They say that every man gets one great dog in his lifetime, Abby my German Shorthair Pointer was that dog for me. We got Abby when she was just a pup and my daughter Emily was just two years old so these two grew up together and were best buds from the start. Abby was the first and only hunting dog I have ever had, I had dogs growing up as a kid but never a hunting dog. Abby taught me early on to trust her nose, she was a natural born hunter she was a bird hunting machine!!! I never had to teach her how to hunt it was in her blood, she was very eager to please and took to obedience training very quickly she was a very smart dog. Abby had turned 14 years old on May 11 and was in very good shape for 14 years old many people would comment that they could not believe how old she was. Last Friday she unexpectedly took ill her legs gave out from under her and she was limp as a ragdoll with no energy. She did not appear to be in any pain or distress, she would rest up and go outside for a while then come back in the house and collapse again just exhausted from her short time on her feet. Sometimes she would not even make it back into the house and I would have to carry her back inside to her bed. Abby lost her fight this afternoon with my wife Wendy by her side when she passed. The quote below is from Wendy’s Facebook page & the first pic is one of my favorites of my three girls at one of my favorite places Everts Resort, the second pic is her first hunt at a game farm when she was less than a year old I have no idea who that kid is with her in that pic 
(thanks for the great pics that day Al 
) good memories to be sure! So long old girl you will be missed.
Quote:
Our dear Abby passed away at 12:30 this afternoon. She had turned 14 years old on May 11. She had hopped up on the couch for a soft place to lie while I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth. I came out and knew she was getting comfortable to go. I stroked her and told her how much we loved her, and she quietly passed on. She is running in the fields along side the pheasants as we speak!
