Yesterday, October 1, 2004, my beloved Zack unexpectedly passed away. He was 10 years and 14 days old.

I had taken him to the Assumpink Wildlife Management area for a little run. He loved it there and, as in the past, he got all excited as soon as we approached the area. Once there, I let him out of the car and immediately he ran to the edges of the dirt road smelling every bush, flower, weed or hedgerow. He would trot a little ahead of me and then dilly-dally a little until I caught up with him.

Suddenly, he stopped, looked at me and collapsed. I applied mouth to mouth resuscitation to no avail. He was gone.

I have had dogs for the most part of my life. In the last 35 years, I always had pointers and I loved them all. But Zack was special. I got him when I retired and had the opportunity to spend a lot more time with him than I did with my other dogs. We played and hunted together, I shared my food with him and we slept in the same bed. He was my shadow.

I cried like a baby all day yesterday and I am doing the same now as I write this. 

Farewell my beloved friend and companion. I'll miss you tremendously.