Sandspring’s Pearly Mae was born onto this earth on 12/25/07. She was one of seven litter-mate’s born to our foundation bitch Nellie. This was Nellie and Sand Spring’s first litter and a start of something wonderful.

For our first breeding we chose to use HRCH AM CH INTL CH* Nordom’s Apache Rebel MH WDQ “Rebel” as the sire and what beautiful puppies they made.

Mike Fischer was on our list for a puppy out of this litter. He came and picked out orange girl. He gathered her up in his arms and left behind for John and I a hand carved Canvasback decoy with the inscription “Thanks for Pearl”. A friendship was made that day that will be special.

Pearl knew from the moment she got home she was going to be a hunter and she wasn’t messing around she wanted to go go go.

One of her first hunts under a year of age was to North Dakota to get her first Canvasback! It was a start of a wonderful hunting adventure with Pearl and Mike. They put on many miles and filled the freezer with many birds.

Besides hunting Pearl and Mike competed in UKC and AKC hunt tests. She received her AKC Junior Hunter Title.

When not hunting Pearl was getting the love of her family members. She will be missed dearly by Mike, Lisa, Jada and Patrick.

One summer when Pearl was young she spent time with the trainer. We would go visit her while she was there. John hanging out with Momma Nellie and Pearl on one of our visits.

The best times of all were our many trips to Saskatchewan with Mike and Pearl along with the other hunters and their dogs. For the past 10 years she was doing what she was bred for, she was under the big sky retrieving anything from ducks to geese of all variety’s to sharp tail grouse. She would retrieve them all with power and force.

Pearl got to hunt with her buddies: Cooper, Sadie, Grandpa Norman, Momma Nellie, Uncle Gambler, Half Sister Glory, Aunt Marie, Niece Guilty, Niece Preacher, Louie, Zeke, Duke, Nova. The best part for us was she got to she was born into Sand Spring and she got to hunt with other Sand Spring dogs along with our hunting buddies dogs. I’ll never forget Norman teaching Pearl the best spot in the farm house was under the table. After Norman passed that was her spot. She kept us entertained at the farm house by bringing us stuff she retrieved from socks to the littlest piece of wood she found laying around.

Pearl came to WI many times to visit as well. She got to hunt on the pheasant farm in the area and hunt on our public hunting grounds. She came to the 4 ACC WI Chessie Day events right up to this year’s one when her DM was taking over her back legs she went out and retrieved that duck, her mind was all in but her back legs weren’t, with a little help from Mike and his sling she was in heaven again retrieving.

Pearl, Saskatchewan this year will not be the same with out you. We will have a toast in your honor for the many years you were with us. You will never be forgotten as you left many paw prints on our hearts. We will miss you dearly but we know you will be looking down from above and wondering why we missed that bird and will be shaking your head at us and you will be running with your now good legs to go and get it for us!

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand

Where to Bury a Dog

But there is one best place to bury a dog. If you bury him in this spot, he will come to you when you call – come to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death and down the well remembered path to your side again.
And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel, they shall not growl at him nor resent his coming, for he belongs there. People may scoff at you, who see not the lightest blade of grass bend by his foot-fall, who hears no whimper, people who may never really have had a dog. Smile at them, for you shall know something that is hidden from them.

The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master.

Just A Dog

From time to time people tell me, “Lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “That’s a lot of money for just a dog,” They don’t understand the distance traveled, time spent, or costs involved for “Just a dog.” Some of my proudest moments have come about with “Just a dog.” Many hours have passed with my only company being “Just a dog,” and not once have I felt slighted. Some of my saddest moments were brought about by “Just a dog.” In those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “Just a dog” provided comfort and purpose to overcome the day.

If you, too, think its “Just a dog,” you will probably understand phrases like “Just a friend,” “Just a sunrise,” or “Just a promise.” “Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. “Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because of “Just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

For me and folks like me, it’s not “Just a dog.” It’s an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. “Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday people can understand it’s not “Just a dog.” It’s the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “Just a man or woman.”

So the next time you hear the phrase “Just a dog,” smile, because they “Just Don’t Understand.”

*Richard A. Biby

Pearly Mae, thank you for the friendship you started by bringing Mike and Lisa into our lives. It all started out long ago with a wee little pup we are so fortunate that Mike chose a Sand Spring pup because the world has been a better place with all of you in our lives. Peace, love and hope in the days ahead to your family you left behind. You maybe gone but not forgotten!

Here are some video’s of Pearl.

Enjoy that everlasting JOYRIDE in the SKY!