006. Tezzo has never growled our nipped at my kids or their freinds no matter what they are doing to him.

When Tezzo was a puppy I used to take him to my sisters house and let him play with her 3 year old rottweiler, Tug. Tug taught him how to lay low and let the agressor come in high and grab the throat from down low.
In 2002 my father inlaw invited Lisa and I to Thanksgiving dinner. He said " bring your dog, he can play with mine". His dog was a standard poodle, 100 pounds and had never been around another dog. When we got there, Lisa's dad wouldnt let Tezzo in the house, so out back he went. The poodle terrorized Tezzo. After 20 minutes of watching and listening to my dog get chewed on I took a ball and headed for the backyard. Lisa's dad kept saying " dogs will be dogs, let them decide who's boss"
I figured that would help them bond. Wrong. Tezzo brought he ball back and stopped short of my outstretched hand. The poodle was nipping at his hind qaurters all the way back. The poodle over shot Tezzo and tried to bite my outstrecthed hand. Tezzo went nuts, grabbed the poodle by the throat and pinned him to the ground. The poodle started crying. I couldnt believe what I just saw, so I did it again. Same thing happened, poodle almost got my hand, Tezzo pinned it to the ground, lots of crying / whining. So we did it again. After the 3rd time the poodle was crying for it's life Lisa's dad came out onto the deck and said " why dont you put your dog in the garage?

Two years ago a guy was walking his Akita near our campsite. It started barking and growling and pulled away from the owners while on a leash.Tezzo put his head down and marched towards the barking dog without making a peep. The dog leaped towards Tezzo and was pulled back by the owner. Tezzo grabbed the dog by the throat and pinned it againt the owner. He didnt clamp down, just kept the dog pinned againt it's owner. The guy told me to get my dog on a leash, I found the funny as hell.
I know my dog would do anything to protect me or my family. I wounder why my wife doesnt understand this and appreciate it?

[IROCDave]

Some of you guys met me last year during Ians big bash and I am sure it was obvious that having to put down my favorite cat the morning of the meet was not easey for me. The cat cat meant alot to me, but my dog is whole different story. I love my hound, and hope that I dont have to be the one to dertimine when to "put him down". I would have fealt differently if the cat didnt die until 20 minutes after I told the vet to inject the concoction into her. She just kept looking at me like " what is happening, is it OK?"
I will never forget the eyes of that animal looking into my soul. It wasnt an easey thing to do. A bullet to the head would have been much quicker and easier.