by Benjamin C. Jones, President & CEO
Our English setter, Pax’s, name came from the genus for American woodcock: Scolopax. Pax is also Latin for peace, although he often missed that memo. He lived every day of his 13 years to the fullest. He was a cover dog by breeding and those of you who participate in field trials or have tried to tame such a beast to a foot companion know what I mean. He had speed and determination! But he was also an affectionate, biddable friend. During his semi-retirement at age seven (following the removal of a 6-pound spleen tumor), he became my wife Michelle’s close companion. Morning routine included Pax throwing himself at her feet with a hardwood resonating thud. “Mom, you can’t imagine how much I missed you overnight.” She was with him when he passed.
Pax’s lifetime was a measuring stick for our family. When he joined us, my daughters were little tikes at ages three and six. When he died, they were young women at 16 and 19. In between was the arrival of a baby boy, 4H dog club, quill pulling by cargo light, great points and half-hearted retrieves – the timestamps that accompany owning and loving a dog.
The week before this past Easter, I was meeting with partners and members in Michigan. A Thursday evening Birds & Brew attracted familiar faces along with folks I didn’t know. I wove through the high-top tables saying hello. The first intro was a couple attending their first RGS & AWS event. I dug in a little. “How’d you hear about us?” Their response made me smile. “Well, a friend recommended we check out RGS & AWS to meet people who might help us learn the ropes with our first bird dog.” I assured them that, indeed, they had come to the right place! Another gentleman was reentering the fold facilitated by retirement. His primary reason? To get acquainted with like-minded sorts who love their bird dogs.
A similar story line repeated for the next five discussions. I’ve been around this outfit long enough that it was no surprise – dogs are a shared passion, a tie that binds. It was nonetheless inspiring and a great reminder, especially knowing I had an ailing friend back home.
The RGS & AWS mission is centered on conserving grouse, woodcock and all forest wildlife. Day in and day out, we work on habitat management and land protection. It’s easy to get caught up in that. We should get caught up in that! But we should also check in regularly and ask ourselves a deeper question. Why does it matter? Of course, there can be many answers; however, one that will often rise to the surface is time afield with our dogs. For me, that answer was front-of-heart during Easter week.
At dawn on Good Friday, my truck was pointed east toward home. Michelle was taking Pax in for a vet check so I awaited her call at midday. Past experience suggested the answer might be as simple as a few pain pills and maybe a laxative – good for another thousand miles. The five-second silence when I answered her call told another story. I’ll take the little box of Pax’s ashes and spread some where he pointed his last grouse. A cover that will provide a few more years of grouse contacts for our young setter, Phoebe. But this cover, like the dog I’ll follow through it in the coming years, will soon pass it’s prime. It seems that good grouse covers are a measuring stick for our lives, too. However, plans are already underway to harvest the hardwood stand just down the road. That newly rejuvenated habitat will be a place for Phoebe to wind up her career and pass the torch along to the new pup who will join our family as this magazine goes to press.
