About a year and a half ago, we had to put down my old friend due to serious knee damage.

"Schultz" was a beautiful liver colored GSP, and unfortunately was only 5 years old when we were forced to make the decision.

Some good friends of ours gave us this poem, author unknown.

Thought that I would pass it on.

Solace

From the silence of your pain I heard my name
And on the wings of light I have come
To see the sadness in your eyes
That cry without tears.

Can you see me, I am here
I will always be near you
To calm your shattered heart
And to make you smile at the memories.

Do you feel me, pehaps a soft brush of fur
You ache to believe it's real
But you are afraid to hope
You brush away a strand of hair
But it was I, whispering....

I am only here for but a moment
The silver thread gently quivers
I will leave behind my love in a dream
When you awaken, and without really knowing why.

Your heart will know at last
That it is all right , for now
To say good-bye.

In Loving Memory     "Schultz"

Yes he was a big guy.

Not sure if you are familiar with Graf Vom Venner Moor, but Schultz was his grand son.

He had a very deep chest. He weighed about 80lbs in the off season and during hunting season he weighed about 75lbs. This dog was all lungs.

He was truely remarkable to watch. All liver, with the white patch on his chest, he looked like he was wearing a tuxedo.

This picture really does not do him justice. The day that this photo was taken was the day that we had him put down. His hind legs in this photo were hidden intentionally due to his knee problems. His hind legs had lost most muscle tone.

In retrospect, I feel very guilty for my selfishness, and not putting him down sooner.

This was the toughest thing that I have ever had to do.

My wife and I decided after we put Schultz down that any dog that we get in the future, we are not going to get attached

So far so good

This is Snickers during her last winter snow and was put down in the Spring like your old boy GSP. You can't see her big old cancerous tumor on her hind leg that crippled her abiltiy to get up on her own. I decided to end her time when she could not get up on her own to preserve her dignity!!

This was my big guy..he was about 80 when I picked him up at the shelter (a little flabby too) I managed to trim him down to 70 until he started building muscle, he evened out at about 75lbs

..puppies are great and all but I can't seem to wait until Remi is out there like this!