My old guy Cooper left me this morning. Last night he was a little rocky then sometime during the night had a stroke.
This last year wasnt really fun for him with the diabetic neuropathy affecting his back end to the point I had to help the old guy stand, then he could walk on his own. So 5 times a day it was out in his yard for a short walk then back to the couch. His dinner came to him as did his water and treats. He wanted for nouthing.
The last few weeks Buddy the pup and Cooper became friends and playmates they would lay on the floor and trade swats with paws. The old guy and Buddy enjoyed this and Buddy misses the big guy. All the time we were digging in the orchard, Buddy was sitting or laying next to Cooper, nosing him, patting him with a paw and squeeking at him. Annie is laying there very subdued. hasnt been out of her chair since we brought my big guy back from the vet.
I know that Coop is with Sharon and the rest,.
He is buried in the orchard with 9 others, God I hope I dont lose anyone else, Granny in 07, My wife Sharon in 08, Shannon
last year thr 9th of july and now Cooper in June of 10 that makes 4 years running. I cant take much more.

Doc I am sooooooo very sorry, But you gave Cooper the life we want for all animals.. Run free Cooper

Thank you Sherri, My Coop was all that I had since Shannon died, and not saying much I was all that Cooper had. I felt so guilty in the late afternoon when the pup and I went for a walk and Cooper watched us leave from his couch, wanting to go but knowing he couldnt. The big guy loved his walks and in the past year just couldnt do it anymore. He did get out to his yard 5 times a day and wandered around for a few minutes till he got tired then back to his couch. He was a good old guy, not a mean bone in his body, and if he had of wanted to he could have made his twice daily insulin shots interesting. He NEVER missed a single dose of his insulin in the year since he was diagnosed. If I was here on the computer, and he was on the couch he would bark once in awhile till I joined him on the couch, then it was put a paw on my hand and sleep till it was time to go out again. He always stuck with me, even when Granny, Shannon and Annie were upstairs with Sharon, and it was Sharon that took them for their walks.
One thing that I learned growing up on various bases around the world ( I was an officers brat ) and my own 12 years in the military was that you always took care of your friends. Cooper was my best friend and only family.
Buddy the pup misses him terribly, wont get on Coopers couch and wouldnt let the pointer get up there either. I had to convince him that she had shared the couch with the big guy so it was her choice.
He IS missed.

Doc,
I know I am a stranger to all of you but today I am sending my thoughts and prayers your way....it is so very hard to lose one of our family....and all dogs ( cats too) are part of our family but I know from experience that Irish Setters are family bigtime from the moment they decide they own you! Treasure all the wonderful memories you have of Cooper ( I know I do of both my old gentlemen that I lost last year) and Buddy came into your family at just the right moment. Cooper would want you to love and treasure another RedHead!
I have followed this rescue site since last summer when I applied to adopt Rowan the Irish Setter....love the articles on here and all the imformation that you, yourself post, remind me of things I may have forgotten about concerning safety for our Miss Molly, the Irish Setter we rescued here in St Louis in September last year.
I hope you will again post the story of Buddy...I love reading what he is up to as we did miss those puppy days here with Miss Molly and it always brings a smile to my face to read about Buddy.

May the Shamrocks fall gently on Cooper and may God Bless you with many treasures of happy memories .
Shy (Sherry)

Thank You Shy.
Cooper had a rough life before we adopted him, The people (I use the word loosely) got a new puppy so he was dumped at our local death camp. I found him on PetFinder and after a week of "NO MORE DOGS" my wife knowing that they cleaned house out there Friday came down for breakfast and said "If you want him, go get him". Coop was a great guy, his only job being making sure that nothing spilled on the floor in the kitchen and guarding the couch. In his last year he was confined to the couch where he could get off with help, then walk on his own. The wheelchair did that much for him, building up the front end and the back end so he could at least walk by himself.
He loved the pup, every night they spent about an hour laying on the floor trading paw swats and barking at each other. The pup lays with Coopers "handles" the saddle from his wheel chair that I took off him before we buried him. I guess that comes from the first night the pup was here, as in If in doubt, sit as close as you can to the big guy and he will protect you.
Cooper was here just a few days short of 4 years, in that time he NEVER did anything in the house, he Never counter cruised
never did anything wrong.
Know this, Cooper is missed by us all, especially the pup and I. He is the last setter that my wife let me get. Cooper is survived by Buddy the pup, Annie the English pointer, and Me. Cooper is buried in our orchard in a wood box in his quilt
with a full dish with 9 other setters.

So Sorry to hear about Cooper, Doc. You were a devoted father and I know Coop appreciated all you did for him. He KNEW he was loved and had found the place where he belonged. He proved that by never doing anything wrong in the house. He didn't want to dissapoint you. I'm sure that by his being so friendly with Buddy, he was letting you know that he approved of him and letting you know that it was ok to love Buddy, that his feelings weren't hurt. It's amazing isn't it, the loyalty animals have for each other and thier people? The fact that Buddy wouldn't go up on Coop's couch shows that loyalty once again. I was touched to hear that he got his quilt and a dish of food to take with him to the Bridge. I also hope that you don't lose anyone else for a LONG time. But even though your heart is breaking now, think how empty your life would have been without all of them. I know you have a lot of great memories, and those bring a smile to your heart. I agree with Shy, that we would like to hear more updates on Buddy's adventures.

Taake Care

Doc,
I will try this again....somewhere out in cyber space a message is floating around I just tried to add!
Thankyou for sharing Cooper's story....and how wonderful that you were able to surround Cooper with love that he was missing in his early life. I know each Irish shares some basic behaviors but each has their own quirks and antics that add the joy to our lives. I truly believe an Irish Setter lives daily for the joy he gives and gets in return. Has Buddy found his tail yet? That was always one of my favorite puppy times.....watching them try to catch the tail or run away from it only to find it always was right behind them. I also loved watching them almost tumble over while running because they had not grown into their feet yet......and the first crazy eights all over the yard that seemed to go on for hours. Molly here chases bird shadows....quite a routine she has going and I am still trying to figure out her rules. She has a starting place .....always goes to the same starting line....and waits for a bird to fly over so she can chase the shadow. but not every bird qualifys for a chase it seems...then returns to her starting line to do it all over again. If a dove sits on the fence the shadow game is over as stalking doves is her all time favorite thing to do. She is very birdy.....but left the cardinal nest by the patio alone after we told her no....she would sit and watch the mom fly in and out feeding the babies but did not bother them. Amazed us that she was able to let that nest alone! Is Buddy a field or show setter? I have had both ....though for us they were just loving companions. I hope everyone has a safe July 4th and that Buddy does not get too scared of the fireworks....will be a first for us with Molly also so we are staying right here to hopefully not let that fear get started!
Take care.
Shy

Shy:
Cooper was and Buddy is show breed, one of the first things that my wife noticed about Cooper was his gait and it was definately a show gait. The little guy is from Slainte kennels near Saginaw. The owners are friends, and at the time Buddy was born had another litter 2 days before so they had 18 pups to sell at the same time. Buddy was the one that was very shy and shrank back when a prospective buyer showed up so didnt get picked. Now he greets my friends at the door with a bark and the paws that must belong to a larger dog. My Marine son was up from California and my National Guard son was up with him from the city and couldnt believe how much energy the little guy has to play. No more shy guy.
Buddy has noticed his tail, he chases it and it chases him, as far as fireworks and gunfire go Buddy is like his foster father Cooper HO HUM, he got used to that when I let him out at night and the local coyotes showed up to size him up for an invitation to lunch. I have a Walther P38 that an uncle brought back from WWll and it is LOUD and when I fired near the coyotes buddy did head for the door BUT then stayed to protect Cooper and I. LOLOLOL You know how that goes, GOTTA PROTECT THE OLD F@&%$ GROWWWWWL BARK, BARK. When the coyotes came in Coop would head to the house, he knew if he was knocked over he was history, and me with one working arm, would have been interesting if they had come in the yard then it would have been a knife fight.
Since Cooper died I have been telling Buddy that he has large paws to follow so he had better get squared away and that he is the Irish Setter here now since the old guy had to leave and he has been getting it together. I am sure that Coop would approve. When Coop was alive, Buddy stuck with him now the little guy follows me all over the house and while having a puppy is nice damnit I miss my big guy.

Doc,
Sounds like Buddy is keeping you amused(think that is a genetic trait). Almost seems like Cooper was waiting for something before he left you....and that would be Buddy....he showed his approval and left you in Buddy's care.
Molly had her first taste of fireworks here tonight ....perked ears up but did not cower or growl so hopefully this will not be an issue. My last old gentleman Shilo was petrified of them and storms....would put his head under my arm until they went away .Molly wants the back door open so she can lie there and watch the storms. Never having had a female dog there are things I wonder about.....she loves to hide things....bones, our socks etc. None of my males did this so I wonder if it is connected to being female. Any clue? We are taking our first real family vacation this week (before someone had to stay home with our old gentlemen as I would not kennel Pebbles as he had never been kenneled before we inherited him.) so Molly will be going to Doggie Camp.....have had a good time teasing my husband this week as before he used to crab at my paying extra for extra walks for my boys at the kennel......he has her signed up for Doggie DayCare all day and the kennel only at night. Wading pools, mini houses to play in , lots of toys , sprinklers and best of all lots of doggie friends to play with! He has thought about requesting she be put in with the "frou frou" little ones as at the groomers she loved having them crawl all over her! I am wondering which one of us will call first to check up on her. Hate being away from her ....but three grandsons are wanting Grandma and PawPaw to visit. If I do not answer you for a while it is because I am out of town til the 17th.
When Molly first came home I thought she was field setter....they said she was about 15 months old.....but watching her and seeing her feather developement we think she was probably less than a year when she came home to us.....feathers have really came out and still showing up so it may have been show stock...she does strut like our last setter did also. We are pretty sure she was kept in an outside kennel as when she came home all the normal household noises scared her....then she had to investigate each one . I laugh now as she did not seem to know what a sofa or chair was ....and now it's better get there first if you want to sit on one....she then will lie with her head in your lap to be loved. She also is one to want her paw on top of your hand . I am still waiting for my first Molly face kiss......I have never seen a dog that does not give kisses!! I have even gone so far as to smear steak on my face trying to let her know she is allowed to give kisses. She will now kiss you on your arm or hand but never on your face ( except Dad here!!). I believe she was really punished for giving kisses which is so sad. I know when she first came home she would just cower if we went to swat a fly....or called her by her original name......Heidi for an Irish Setter!!! I will never know her real story but can be sure that her forever story is a good one....filled with love and delight in each of her Irish antics! Happy 4th of July to you!
Shy

Shy: The only one of my girls that stashed stuff was Belle the Granny Setter. Granny had ALL of the toys in the house stashed at the end of the couch and knew if anything was missing. Then it was hunt through the whole house till it was found then returned to its place, her stash. Kelly, Erin, and Liberty (Gordon Setter) Didnt have anything hidden from the others, and none of our males have been lickers once out of the puppy stage. Kelly was a nose washer, MY NOSE. my Kelly loved me and stuck right with me even though my wife fed the guys. Kelly died of hemolytic anemia, Liberty died of renal failure, Granny died of renal failure, Erin was almost 18 when she died, Shannon died of natural causes at about 9, had her dinner, came by for her evening ear sctatch, went in the bedroom, laid down for her after dinner nap and died. Those were just the girls. The Irish are susecptable to various human diseases and it seems that our setters have managed to contract them all. Dear God I, hope that Cooper is the last one I have to bury for a long long while.

Doc,
Thankyou for the note telling of Granny, Setter hiding things.....Molly just is hilarious to watch....some under quilts, some in corners....in closet, in laundry basket, her toy box. My favorite Molly hiding story is that I would periodically wake up to find a bone on my stomach.....under the quilt. Seemed random that she did this until I realized that Alan always gives her a bone in the AM to jumpstart her tummy into eating breakfast. I normally sleep in later unless I am working.....and I have preset one alarm for 6:45 AM....it's my warning that I have 30 more minutes of snuggle time....bone only appears on days I have to work in the AM!! She expects me to wait til she comes to get her bone herself...she makes a big deal of finding it. So if I move it I get the Irish Setter hmph sound from her. Sort of her way of trying to keep me home with her....and in bed so she can snuggle for another hour! She has also packed one in my suitcase!! I work only parttime so my hours are random so it has to be that alarm. I never feel her get into bed with me....Alan has pictures of her lying on top of me while I sleep....I never know she is there!!
I do hope that is it for losing loved ones for you. I know when we lost the two old gentlemen less than a month apart that Alan said no more dogs ever for us. I have lost them to all different things..first one was autoimmune disease.....I slept on the floor with Shilo for months.....made those middle of the night runs to the ER vet. Just want to always do my best for them....and it is such a helpless feeling when you know there is nothing else you can do. Pebbles had been my Dad's dog that I got for him after my Mom passed away and it surprised me that I missed Pebs even more than I missed Shilo who I had from a pup. Time does heal but also let me realize it was the connection to my Dad that I was mourning losing also so I understand the connection Cooper has for you with your wife. Pebs had put me into a wheelchair a week to the day of my Dad's furneral ....bone graft and two screws in my knee....he headbutted me into the edge of the door wanting to go with me! I was off my feet for almost a year due to that little headbutt! No one could believe I kept Pebs...it was never even an option to not keep him....just figured that was my Dad's way of keeping me home with Pebs to be sure he adjusted to living full time with us.....that's when I started watching the Cardinal games here......so can blame Pebls for us having Molly in a way as that is where I found her. Rowan and your site got me the permission from Alan for just one more Irish .....only because I promised him it would be really already trained so no headbutts! or wild behavior to deal with.
Do you know anything about Save Our Setters? On their site is a dog called MacArthur who just melts my heart. I really know nothing about this group but am thinking of using that long drive to Austin to try to wrangle permission to at least find out more about him.....I know Molly would have to meet him to see if the two would get along. MacArthur is being fostered somewhere here in Mo so that could be an easy one to go see if it would work out or not. There are not a lot of Irish here in St Louis....labs and goldens rule here it seems so to find one close to home is a rarity! I just wish I knew more about this group....I am familiar with the Irish Setter Club of America but not SOS. There is one breeder that I know of near KC but as Molly has worked so perfectly for us I sort of think finding another Rescue is something I need to think about. I know it changes the dynamics here at home so that is the other issue I am mulling over . Not sure if I can convince him or not to even look at another Irish....though if one came saundering down our street he would be the first one to bring her in the house! Molly does play well with other dogs...but they are all females so that is another issue I wonder about. Last thing I would ever want to do is make Molly or another dog unhappy! Perhaps after her visit to Doggie Camp this next week I will know if she gets along with male dogs or not! I am dreading dropping her off on Tuesday.....have been away from her one night but she was home here with Alan and our daughter so was not a big issue. I know the kennel well and also took training classes years ago out there so I am not worried about the kennel but Molly fearing we have abandoned her like someone did to her before. This is worse than sending my girls off to kindergarten was for me. I know she will be fine there.....just hope she does not pick up that bark habit from all the other dogs.
Does Buddy have anything like a water polo ball to play with? We had an old one here....low on air that is her favorite for outside. She retrieves it for us to throw for her ...but also wrestles with it all over the yard. She swings it side to side like she is beating the heck out of herself....then lets it go flying....chases it and just has a ball....love watching her play with it. For outside it has been the best toy for her. It also wears her out ...we have the option here of also just letting her out into the yard ....so even when we are not out there she will wrestle with it.She loves tennis balls but chews them up about one a month so do not like those out in yard unless we are with her.
Have a good week with Buddy and Annie and will let you know how the kennel went and the talk about possibly adding another Setter to our family here. If you know anything about SOS please let me know .
Shy

Shy:
S.O.S. is one of the more reputable rescues, and is associated with Illinois Bird Dog Rescue. I adopted Shannon and Annie from I.B.R. in 2002 and just got an e-mail from Lisa the president of the rescue. I.B.R. specialises in English Pointers and English Setters and the occasional Irish Setter that comes their way. The way that we got Annie (English Pointer) was Lisa met us in Eaton Rapids at my sisters and asked permission to release a bunch of pointers (being transported to new homes) in her fenced yard, and they were all running around after being cooped up in a vehicle all the way here, when Lisa let them loose I had a pointer glued to my leg, and Lisa had a funny look on her face making me think that I wouldnt be getting Shannon who was paying no attention to us. When I couldnt stand it any longer and asked if something was wrong Lisa replied that Annie didnt like men. It was "wait a minute, I am NOT one of them" Seems that Annie had been in several homes and was afraid of the man and was sent back to the rescue. If I moved 2 feet she moved with me. lolololol Lisa then asked if we would take Annie too, checked with my wife. "I didnt bring my checkbook" and we were given our Miss Annie who is contentedly sleeping in the chair behind me as I type this. My expierience with Irish Setters dates from the time I was born in the 40s and with the exception of my time in the Navy I hve always been owned by at least one Irish Setter. Buddy has found out that if it can be pulled by an Irish pup its Been There, Done That.

Shy,

I think your theory, of how Pebbles putting you in a wheelchair was your dad's way of making sure you would be around a lot to help with Pebbles' adjustment is right on. Again, more proof that "things happen for a reason". That accident guarenteed Pebbles having a great home, and it gave you a link to your father for a while longer. It also led you to Molly and the fun, and loving adventure you two are sharing now. I think you should go check out the other Setter you have been watching. I think "someone upstairs" is giving you hints that you need to be owned by two setters. Think of the joy you would have watching two free spirts running together and enjoying life.

Hi Doc,
Well, Molly loved the Doggie Daycare....made lots of friends....taught them how to snorkel in the swimming pool....and to chase her! She did really well there but when Alan picked her up she came home and slept for 24 hours! By the time I got back from Austin ( daughter and I drove back while Alan cheated and flew back early due to an obligation he had) Molly was ready to find her surprise we bought for her....new type of ball she is now obcessed with! We did talk about MacArthur the Irish Setter being fostered here in Mo.....sort of well perhaps but by time we arrived in Austin he had already been adopted. Glad he has a forever home and knew he sounded like an awesome dog so not surprised he found his home so quickly.
Saw that Buddy went trash picking on you.....had few of mine do that so now have a step on to open the lid trash container .....have never had one of them bother that one as long as we do not leave the lid open. (and I know that sort of panic feeling you have when they get sick in the middle of the night.) Molly though has learned to search pockets for treats or mints that might be in there....and she will pick the pocket if you do not immediately remove whatever she found with her nose. They sure keep us hopping with their new tricks or mischeivous behaviors . I will say Molly sure is a lot easier than my 7 year old grandson and his two 16 month old brothers!! Now that is a true handful of mischief that never seems to stop or sleep! They wore me out just watching them.....perhaps that is why I had two daughters and only male dogs?
Hope that you all are not getting the storms we are having here in Mo....and flooding due to rivers being up....only cool down here is right after a storm goes thru.....but that is summer in St Louis for you. Molly has figured out that early AM and PM are the best times to hint strongly for her walks here....think she watches the sun shadows in the yard as you can almost set a clock to her hints by the amount of daylight there is. She has also figured out that ceramic tile kitchen floors are made for summer dog naps so now I am stepping over or around her to cook.
Looking forward to more Buddy Adventure Tales soon.
Shy