07/06/2025
RIP TBH’s Red out of Zig x Pistol
A real soldier was laid to rest over the weekend. In what seems to be a rare occurrence, TBH’s Red out of Zig X Pistol, a jam up hog dog, had her last sleep and died of old age on the 3rd. Born on 10/30/2013, she was, coming up on her 12th birthday.
To be honest, it’s special to have such a thing happen; a hog dog grown old. We toss around the idea of dogs that work this line of work going out doing what they love, but in all actuality, that’s hard to stomach sometimes. It’s happened plenty, but not the best when it plays out. Ideally you’d like to be able to say your goodbyes, but that seems rare as well. Dogs seem to know better. Normally these angels we call our partners in crime go to sleep and don’t wake up, if we’re lucky. They serve us and their purpose, typically performing the job we assign without question, then they’re gone, like a small summer rain storm or some vivid rainbow. Here at Texas Boar Hounds, we do our best to remember them as well as we can. Looking back through old memories, reminiscing of good times gone, and that in itself is tough to swallow because the weight of time and age seem to sit heavy during and afterwards. I personally think the hopes of these memories becoming some type of permanent record are what we aim for, but nothing seems to last forever, so it’s a best effort type of thing. Maybe one day when we’re all old and frail will be able to look back and smile, knowing we lived full lives, and with awesome and fearless companions at our sides.
Red didn’t have the typical start of a hog dog, but came around with time, tracks, and a handle. In the end, she was one you judged others against to see if they’d make the grade. She was a tattletale, and broke off most everything, which wasn’t an easy task to say the least. She was an ornery gyp, and didn’t take any crap off anyone. Couldn’t breed, or she would have certainly had offspring. She was a great companion, a damn good hog dog, and one that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. Rowdy Creed did well by her and TBH, putting her in the woods every chance he got, and loving her like a good dog should be loved. Sorry for your loss , bud. They’ll be more to come along and leave in a similar manner if you’re lucky.
Dogs teach us quite a few things about life, but without a doubt, they teach us how to love and how to cope with lose. None of it’s easily learned, it sucks and hurts, but it sticks. It’s meaningful, and that means it was real. Choking up typing this out, having scrolled through a mountain of pictures of warriors since past, I’m reminded of how precious these bonds we share over time have become, and how the ability to do so seems to fade with the time that passes. In the moment, it feels like it will last forever, but in all actuality it couldn’t be further from that, and is as temporary as green leaves on an Oak prior to Fall. Take it all in as it comes, as you might not realize when that experience may be your last hunt.
RIP Red. Tell the others we said howdy! We’ll see y’all before too long. 👊🏻😎
