A Tribute to Sadie and Great Dogs Everywhere

In life, being blessed with a dog is something I could not imagine living without. They become part of the family and part of our lives, more so than many humans do. They are there for us in joy and pain, always having the appearance of care and offering comfort.

Any end to this great relationship would seem to come at an inopportune time. Two days ago, August 20, 2013, I was saddened to get the medical results on one of the true foundation females of our breeding program. I was told just that one of my girls, Soggy Acres’ Sadie Belle, was not pregnant after being bred and terminally ill with only weeks to live. We responded with shock: it just doesn’t seem possible. Sadie still possesses the enthusiastic, high-energy zest for life she had yesterday, as she looks lovingly on her owners. It just doesn’t seem right.

The joy of Sadie has radiated beyond my life and that of her family. Sadie has given millions of viewers joy as she appeared on my TV show, and she has birthed over 40 puppies that are out in the world, deeply affecting the lives they touch. It’s cliché to say that they just don’t live long enough, but so true. The contract we make with our dogs begs for a lifetime together, but inevitably ends after a short period in the timeline of our life.

Sadie will pass to the Rainbow Bridge, and will wait for us on the other side (unless a tasty pheasant happens to waltz by). Believe what you will, but I believe a great animal like her, that was such a blessing in our lives, will be there when our time ends as well. It’s hard to watch, but I appreciate having time to spend with our four-legged buddies prior to them leaving us.

Hug your pup, appreciate them, and get them out in the field as much as possible. There is nothing like the bond that we have with these gentle, intelligent, and caring animals. When her time comes, Sadie will take her place as yet another chapter in my book of great dogs.

The Rainbow Bridge

Author Unknown

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.
For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.
The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

Jeff and Katherine Fuller

Jeff Fuller, Host and Executive Producer of SportingDog Adventures, always loved dogs and hunting, but never expected to make a career out of it. Jeff followed his college career and time in the Army Reserve with a career in law enforcement, until a squad accident ended his career in 2005. Looking for a new path, Jeff began to expand his Labrador breeding program and incorporated Soggy Acres Retrievers. Appearances on local television shows inspired him to aim higher, and SportingDog Adventures was created to provide wholesome, family entertainment geared towards those with an interest in dogs and the outdoors. The show is now in its 4th season, with new episodes beginning each July on the Pursuit Channel, as well as several other networks including The Walk, Tuff TV, and Wild TV Canada. The show is also available year-round online at www.carbontv.com.

Katherine Fuller, wife of Jeff Fuller, came from a dog-loving family with a history of hunting that goes all the way back to her European roots. Still, she never expected to end up using her years of accounting experience and her marketing degree in support of a Labrador breeding program and a hunting show. In addition to her accounting and PR duties with Soggy Acres Retrievers kennel and SportingDog Adventures TV, Kate also appears on many of the episodes, and has also formed a marketing company, Brown Dog Communications, offering the outdoors industry media kits, press releases, web content, social media management, and more. Her contributions to OutdoorHub and other samples of her work can be found at www.browndogco.com. When she’s not writing or chasing after the dogs or the kids, she enjoys researching recipes and natural products, as well as organizing the family’s extensive photo collection.