LF and JC, I must say that I appreciate your board. My best story is a dog I had in college named Juanita. She swam across the river while I was setting the hook. The humpy ended up in her leg... barbless, but deep. I cut the line off at the eye. About six hours after the infraction, I told her to trust me, she laid on her side. I pulled the hook out and she never moved. She died about 5 years ago, in my arms as she was anesthetized, the greatest dog anyone has ever known. She trusted me, loved to swim, loved to go fishing, and the reason for putting her to sleep?
I told my wife, "If she ever cannot get up the steps comfortably and sleep in our room, then it is time." It was time and I still look back on her as the "perfect dog."