On this page you will find the story and pictures about Brutus, my 12 year old Labrador Retriever. He has been through his share of things during his lifetime. He has done many fun, exciting things and he has had many injuries and surgeries along the way. He lives in an animal condominium in the back yard. He has a sleeping area, eating area, play area, and he even has a swimming pool on one end. He loves to play fetch and go on dog chases. He loves to go hunting when he can get a chance. Brutus has a deep bark and he will bark anytime he hears someone coming up into the yard or someone who he does not know. He is a good watch dog.
Woooo Brutus! You don't walk Brutus, he walks you. He takes you where he wants to go.
Brutus loves to play fetch. He will even jump up and catch the pine cone or whatever it is you throw for him. He is a good catcher.
Brutus loves being petted and scratched. He loves to snuggle with you and climb all over you. He will sometimes give kisses. He will also shake your hand. All you have to do is say "Shake" and he will hold his front right paw up for you to shake it.
Brutus eating a Thanksgiving Feast! He loves to eat. Table scraps are his favorite.
Brutus is going into the water to look for a ball. He loves to fetch and swim. We would throw things in the water for him to go in, find them, and swim out with them. He loved a water hole.
Brutus found the ball and he is swimming out with it. He was a good swimmer.
Brutus on the back on the truck ready to ride. Brutus loved doing this. He could jump over the back and load himself. He would ride on the back when we would take him on dog chases around DuPont late at night. The dogs around the town would come out and run the truck and Brutus would growl, snap, and bark at them. We would wake the whole town up. Before long everyone would hear a bunch of dogs barking and say here comes Jimmy, Amy, and Brutus.
Brutus' Femur Injury in December 2001
Garrison - one of Brutus' descendents
Garrison's Baby Picture! He was one of Brutus and Peaches' puppies that we kept. Garrison lived to be four years old. He was hit by a truck on the road in front of our house. Garrison was so hyper and playful. He loved to roll around and play in mud and dirty water.
Garrison getting a puppy bath in my tub in my bathroom at my mother's house.
Garrison graduating from obedience school on July 9, 2002. He received a diploma. I had it framed and hung it on the wall in my bedroom.
This is a picture of Garrison that was made on his first birthday in January 2003. He was a beautiful dog.
Brutus playing in his very own swimming pool in his section of the animal condominium.
Brutus getting a bath by the porch. After that bath we decided it was well worth the $20 to take him to the vet and let them wash him.
Brutus walking in the yard. He stopped long enough to pose for t he camera.
Brutus' 12th Birthday Party, December 29, 2007.
Here is Brutus looking at his cake and licking his lips. He was ready for a piece. It was hard holding him down until we could sing "Happy Birthday" and get the candles blown out.
This is a picture of the cake I had Publix to make for Brutus' 12th birthday. Written on the cake is "Happy Birthday Brutus You've Made it to 12!". The cake had 12 candles on it.
Brutus gifts! He recieved a ramp to help him get in and out of my SUV easier. He received a seat cover to sit on when he rides in the SUV so he will not coat the seat in thick yellow dog hair.
His party was complete with helium filled balloons and decorations. At the end of the party we tied the balloons to his collar and his walked around the yard with them.
Dog Guests at the Party
Polichinelle
Fraser At the party Fraser decided he would turn the table over with the cake on it. Luckily everyone, dogs and humans, had already be served a piece of cake. Fraser ate the rest of it.
Brutus' Death
Brutus lived to be 12 and a half years old. He died in his sleep early Sunday Morning on July 21, 2008. We had him cremated and we have his remains in a walnut finished box with his name. birthday and death date on it sitting on the bookshelf in the den. He spent ,most of his time his last year living in the den laying on the cool floor.
Below is the letter Mom wrote to Brutus when he died. The original copy of the letter is placed inside the box of his remains.
Seeing this old ragged straw broom with a wooden handle on Mrs. Ragan's bus brought back the memories of Brutus chewing up a broom each Saturday at the chicken house. We had a wooden broom that we used to sweep the area where we picked up eggs at. Brutus would go in there and pick the broom up with his mouth and tote it out by the handle. He would get on the side of the chicken house so no one could see him and lay in the sun and chew up the broom. He would chew the handle up some but his favorite part was pulling out the straws one by one and slinging them around. Needless to say when we finished picking up eggs we had a nice mess to clean up before we could go home. We purchased one broom per week. No matter where we put the broom Brutus would also manage to find it and get it.