Saying Goodbye to the Mighty Wolfhound

/ Richard R. Barron / 3 Comments
As usual, my mighty Irish wolfhound Hawken keeps a watchful eye on me and my garden.

This week, I had to have my Irish wolfhound, Hawken Rifle Trail, euthanized. He was a great dog and a great friend. Very large breeds don’t live as long as smaller dogs, and he was very old, almost nine.

Hawken and I take a walk on a summer day in 2023. Photo by Robert Stinson.
Hawken and I take a walk on a summer day in 2023. Photo by Robert Stinson.
This was Hawken on the day Abby and I got him in the spring of 2017.
This was Hawken on the day Abby and I got him in the spring of 2017.
Giving Hawken a bath was a labor of love.
Giving Hawken a bath was a labor of love.
Dogs need us and we need them.
Dogs need us and we need them.
Abby puts her arms around Hawken.
Abby puts her arms around Hawken.
Hawken loved walks, which we took every day, rain or shine. He loved kids. He was always happiest when the weather was cold. Photo by Robert Stinson.
Hawken loved walks, which we took every day, rain or shine. He loved kids. He was always happiest when the weather was cold. Photo by Robert Stinson.
In the winter months, Hawken and I could walk for miles.
In the winter months, Hawken and I could walk for miles.
Abby and Hawken have a moment in the hall.
Abby and Hawken have a moment in the hall.
I never knew a gentler, more affectionate dog on the planet than Hawken, my Irish Wolfhound.
I never knew a gentler, more affectionate dog on the planet than Hawken, my Irish Wolfhound.

3 Comments

  1. I’m so sad! And I didn’t realize he was that old …. I guess he seemed so young. Yep, dogs need us, and we need them.

  2. So sorry…it’s such a difficult thing to do. I’ve always enjoyed seeing photos of him, they take a little piece of our hearts with them when they leave us…

  3. Thank you again for sharing all your posts about and pictures of Hawken. He certainly had a lot of personality as well as love in his eyes and all around him.

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