Killian #2

Killian #2. (iPhone photo by Tim McKee.)

Years ago my wife and I had a Killian. Irish-Setter #5, rescue #3, dog #6 (our first dog was not Irish).

“Come down outta that tree and fight!” (Photo by BobbaLew.)

Since Killian #1 we got one more rescue Irish: beloved Scarlett, gone at age-13, my/our longest-lived Irish. Six years ago, during that dog’s life, my wife died of cancer. Leaving me alone with Scarlett.
Tim McKee of Kittanning, PA had a 9-year old Irish named Killian he’s had since a puppy. Divorced, he found himself alone with Killian.
Not the first time.
Our dog #3, Sabrina, was also a divorce victim, I think. Except Sabrina was returned to her breeder. We got her from that breeder. Nevertheless, Sabrina was rescue.
That poor guy is still working. Unlike me he’s not retired. Killian had to be inside his house all day. This was perceived as unfair to a sporting-dog.
So that guy contacted Irish-Setter Rescue of north Jersey. I’m on their Yahoo e-mail list, so was immediately notified. “Interested?” BAM! “I have someone interested in Killian.
rhughes3@rochester.rr.com, he lost his last Irish in Nov.
He has always adopted from us and lives in Bloomfield, NY south of Rochester.”
It’s beginning to sound like I‘m gonna get Killian #2 — maybe Easter weekend. McKee called. 9-years-old is fairly old; 3-4 more years, maybe more.
The guy hates letting go of his dog; I can understand that. I hated giving up on Scarlett; she was still very spunky, and probably coulda snagged a few more critters — even at age-13. At least 20 rabbits died in her jaws, innumerable mice and moles, and once four baby chipmunks at the same time. But she was getting seizures, and looked bedraggled.
With me it becomes lotsa walks for Killian #2, plus my dog-park property. I hope the dog can accommodate swapping masters.
“Best $16,000 we ever spent: 3.5+ acres fully fenced, five-foot chainlink; keeps a dog outta the highway.” I live on a two-lane state highway: loud Harleys blast past at 80 mph. Crotch-rockets hit 100! —And of course the speed-limit is 40.
My wife and I loved Scarlett. That fence was slam-dunk. We could afford it, since no Corvette, no speedboat, no motorhome. Also no kids to put through college.
Scarlett escaped once = scary. With my wife gone, Scarlett became The Queen = no longer any competition. I was still boss-dog: leader-of-the-pack.
I spoiled Scarlett rotten. Often two long walks per day, plus she pre-washed all plates and pans before I put ‘em in the dishwasher.
Spunky as she was, she was getting old. She became hard-of-hearing; I had to shout. Eye-contact became our signal.
“Aye MeatHead, a kitty-cat is in yer back yard.” 13 years old, 91 in human years: ZOOM!
If a rabbit was inside her pen, it was dead meat.
She began getting seizures, and was diagnosed with diabetes. Finally I gave up; my boarder, who also loved Scarlett, calls it “caring about your dog.”
I was devastated! Best dog I ever had.
“So get another dog,” friends advised. I’ve given this advice myself. My wife was dog-catcher before. Every prior dog was her doing. I had no idea where to start.
Somehow I contacted Ohio Irish-Setter Rescue, probably from a Google-search. They were Scarlett’s original source. Rescue Irish-Setters were very rare, so I switched to English-Setter Rescue. I’ve always been in contact with that rescue Irish-Setter organization in north Jersey. That lady keeps a Yahoo e-mail group, and I’m on it. She e-mails a couple times per week.
“There’s another, and I can’t do anything.” (I had Scarlett back then.) That north-Jersey Irish-Setter rescue may have had something to do with Scarlett; I wasn’t involved.
Around-and-around I went. Various English-Setter Rescues lined me up for an English. They also did an assessment of my home, and their English didn’t wanna leave.
Suddenly that north-Jersey Irish-Setter lady Yahooed me about Killian #2. So now it sounds like I might end up with that dog.
I’m a little scared. I’ve never done this before. But I sure miss having a silly dog around. And I prefer Irish-Setters. Irish are nutty, and that’s what I want.
Walk the silly dog; hunt-huntity-hunt! Sniff-snort; “I’ll get it, Boss. Take it home and cook it over an open fire.”
As one of my tee-shirts says: “Irish-Setter; anything else is just a dog.” Don’t know as that’s true, but Killian #2 would be Irish-Setter number-seven. Scarlett wasn’t a hunter at first, but quickly found it thrilling.

• My wife died of cancer April 17th, 2012. I still miss her. Best friend I ever had, and after my childhood I needed one. She actually liked me.
• RE: “MeatHead.....” —Every dog we (I) ever owned I’ve nicknamed “MeatHead.” With me Scarlett knew of herself as “MeatHead.” (Killian #1, who was rather small, I called “Little MeatHead.”) —“MeatHead” because like a pot-head likes marijuana, dogs like meat.