Lakeview Ranch: Curly Missouri Fox Trotters

On July 17th, 2009  I had to make the decision to put our Max to sleep. 

Max was 15 yrs. old and suffered from hip problems and with the heat index yesterday at 100 degrees, bless his heart, was dragging his back legs to make it to the dairy barn with my husband, Bill.

We got Max when he was just a puppy and I held him on my right shoulder when we picked him up.  He was so scared.

We lived in a 14 x 52 mobile home at the time and we kept him in the home with us and Buffy, our Golden Retriever (she passed away of a heart attack 12 yrs ago).

Within 7 months he was so big that he took up the whole size and length of a day bed!  Time for him to go outside all the time.

I would trim Max's hair every spring and he either looked like a Poodle or a Schnauzer... if he had a Poodle cut we would call him Pierre and if he looked like a Schnazer we called him Fritz...LOL... he would look at us like " Who are you talking to?".

He loved our Jersey heifer calves and he would even let them pacify themselves by letting them suck on his ears. 

Max would smile and I wish I would of got a picture of him when he would smile!

He scared strangers when he would do this..but he never hurt anyone.

Max loved his Uncle Ralph whe he would come down from St. Louis.  Uncle Ralph would bring him doughnuts from Krisy Kream and Max just loved doughnuts! 

Max kept skunks, opposums and coyotes away from the farm, by barking so much and such a deep bark that they wouldn't even come close to the dairy.

Max was attacked 3 yrs ago by an Akita that a man had turned loose.  Max was protecting my mom's puppy that was being attacked by the Akita... then the Akita attacked Max and hurt his hips.

Max always stayed at the dairy barn while Bill milked, when Bill bottle fed the calves and then would protect our log home all night long.

Max will be missed so much!  He was friendly and loved everyone. 

I know he was suffering and I know this was the best thing to do, but it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. 

Our woman vet, Lisa, came to our home and peacefully put Max to sleep.

Max is now buried in the yard by Buffy and Missy(Cat).

I have plans soon to make Max, Buffy and Missy a Stained Glass Stepping Stone to lay at their grave sites.

I love you Max and I know one day we will see each other again!  Bless Your Heart.

Your Human Parents:

Bill and Sandy Phipps