We believe at Clanranald Labradors that we will be with our beloved companions one day in Heaven. They are not gone. They are simply waiting for us to arrive to play with them in Heaven’s fields.
Currey’s Samwise the Brave of Nashville
Sam 2003 - 2017
Sam (Sammie) was my best friend. He always took care of every one. His only problem was that he was too good. He always made sure that all were in their place. He’d wait at the back door until the other three got into the house before he’d come in. His mouth jousting with Spike was always a treat. He was so docile and loved to cuddle. His love of carrying things in his mouth..24/7 was hilarious to watch always bringing them as a gift. He chose the spot by the side of my lazyboy pushing others out of the way so I could just lean over and pet him at any time. As long as I could do that he knew I was okay. I give all my pups nicknames. His was Bulldozer, for his size and propensity for knee capping you when he got the chance. Whenever a guy came to the front door he was a crotch rocket checking them out for safety. One evening Sam and Spike found a hole in the fence and started cruising the neighborhood. My son came over to help find them. A close neighbor had Spike and I walked down the street to get him. But Sam was no where to be found. It was getting dark but Sammie was almost white which made it easier to see him. About 5 mins later, my son drove up with his convertible top down and Sam was sitting in the front seat as if he was ready to go for a drive and cruise the local Sonic. He was found a street up sitting under a sprinkler system cooling off. I wish I had gotten a picture. The last couple of years of his life he was very sick. He lost a lot of weight and had to be helped up steps. But he was tenacious and kept going. When I had to spend a month at my son’s to recuperate from major surgery, as sick as he was he held on, waiting for me to come home. My best friends were keeping him and the other 3 during that time. Getting a call from my friend that he was in bad shape I drove there picked him up and took him immediately to the vet (surgical mask on and all). As the vet got him out of the van and led him down the hall for treatment, the last view of him I had was him ambling down there just like he did at home. I got a call that night that he was doing better. But the next morning came the call no one wants. He was gone. It seemed like all he was waiting for was to make sure I was okay before he went. Seeing that, he knew he had done his job. I still miss him terribly.
Currey’s Spike the Vampire Slayer of Nashville
Spike 2003 - 2018
Spike was my soul mate. Sammie took care of everyone but Spike always took care of me. He had his own persona that he carried around like a trophy. Cool, calm and collected. His nick names were Mac and Cheese (for his light yellow color and love for cheese) and He Who Must Be Adored (especially by females). He was Sammie’s litter mate. When I picked out Sam, Spike wanted to go with us. But I thought that would be too much to care for at the moment. A couple of weeks later the breeder called me and told me that Spike was still available. He had gotten into their tackle box and chewed up some stuff. They had feared he had swallowed a fishing hook even though the xrays were clear. But no one wanted him when they were told. I picked him up the next day. He was so pretty my son called him a chick magnet and wanted to borrow him to attract the girls. And oh how Spike loved the girls. He was a flirt. He loved kids just as much. He had a real protective and bonding instinct. He loved to lay by the fireplace with Sam in the winter. It was a thing of beauty to see. He was always getting into things he shouldn’t. And he was nosy as Hell. He put his nose in everything. Once he put that nose into a bee hive and that night I sat up as I administered Bendryl and he laid on my lap while I stroked his belly waiting for his nose to reduce back to normal size. He loved that. He had beautiful paws. He loved to jump up on the sofa back and curl himself around my neck. As I once read in a Labrador Retriever magazine years ago, “Best Dog God Ever Put On this Earth.” That was Spike. He was the one who detected my tumor (and knew that my liver was in trouble). That nose again. After he got too old to jump up on the sofa back he’d lay on my feet and prop his head on my leg. And that’s how he passed away in his favorite spot on my feet with his head propped up on my leg. I sometimes look down the hallway and still see him sauntering towards me from the bedroom. Spike didn’t walk, he sauntered. There’s not a day goes by that I don’t think about him and sometimes cry. That’s the affect he had. He’ll always be my boy. I still mourn him.
Currey’s Will-O– the Wisp Sweet Dreams
Willow 2006 - 2020
A really sweet girl with a mind of her own. She was always ready to please. Her nick name was Big Girl. She was big. I’m afraid I spoiled her. She was a bit of a slug. She was originally my son’s for about 2 days (until she peed on his Persian rug and chewed on the leg of his sectional). So I took her in since I don’t believe in taking dogs back. My plans were to breed her and start a therapy dog op to help the returning troops from the war. But I was diagnosed with cancer before she was one and that idea was put on hold. Afterwards and when I was ready, my health took another nose dive and it was too much to deal with then either. When I finally was able forge ahead she was past that time in her life. So she remained with me along with her litter mate, Buffy, who survives. The one thing about Willow was her absolute love of children. She adored them. She and my others would run to the park across the street when they got out of the front door to play with the kids. It was more than a few times. I ended up putting a fence and gate there to keep them from getting hit by a car. Two and a half years ago she was diagnosed with inoperable cancer and given 3 months to live. I put together a health regimen that kept her going for those 2 ½ more years. She was blind, had diabetes and cancer yet she still persisted for those last years. I called her the Everyready Bunny. Every day, though filled with care giving, was a joy. I miss her greatly.
Currey’s Buffy Baby’s My Girl of Clanranald
Buffy 2006 - 2020
Buffy was Willow’s littermate. She was the smallest puppy in the litter. She also was my son’s for 2 days. Then she was mine. I call her my ADD Lab. She was Sam’s girlfriend. He loved Buffy. They snuggled. She was so active and jumped a lot. Storms scared her terribly. She’d crawl under the bed. But a tight t-shirt and turning all lights on have seemed to placate her. In her later years, arthritis and blindness plagued her but she was happy and active. She would pace around looking for Willow every now and then, and Bella comforted her. She's now been reunited with Willow. My very sweet little girl.
Although Sam, Spike, Willow and Buffy are now in Heaven patiently waiting for me with lots of tennis balls, stuffed animals and throw pillows in their mouths, I’m not there to play with them yet. But til then, I decided that the best way to honor them was to give back what they gave me…love and devotion with the love of a Lab for others to experience.
