Category: Dog Bob

Ozzy, the dog who gives chase constantly but never nabs his prey, finally caught up with what he was after. It was a rooster that apparently wandered away from the safety of its home. I looked up and saw Ozzy chasing it along the shore of Melton Hill Lake until he finally nabbed it, prompting me to charge after him, telling him to let it go. By then, Xena was on the case, too.

The whole thing ended up looking like that scene from Gilligan’s Island when the mars rover lands on the island and the castaways get ready to broadcast their images back to “earth.” But they end up covered in chicken feathers, thanks to a goof-up by Gilligan, prompting NASA to think Mars is populated by strange chicken people.

Ozzy and Xena, each with a mouth full of feathers, are chasing the rooster. I’m chasing Ozzy and Xena. And somewhere in the commotion, the roster limps off into the woods. I don’t think he was too badly hurt. Just winged.

I had to take Kesey to the vet today to have him put down. He’s been going downhill for the past several months. He kept falling down and often wasn’t able to get to his feet. His hips were in horrible shape. When he stopped eating, I knew it was time.

But that didn’t make it any easier.

The folks at the vet must have thought I was nuts. This 6-4, 260 pound guy bawling his eyes out over a poor old collie. They were very kind, offering to send me the bill rather than make me stand at the front counter with tears in my eyes as they ran my credit card. He went peacefully, and before I took him in, I drove him around for about 45 minutes with all the windows down. He even managed to get to his feet for a short while, sticking his long narrow muzzle out the window and reveling in the cool April morning.

Kesey was a great dog. We only had him for two years. I brought him home after someone dumped him up at Melton Hill Park. But they were two good years. He fit in well with the rest of the pack and filled Bubba’s role as the elder male. I’ll miss the old guy.

Goodbye, old man. And thanks for being a loyal, devoted friend.