Life of Gus 2001-2013

[Bear Island South]

We are saddened today for the loss of our beloved friend Guster.
He died peacefully today at home surrounded by his family.

Gus loved the lake and started his journey at 10 weeks when we surpised the kids at the Y-Landing for day-off (YMCA Camps).

The day he met the kids and we were getting ready for the drive home he feel asleep in his bowl outside of Jackson Star.

He always wanted in on the action, riding the tube or jumping in the Kayaks.

You can now cross the Rainbow bridge and find your friend Cooper.
Rest in Peace my friend, you will be missed.

[Bear Island South]

A few more of Gus enjoying what the Lake gave him.

[brk-lnt]

What an awesome looking boy he was! So sorry for your loss.

[tis]

Aww, he looks like such a lovable old guy! So, so sorry.

[ishoot308]

Wow B.I.S....Really sorry for your loss of Gus. Those are beautiful pictures!

Dan

[Nagigator]

.......but, isn't it wonderful you were able to give him such a happy life.

[gillygirl]

What a beautiful boy! So sorry for your loss.

GG

[sky's]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Wow B.I.S....Really sorry for your loss of Gus. Those are beautiful pictures!

Dan

god speed Gus. i have 2 girls both just turned 13 and a male who is 4years.

[Belmont Resident]

It looks like you had a lot of enjoyment while he was around.

We lost one recently as well, but with the new puppy we are again back up to four dogs.

[rgilfert]

I so hate to hear/read about someone losing their dog!!!! Just seeing the pictures that you shared of Gus makes it obvious what a close family member he was! Really sorry for your loss!!

[Rattlesnake Gal]

I am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful Guster. What an excellent photo memorial. Rest in peace Gus - Forever in your family's hearts. I hope your sweet girl, Riley, will help ease your pain.

[cillovely]

So sorry for your loss, what a handsom boy he was!!!

Those pictures of him makes my decision to get a Lab puppy in the next few weeks even more solid.

[eillac@dow]

BIS...

Those photos are awesome! I feel so horrible for the pain you & your family are going thru....but only "you all" can experince the joy of your memories. Enjoy each and every one of them.

Your baby looked like he enjoyed it all! Swimming , tubing or just hanging out.....you had a real NH Boy.

Best to you and your family....

Eillac (allie)

[Bear247]

Gus will be missed greatly on Bear Island. Just wont be the same not seeing him at our back door.

[chipj29]

Very sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved Gus. It looks like he led a very happy "dogs life".

[Bear Island South]

Originally Posted by Bear247

Gus will be missed greatly on Bear Island. Just wont be the same not seeing him at our back door.

Funny story to this picture...our gracious neighbors liked to feed Gus treats so every morning he would be waiting at their back door for someone to head up to the outhouse.

This picture was taken mid November after they had closed up for the season, he was over there for a good hour just waiting patiently, I finally had to bring him a treat so he would come home.

Thanks Matt and Belinda for always making him feel welcome.

[SIKSUKR]

Nice tribute.Love the photo of Gus bringing in the paper.

[Bear Island South]

Thank you to everyone who commented, it has been and emotional few days for our family. Gus was our first family pet, and not just a pet but a member of the family.
We spoiled him and in return he gave us some great memories.

I found this from a 2004 article in the Boston Globe:

It’s a bit tearing but so true on the love these blessed dogs bring to us..
They should come with a warning label, these creatures. They should come with a label that says you're going to fall hopelessly in love, only to have your heart shattered before you could ever possibly prepare. And then you face one of life's truly wrenching decisions.

In the end Gus suffered from a cancerous tumor in his nose and nasal cavity so it came down to a decision of quality of life.

[BaileyBecca]

A wonderful memorial to Gus. We love all our fury four legged family members!

[SAMIAM]

Something about unquestioned love and loyalty that non pets owners do not experience.....makes it even more painful.So sorry that you lost your wonderful friend.

[DRH]

Sorry for your loss of a beloved family member, BIS. Your photos are a wonderful tribute to his life. You'll always have your fond memories of him.

[jtb9212]

I too am sorry for your loss. I know just how you feel. January 24th my wife and I had to lay our 12.5 year old black lab Hunter to rest. He too had a nasal tumor, osteocarcinoma of the nasal cavity. It also came down to a quality of life issue with him as well. My wife and I are devastated. Thankfully we have Max our 13 month old black lab. It is helping with the emptyness we are feeling but it really sucks to be quite honest. They sure do consume your heart for sure. Allwe can do is remember the love they brought int our lives and try to move on.....attached is a picture of Hunter and Max

[Bear Island South]

Originally Posted by jtb9212

Thankfully we have Max our 13 month old black lab. It is helping with the emptyness we are feeling but it really sucks to be quite honest.

We have Riley (19 months) too, she sure does miss him...we will most likely get another one in the spring. Black Labs are like potato chips, you can't just have one.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

jtb9212, I am so very sorry for your loss. It is a good thing that you have Max to help ease the pain. I bet he learned a lot from your Hunter. Our pet are so much more than pets. They are family. (Is it just me? No picture is showing of your canine kids.)

Bear Island South, we have found that Cairn Terriers are much the same... two are so much better than one! I don't think I could have handled losing our Bailey at such a young age without Harry. Five more weeks until our new sweetheart.

[tis]

Originally Posted by jtb9212

I too am sorry for your loss. I know just how you feel. January 24th my wife and I had to lay our 12.5 year old black lab Hunter to rest. He too had a nasal tumor, osteocarcinoma of the nasal cavity. It also came down to a quality of life issue with him as well. My wife and I are devastated. Thankfully we have Max our 13 month old black lab. It is helping with the emptyness we are feeling but it really sucks to be quite honest. They sure do consume your heart for sure. Allwe can do is remember the love they brought int our lives and try to move on.....attached is a picture of Hunter and Max

So sorry for you loss, too, jt.

[jtb9212]

I guess my photos didn't upload. At least Max got to spend a year with his big brother Hunter. The were really the best of pals. Hunter will be missed just like Gus. The love they give us is amazing and how much they add to our lives.

[gillygirl]

jtb, so sorry for your loss. Your four-legged children are beautiful.

GG

[VitaBene]

So sorry for the loss of your friend

[winnisummergal]

So sorry for your loss. Take comfort in knowing you gave him a fabulous life.

[trfour]

I do have a question for you.







Was he a cookie monst'ah, like Me??

Terry
____________________________________

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Whenever I lose a pet I tell myself that I am not getting another one because the loss is so difficult. Then.....I get another one and I am so glad. I have been fortunate my last cat lived to 21 years of age and my current cat is 16 years of age. Gus was very lucky to share a home with you and you were lucky to share a home with him.

[webmaster]

I came across this today and it made me think of this thread:

TAKE JOY IN…..OLD DOGS

Their joys are simple. A soft bed. A scrap fallen from the table that the younger dogs missed. The memory of a treed squirrel. A stormless night.

White whiskered faces and legs crooked as question marks.

Old Dogs…their sweet Buddha bellies hang over crossed legs as they fall asleep in a coveted patch of sun. Dreaming of out-racing their shadows down long, shady lanes.

Once they danced by your side. The very definition of joy unleashed. A perfect poem caught in shining eyes and wagging tails. They have followed you faithfully for years. And would plunge into fires, untamed wildernesses, raging waters if you asked.

Now, they struggle to catch up. Their pace slow but their hearts still valiant.
Their cloudy eyes are starting to dim and go distant, tuning in to some invisible world. Just beyond your reach.

Don’t go you say, as you scratch the tender part between their ears. Stay longer. I can’t imagine a world without your fur pressed close to my cheek. There are still so many roads we haven’t explored.

And they look up at you with a wisdom that just slays you.

Their backs are bent, not from the weight of years, but from the invisible wings they are growing
That will soon take them to a place where once more they are warriors of speed
Drunk with the sights and scents of a thousand meadows.
Able to leap high enough to touch the wing of the tiniest butterfly.

A place where they will now wait for you to catch up.

H/T Donna Swajeski / AnimalAidUsa.org

[Chaselady]

Originally Posted by webmaster

I came across this today and it made me think of this thread:

This made me cry...

[Bear Island South]

Originally Posted by trfour

I do have a question for you.

Was he a cookie monst'ah, like Me??

That would be our younger lab Riley...she has an eating disorder

[Bear Island South]

Originally Posted by webmaster

I came across this today and it made me think of this thread:

I can only hope when my times comes Gus will be there to greet me.

[Coolbreeze]

Ugh... this all makes one wonder why do we subject ourselves to such heartache. But then I step and I reflect back to the amount of joy a pet brings to our lives, and the heartache doesn't seem so bad...but it is still always there.

[gillygirl]

Originally Posted by Coolbreeze

Ugh... this all makes one wonder why do we subject ourselves to such heartache. But then I step and I reflect back to the amount of joy a pet brings to our lives, and the heartache doesn't seem so bad...but it is still always there.

Maybe this is why we do it. I couldn't make it past 3 weeks without a dog.

[MikeF-NH]

very touching thread. It brings back happy (and sad) memories of Casey and Jake and Bear will soon join his brothers.

One thing that I always see in pictures of dogs is they are a measure of the growth of our own children. Their lives are typically around 12-13 years and as we browse pictures of them with our children, they are a chronicle of large portions of our children's lives while our kids are still living at home. As we left go of our 4-legged friends, we often look back to these pictures and are reminded of them and our kids growing together.

[dpg]

Bear Island sorry to hear. I had to put my best buddy down Friday 4/5 and it really s!@#$...

After reading through this thread (which I didn't want to do) I need to go in the bathroom and cry so nobody at work see's me.

[Bear Island South]

Originally Posted by dpg

Bear Island sorry to hear. I had to put my best buddy down Friday 4/5 and it really s!@#$...

After reading through this thread (which I didn't want to do) I need to go in the bathroom and cry so nobody at work see's me.

DPG - Sorry to hear about your loss.
I get teary eyed every time I see the pictures again.

[Aguamenti]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Looks like he led a very happy life with you. The best gift we can give a dog is to love them as unconditionally as they love us, IMO.

[tis]

So sorry, dpg. Why do we have to EVER lose our animals??? Or anything, people or pets for that matter!

[KWilliams]

My wife and I live in Pennsylvania and this will be our 22nd year in a row to visit the lake in Center Harbor. We have two black labs ourselves ... Lexy and Jitterbug. I always thought the picture of your boy on the blue tube was one of my all time favorite Lab pictures. We'll beep on the way past Bear Island in tribute to Gus when we come up in June. I'm a 56 year old grown man and I had to close my office door and cry upon reading this. They really do enrich our lives. Thank you for sharing this wonderful tribute to Gus.

[BroadHopper]

Sorry for the loss. The pictures bring back memories of my beloved black lab, Chammie. She loves the lake so much so, I can't keep her out of the water!

May they have happiness in Black lab heaven.