Kutter

9/4/09                HR Blindfaith Cut em All Kutter JH

We are told that at least once in our lives, GOD will bless us with a special dog. I’ve had the blessing of some really good dogs but Kutter had to be my special gift.

He came into this world on 3/9/1999 and left for the Rainbow Bridge on 9/4/2009. His life was filled with love from all who knew him. He did not have a single mean cell in his DNA. He was loving, loyal, obedient, not so steady, and fun to be with. He saved me a million steps on snow goose and duck hunts. He didn’t like dove hunts due to the heat and the small feathers but he always wanted to be there when the guns came out of the cases.

He rode in the front seat of my pickups for tens of thousands of miles. Lots of those miles were spent with his head in my lap or his nose stuck under my arm. If I ever turned to face him while he was sitting up in the seat, I was sure to get a good lick up my face and nose. That was his way of telling me all is well with the world. I think the memories of us spending so many good times in the truck will be my dearest.

Kutter came from a long line of Hunt Test and Field Trial champions. He began his training to follow in his ancestors’ footsteps the day he came home with me at 49 days old. His ability to be trained was much better than my ability to train him. With the help of Andy Mills, he was awarded his AKC Junior Hunter (JH) at 7 months old. He passed his UKC Hunt Retriever (HR) award at 14 months.

Soon after he achieved his HR, I got hurt on the job and spent the next 1 ½ years recouping from 3 surgeries and the loss of my job. Due to physical and monetary issues, the decision was made to not run in any more dog games. I then spent 8 months in PA at taxidermy school so Kutter became more of a back yard pet. We did make a few trips to Missouri during my weekends home for some duck hunts. I took the picture of Kutter with the green winged teal on one of those hunts. That photo will remain the symbol of 5 Rivers for the rest of my days.

During the snow goose hunts of 2004 spring, Kutter came into his true life’s purpose. He was born to chase and retrieve the white geese. He lived for the time we spent scouting, hunting, motel rooms with 3-4 hours sleep each night, meals eaten while in the truck on the road, and all the love and attention he received from our hunt clients. I will never again eat a frosted honey bun without thinking of our days in the blinds. The slightest rustle of a food wrapper could wake him out of the deepest sleep.

He loved the boat and lake. He would watch my rod tip just like he watched my shotgun muzzle. He knew that was where the action came from. He would eat minnows and small fish for as long as I would let him. We had to keep an eye on him or he would be in the open door of the livewell trying to catch the fish we put in there. We came up short on our fish counts on more than one trip. He loved to watch the wildlife from the boat and occasionally got to swim to try to catch a duck or coot. He never caught one on a fishing trip but it was not from lack of trying.

We built the current studio for 5 Rivers Taxidermy in August 2004. He became the best door greeter and attention mooch that has ever been. Many clients called for him as soon as they opened the door. He was known as much as “Big Dog” as he was by his name.

There were days for whatever reason, I had to leave him at home. He never failed to come to the gate or fence to see me off or to plead with me to go. Every morning his job was to run to the front yard to retrieve the newspaper. He would then pee on every bush and tree in the yard and along the street. Then it was time to faithfully bring the wet paper to my hand before jumping up into his front passenger seat in the truck.

He will be sorely missed by Faith, our chocolate lab female, Camo the Killer Cat who adored him at the studio, Bunny our ageless house cat, and all who had the pleasure of knowing or hunting with him.

GOD gave me a special companion when he gave me Kutter. Right now my heart is broken but I know he will not be suffering any longer.

So Long Big Dog. I Love You and I’ll see you at the Rainbow Bridge along with all the other great dogs of my life.