Friday, June 22, 2007

Godspeed, My Dear Matthew,...


This last entry is the hardest post I have ever had to write, . I am stil in shock ,with the news of Matthew's untimely passing,..In speaking with a friend that also knows Sharon and Matthew,.. we both thought that Matthew and Sharon would have many years together,...one day we would see an old dog curled up by the fire,..

Matthew was near death when Sharon found him,... she had no intention of keeping him, thinking that once she got him stabilized she would send him into rescue,....

Matthew won her heart, as well the hearts of many others, in the short 8 months that we knew him.

I can only say that the amount of love that poured from that Setter Boy's heart,.. can only match the amount of tears that have fallen in his passing,...

Godspeed My Dear Matthew

In Memory of Matthew,....


This post is in memory of "Matthew", a Bird Dog from Texas who was unexpectadly called home, on June 3.

After returning from a weekend in the country, a squirell, or a rabbit caught his eye, something Matthew just could not ignore,....

Sharon heard the tires squeal, and a horn honk,. and Matthew was gone,..

Below Sharon describes her last day with Matthew:


He normally doesn't care about anything ,but running the fence rows but that particular weekend he kept coming to the back door, and wanting in then right back out.

He was extra affectionate to me, and could not get enough attention.

I held him in my lap ,on the back porch for 45 minutes ,just combing out the burs and petting him.


All I can say is in the short 8 months he was with me ,I tried to do everything I could to make him happy, and I think he was, except he need more time to hunt and run.

I also want everyone to know he did not suffer,.... he was running,.. doing what he loved and never knew what hit him.

Matthew and Friends,..


Matthew is always busy,.. doing SOMETHING,..

Below is Matthew , and his Pals, they enjoyed many weekends in the country together





Sunday, February 11, 2007

Matthew's Weekend!!



It was another fun weekend for Matthew!
He played with his friends from the country and got to point and chase tons of birds.
He loves running down the fencerows and finding the birds.
He darts through them like lighting.

The funniest thing he did was chase a bird around the round pin in a circle. It looked like the bird was playing with him by flying inside the panels.

The other "new thing" he is doing is running by us full speed and cutting in to our legs to knock us down. I couldn't believe he did this to Kyle because he has always been so afraid of men.

He is looking more like an English Setter everyday. I can't wait until the hair on his legs and tail grows out.

He was naked in that area when I found him so I guess that is why it is taking so long. Hope you enjoy the pix. Don't feel too sorry for him with his cut he is playing the sympathy card with everyone and getting lots of toys, treats and attention.





Thursday, January 11, 2007

PLAY TIME!!!

He is so much faster than the two big dogs, but they all have so much fun together.
They are all neutered males but play like they are litter mates.


Friday, December 15, 2006

Matthew Get His Chip!!


I took him to the vet this a.m. for a microchip so I put him on the scale to check his weight. He is now 41lbs., which is a big jump from the 27 lbs. back in Sept. when I first found him.


He loves to run in country more than anything but has been getting out of my sight for longer periods of time so I thought I bet get him a chip to go along with the tag with my numbers. It scares me to think of him getting lost but this dog loves running more that anything.


I am trying to give him a happy life and I believe that life in a back yard is not fair to a dog like this so we are going to continue out weekly trips to the woods. He has learned to catch balls and is doing better with the cats in the house.




Attached are a few pics with his new id tag and him licking his lips after getting a steak treat - a reward for be good at the vet today (the needle for the micro chip was huge)....sharon

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Matthew,.. Extreme Host and Player!!



Matthew got to dog-sit last week.
He made her feel welcome and was the perfect host sharing all his toys.
They torn up every toy he owned so I ended up giving them old shoes and buying stronger toys.


Matthew would tease her with the rope (see attached pixs). He was too fast for her but she could out muscle him.

Speedy was at my house for a week on her way to her new home. She had a blast with Matthew and he loved playing with her. She is a rescue from South Texas making her way up North to New Hampshire.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Bein' a Bird dog is COOl!!!


He loves the weekend because he gets to go to the county.


He rolls in "whatever" ,..and I have to ride with him in the car until I get him in the bath tub.

I don't think he remembers life before me.....sharon

Friday, November 17, 2006

Always Somethin',.....


I wanted to you to see Matthew sniffing the air. He was growling and barking at my nieghbor this morning (I should not have let him watch Kujo with me this weekend.) He has a tall wood fence but Matthew could hear him in his back yard making noise. When he got quite - Matthew sniffed to make sure he was gone. He really is afraid of men but likes to act tough from a distance......sharon

Tuesday, November 07, 2006



See the Beauty of the English Setter




They will make you Laugh when you don't want to,...

Matthew,... A beautiful English Setter,.....
















I know everyone has their favorite breed,...and they are so special indeed,...
but the depth of the Soul, of an English Setter,..goes unmatched,.. in my book anyway,...
our family has had the pleasure of fostering about 20 or so Setters over the last couple of years, of all ages, with every kind of issue imaginable, and fears to match,...

They would come to us, with their head hung low,.. tail between their legs,. no sparkle in their eyes,...they had given up,...
This beautiful Breed that was put on this earth to Hunt, and play, and most of all, the English Setter lives to please his Master,....
I don't like to use that term , "Master", I guess "Humans" is a better term, but then again, the Master doesn't always live up to those standards either,...

All he wants in return is love,... attention,... and to continue to please,...he never demands anything,...he's always happy just to be near,...

Sharon,..... Matthew's mom, ....who ,when she found Matthew ,was a "cat lady", who woldn't be able to keep Matthew,......
I have to say this beacause I like to Tease Sharon,... about this, as you can see Matthew has stolen Sharon's heart,......and Sharon doesn't mind a bit,....

November 1, Six weeks Ago Today,..



Today it has been 6 weeks since I found him ,..,....when he finally gave in, and went for the cat food that I was offering him,...














He has been a wondeful dog that didn't do anything wrong ,
but last week he started digging up one of my plants in the back yard that had landscape rocks around it.




I never see him doing it ,so I just ignored what was happening.
The rocks are sill in a circle but now the hole is about 14 inches deep.
I guess he likes to lay in it when no one is looking.
He won't go near it, or even look at it ,when I am in the back yard.


I think he thinks he is being sneaky.
What a nut,.. I didn't like that plant anyway.........Sharon

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Sweetie Pie Matthew!!


Notes From A Proud Setter Mom!!

I took these pics last night in his bed.
The blanket was a gift from Lois Odom (the lady that took such good care of him at the vets office).

I wish I had taken my camera this weekend when I took him to the country to play.
He had the best time running in fields pointing a things and just hunting.
I was told I was being over protective but I couldn't stand it when he got out of sight so I would call him back.

It was a beautiful sight to see him running in the tall grass like he was the happiest dog in the world.

He met a new friend named Sam (a 95lb. white german Shep) that lives down the road.
The were so cute playing but when Sam got ready to leave he took Matthews pink bear.
I told him to let it go, I will buy him another one because Sam doesn't have any toys and we need to rememeber the less fortunate....sharon

Monday, October 23, 2006

Break Time,....

Ya know, I am a pretty lucky fella,....up until a month or so ago, I didn't think I would ever, hear a kind voice,... or feel what it was like to be scratched behind the ears,..... let alone, even feel a nice gentle pat on the head,...
I remember when I was little, I used to get those all the time,.... then as I got older, all the good things seemed to dissappear,...I felt like I was dying ,and getting closer to death as each day passed,...sometimes I even thought of ways to make it come sooner , because I hurt so bad,.. inside and out,...

Just When I thought my prayers had gone unheard, and I had given up, ... I found myself on a busy street,...
Was this the end,.....????

I heard that kind voice,......was it real?????
not sure, but whoever it was also had a can of something that smelled awfully good,....
my nose took over,..... I went for it, and then,....
I felt the tender touch,...... and a warm blanket,......
I was so happy,..... I cried,......
my empty heart was immediately full again,....as is my new life,..... with an Angel,......
Maybe this is Heaven???? ......But I see no bridge?????

Oh well doesn't matter,..Thank you everyone, for bringing me, "Matthew", home,.....!!!!

My only prayers now, are for all the other Dogs and Cats out there,..searching for thier Fur- ever homes,....
"Hang in There Guys"!!! We're trying!!!!
Love ,Matthew

Yep,... I went to Work With Mom!!!


Look at My new Coat!!!!

Check out Matthew's new coat!! Remember when you could see every scratch and scrape, and every bone in his frail little body???

I never will forget Sharon's words, when she reached down to scoop him up in a blanket, to bring him in fron the cold,....
She said, "he wimpered" as I wrapped the blanket around his skinny, little body,..........

Where Ya Been,... Matthew, Boy????

Hi,
I have a busy week last week and didn't have
much time to spend with Matthew.
I was feeling guilty that he was alone so much so I took him to
work with me Saturday.
He was absolutely wonderful
and had the best time except for a few of the
delivery drivers that he was afraid of.
I knew it was a little soon to take him with me but I think he
had fun for the most part.

The office is closed except for the drivers so it was pretty quiet.

He slept most of the time but would play with his
pink bear if someone would throw it for him.
He even managed to climb the spiral staircase.
Will keep you posted on his progress.......Sharon

PS the last pics are from home with his favorite
pink bear

Thursday, October 12, 2006

A Sleeping Angel!


He was neutered yesterday and weights 10 lbs more than he did 3 weeks ago.

The vet said he was changing mind about his age to 2yrs.
He has made such a huge improvement in the last few days.
This is the first time I have taken pics that he didn't have bones showing through his skin.
It is very hard to get a pic unless he is sleeping because he is always in motion.
I think he is the happiest dog I have ever met.......sharon

PS> Here he is sleeping in his bed.

Yes,... It's ME!!



Nice Butt, huh??
Look NO BONES!!




Matthew,..? Is That You?


Susan,
I think that this baby has made a full
recovery! This dog has more love to give than you could
ever imagine now he will have many happy years to
show it. This is a success story.........sharon

Saturday, October 07, 2006

To Sharon, ...Love, Matthew










Send a
Rescue Person



Once I was a lonely dog,
Just looking for a home.
I had no place to go,
No one to call my own.


I wandered up and down the streets,
in rain in heat and snow.
I ate what ever I could find,
I was always on the go.


My skin would itch, my feet were sore,
My body ached with pain.
And no one stopped to give a pat
Or to gently say my name.


I never saw a loving glance,
I was always on the run.
For people thought that hurting me
was really lots of fun.


And then one day I heard a voice
So gentle, kind and sweet,
And arms so soft reached down to me
And took me off my feet.


"No one again will hurt you
Was whispered in my ear."
"You'll have a home to call your own
where you will know no fear"


"You will be dry, you will be warm,
you'll have enough to eat"
"And rest assured that when you sleep,
your dreams will all be sweet".


I was afraid I must admit,
I've lived so long in fear.
I can't remember when I let
A human come so near.


And as she tended to my wounds
And bathed and brushed my fur
She told me bout the rescue group
And what it meant to her.


She said, "We are a circle,
A line that never ends".
"And in the center there is you
protected by new friends".


"And all around you are
the ones that check the pounds,
And those that share their home
after you've been found".


"And all the other folk
are searching near and far.
"To find the perfect home for you,
where you can be a star".


She said, "There is a family,
that's waiting patiently,
and pretty soon we'll find them,
just you wait and see".


"And then they'll join our circle
they'll help to make it grow,
so there'll be room for more like you,
who have no place to go".


I waited very patiently,
The days they came and went.
Today's the day I thought,
my family will be sent.


Then just when I began to think
It wasn't meant to be,
there were people standing there
just gazing down at me.


I knew them in a heart beat,
I could tell they felt it too.
They said, "We have been waiting
for a special dog like you".


Now every night I say a prayer
to all the gods that be.
"Thank you for the life I live
and all you've given me.


But most of all protect the dogs
in the pound and on the street.
And send a Rescue Person
to lift them off their feet".





Arlene Pace

September 18th, 1998

Friday, October 06, 2006

Here's Lookin at Ya!!



Look at the pics of his face I took last night. I could never get mad at a face likethat...sharon