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You are here: Home / Honored Stories / Badger

Badger

November 19, 2016 by

I got Badger on December 17, 1999 from a family that didn’t want him any more.  He was almost a year old when I got him.  It had been several years since I had a dog and for quite some time I had been wanting to get a chocolate lab and name him “Badger”.  When my sister heard about a neighbor of hers that had one and didn’t want him any more, she told me about the situation.  When I first met Badger his energy level was off the charts, running around like he was chasing rabbits (or something)!  He soon settled down and warmed to me.  I felt good about him and he felt good about me, so I took him home that day.  He settled in to his new home and our friendship began.

Badger was a handsome chocolate lab.  He had long legs and was tall, long-bodied and lean.  He had beautiful gold colored eyes that showed his kindness and affection.  He had big feet, wavy hair down the middle of his back and a bushy tail that I referred to as his “fox tail”.

Badger was real vocal, very expressive.  He was quite the talker.  He didn’t bark much, but he sure did “talk” a lot.  Badger was also very friendly and sociable.  Not a single person that met him didn’t like him – everybody liked Badger!  He liked to roam & explore on his own a lot.  This particular trait definitely strained our relationship because I would worry about him so much.  The last few years of his life we lived in the country and he got very good at sneaking off – he could tell when I wasn’t keeping a close eye on him!  Did I mention he was a smart dog?  Most often, he would visit the neighbor’s dog across the road.  Badger really liked to swim and about a month before his passing he snuck off to the lake behind our house and went swimming. At the time, I wasn’t very happy about having a wet dog come home but, looking back, I’m so glad he got to swim one more time.  Most nights when I sat in my easy chair he would sit beside me and I’d pet him.  He really liked to have his ears rubbed.  He had a good heart.  He was loving & gentle.  I wish I could be more like him.  Badger smiled a lot and always lifted my spirits.  He was very smart & a real joy to work with.  Through him I learned all I know about dog training.

We walked & hiked a lot together – year-round, even in the snow. Badger loved the snow!  In the summer we’d hike in the evenings after work; sometimes in fields near the house or in the foothills a short drive away.  Through Badger I learned field training for bird dogs.  In time I started hunting again and we hunted together.  It was so great to see him doing what he was bred for, something deep down in his DNA. I hope to continue bird hunting.  I like it a lot and I’m thankful he led me to rediscover it.  Badger was playful but was always gentle even when rough-housing.  The times I liked best were simply sitting with him by my side while I stroked his soft fur and talked to him.

Badger was a special dog; he was my constant companion & best friend for over 10 years.  He was there with me through a bad marriage and many other ups and downs of life.  Dogs love unconditionally and it hurts so much when they pass.  He was a great dog and a great friend. 

Every night before going to bed we had a little ritual.  No matter what happened that day – no matter what he or I did – I would gently stroke him and say: “Badger, I just want you to know you’re a good boy and I love you very much.  I love you because you’re such a good boy. It’s bedtime now, I gotta go to bed.  So goodnight buddy.”  On the day he died, I spent the whole day with him, sitting by his side, gently stroking him, telling him what a good boy he was and how much I loved him.  When the time came, I told him it was bedtime and that he had to go to bed.  Goodnight buddy.  I will forever miss you.

Badger
February 5, 1999 – June 7, 2010

Your beloved pet is sick

The diagnosis and subsequent prognosis aren't good. Now is the time to contemplate advanced animal hospice care or putting your pet to sleep (euthanasia). But where do you turn for help? What are the next steps? How do you make this final period of your companion’s life as peaceful as possible? Read more...
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