Best dog in the World
He was only about 45-50 lbs but he was smart and quick.
He was an adventurer in the woods. I always let him get out of my site if he wanted to, because I knew he wasn't far.
He was an excellent swimmer and you had to make him get out of the water or he would stay in the cold spring water all day.
He was about 13 years old and very active until this winter. I think a combination of arthritis, demensia and just getting old was the real cause of his downfall.
It is very hard to make the decision to put a dog to sleep. A dog is a companion, he is the one you take hiking in the woods. He alerts you to danger at home and when out in the field. He tells you when the mailman is coming or when a possum or fox is running up the road.
I never knew a dog as smart as ickis was. Never was this dog a bother to me. He didn't chew up things, was there when you needed him and his greatest joys were swimming in the river and chasing lizards all day long on the farm.
I guess i should explain his name. My wife (who died in 2005) used to watch a cartoon on TV called "Real Monsters". "Ickis" was one of the characters on the cartoon.
When a dog gets to where his quality of life goes downhil, do the right thing and send him to a better place.
His legs finally gave out and he couldn't keep his balance. I knew I had to do the right thing. Don't let them suffer!
"To one of my best friends, ickis, may you rest in peace".
