A Farewell to one of our Dearest Friends

 Our dear German Shepherd was euthanized at 1:45pm this afternoon, after succumbing to a pygmy rattle snake bite on Tuesday. Anti-venom is in limited supply and is needed for service dogs and military dogs, and of course, humans. With all the storms that caused flooding, there has been an additional need in our state. Anti-venom is not a definite cure-all for animals.

Kilo, age 5 in early Spring wondering, 
"what's taking you so long, Mom?"

Pymgy rattlers are extremely aggressive. However, not "all bites" are the same. It depends where the bite was inflicted, and how long it has been since the snake last bit something. The longer the venom remains in the snake, the more concentrated the venom. 

          Kilo, age 4, and Jack showing off            
their Barn Hunt Trial Ribbons

We have not seen any pygmy rattlers on our property for 25 years or longer, but of course, that does not mean they are not here. Because of the extremely cold weather, most snakes "hibernate" beneath the soil at this time of year. Our vet said it is the first time in 30 years of working that she has seen a rattlesnake bite in January. Unfortunately, many people move into rural areas, not comprehending the importance of snakes. Many of our "black/indigo" snakes are endangered because people indiscriminately kill snakes. Black snakes and especially Indigo Snakes keep the rattlesnake population under control. It is important to learn the difference before just killing snakes.

Kilo, age 9 sporting his gray muzzle while guarding the tractor disc attachment LOL
He is thinking, "WHAT!? It's HARD work!"

    Kilo, age 4, slobbering on me after a romp
    at night in our wildlife watering hole.

Kilo would have been 13 next month, an "ancient age" for German Shepherds, especially his size. He and my husband were joined at the hip. Kilo was still healthy, but had slowed down and suffered from mild canine dementia. In his youth, he enjoyed obedience training, agility training, "competitive barn hunting" and "working" side-by-side with Jack every day, even though in later years, he did more "overseeing" than working. 

It is a huge loss for our family, and Kilo will be missed. 

       

Kilo, age 7, helping clean and fill one of our "wildlife waterholes".
It is especially dry in Florida during the winter months.

Kilo, age 6, watching Missy Kitty jump from tree to tree, taunting him with:
"See what I can do? You can't do this!"

Thanks for letting me share - it always helps to talk things over with friends.

It is a huge loss for our family, and Kilo will be missed forever. This is a sequence of
photos where he is saying, "Hey, Mom! Watcha lookin' at?"

love,