Golden Retrievers
In September 1994 we needed another puppy. We called Kim Cain to see if she had one available. She had one male left from a recent litter. Two days later I went to the airport to pick up our new addition. For this litter the naming theme was wind to honor a recently lost progenitor named Whirlwind. Previous research produced the name of a sail boat, a two-mast schooner named Timberwind. We decided on Mystics Timberwind for his registered name, keeping the sailing ship and the wind themes. He was a very strong willed puppy. Hurricane Andrew, a very strong storm, had occurred only two years earlier. So he was given Andy as his call name to carry on the wind theme.
Even as a pup Andy believed it was fun to get dirty.
Having a square butt enabled him to sit up like this.
Andy descended from American and British lines. He was an eager hunter and retriever. My favorite place to hunt ducks is the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge south of Monte Vista, CO. In October 1999 my friend Jim Norton, Andy, and I headed to the San Luis Valley for a few days of waterfowl hunting. Andy loved it because he had an excuse to get in the water and swim. The photo above shows Norton with Andy and some of the birds he retrieved.
Andy loved exploring. He would check out anything that looked interesting. Culverts looked interesting to him so he had to see what was inside them.
Andy never knew Jean's father but he was fascinated by the 1951 Chevy pickup that was her dad's work truck for several years. Whenever the truck was started up to go somewhere, even just around the property, Andy had to ride along. Andy also was always ready to go with us on camping trips with our travel trailer. One day after we had discussed a trip, we were surprised to hear the horn on the old truck being blown. We looked out and saw Andy in the driver's seat anxious to go. Somehow he had sneaked out with the truck key and proceeded to hitch up the travel trailer so we could go. To Andy a truck was a truck and I could never explain to his satisfaction that the Old '51 wasn't adequate to tow the trailer.
Andy had one fault. He thought cow pies were to be used to make him more appealing. The fresher, the better. We can't count the times he had to go for a swim before getting back in the truck.
As with the others Andy had couch privileges. That was, however, only after he had bathed to remove all remnants of his favorite fragrance.
I held him as he went over the Rainbow Bridge on 24 August 2004.