Haddie Bell was a squirrel dog. I met Haddie Bell on a tailgate prior to a squirrel hunt and it was obvious she was all business. I wanted to pet Haddie Bell and get to know her before heading into the woods, but she would have none of it. Her mind was on hunting as she watched the treetops nearby for a fleeing grey squirrel. I did mange a single lick and a look of acceptance before it was over and Justin Robertson, Haddie Bell’s master, told me that was more than he expected her to give me.
After a big breakfast with the typical sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, big fluffy homemade biscuits with milk gravy like your momma made, we hit the woods. Haddie Bell treed a squirrel right off. I still wonder if she spotted this squirrel back on the tailgate so she would be ready at the start. The squirrel was dispatched and Haddie Bell retrieved it like she was trained so many years before. She quickly returned to hunting because that’s what a hunting dog does, and they love it.
This was just my second time hunting squirrels with a dog. I have always preferred still hunting or sitting in the woods quietly watching and listening for the flick of a tail or the rustling of leaves. As a kid my dad and I hunted quail and trained bird dogs. This is where my love of hunting dogs comes from and watching Haddie Bell work those squirrels brought back many great memories of walking the hills and hollers of Lynchburg Tennessee watching our dogs work singles, after missing every bird on the rise.
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Over the years I have stayed away from hunting squirrels with a dog. Not because I didn’t like to but because I was afraid that I would purchase a squirrel dog for myself. My love for hunting dogs is still there from my youth and I know that watching one work diligently to tree a squirrel, and see the enthusiasm after a successful harvest, just might have me looking for my own. You see when it comes to a hunting dog there is more to it than the hunting.
Justin began training Haddie Bell as a pup. The bond grew stronger as together they worked through the ups and downs of hunting with a pup learning what is expected of them. These ups and downs with Haddie Bell along with time spent laying by a campfire or keeping her quiet the couple times she was sneaked into a motel room to keep warm during a road trip in the winter, all builds a relationship like no other. A hunting partner evolves, and a best friend is forged. This is the relationship that Justin had with Haddie Bell and it was evident.
Justin told me about Haddie Bell while standing there by the tailgate before breakfast. Haddie Bell had beaten cancer and had been cancer free for several years. She was tough and her demeanor showed it. Even through all the cancer treatments and the pain, her love for squirrel hunting never waned. Of course, this only made Justin’s love of his hunting partner stronger. You could hear the relief in Justin’s voice as he told the story that Haddie Bell was still with us and able to do what she loved. This story only made me respect Haddie Bell even more. Not just for being a squirrel dog but for being a survivor.
The day went well as Haddie Bell treed squirrels for a group of young hunters, many who had never hunted before. Squirrels were harvested, stories were told, friends were made and smiles created on that hunt with Haddie Bell, like so many other hunts she provided unselfishly. Her mission was to find a squirrel, tree it and offer a shot, the rest was up to you. There was no time for disdain when you missed or congratulations when you hit it was just on to the next squirrel for Haddie Bell.
This hunt was a great one and might have rekindled that fear in me to get me a squirrel dog for myself. I would get me a squirrel dog if I wasn’t so busy with other things, but I have been known to do things I shouldn’t, that’s the fear part. I have always loved hunting dogs no matter what kind. Squirrel dogs like Haddie Bell don’t fall from the sky. They are created through hard work, time in the woods and love. I think love might be the most important part of making a great hunting dog and Haddie Bell had plenty of that.
I got a call the other day from Justin. He told me that Haddie Bell had a new cancer, and you could hear the optimism in Justin’s voice. “She’s going to beat this cancer like the other.” Justin told me he wanted to do one last hunt with Haddie Bell and get some more photos of her doing her thing. We made plans to take Haddie Bell hunting here in Kentucky this season. I looked forward to seeing Justin and Haddie Bell for one last hunt.
Haddie Bell was 10 years old, and Justin informed me that this would be her last hunt, and I felt honored to be a part of that. “Yep, after this hunt with you I’m hanging up her collar and retiring her to a life of relaxation,” Justin said. I knew and Justin agreed that the hunt needed to be an easy one for Haddie Bell and I had just the place. Justin was driving to the vet with Haddie Bell during this call, so the worry was in the air, but Justin kept his optimistic outlook at the forefront. “Oh, she’ll beat this too like she did before,” Justin told me again with no doubt in his voice.
It was just a couple days later when I got the call. It was Justin and his voice told it all. “I’m going to have to put Haddie Bell down. She won’t be making it to Kentucky for one last hunt. She’s going to the big squirrel woods in the sky Ken.” My heart sank and I was speechless. I let Justin gather himself and he continued with nothing but great admiration for his hunting partner. I think he knew he could spill it all to me knowing I would understand his pain. It’s a pain like no other, tempered only by great memories and adventures.
I was in the woods hunting deer when I got a text from Justin that Haddie Bell was gone. It was my birthday. While my time with Haddie Bell was brief, I don’t think I will forget her. Hunting dogs like Haddie Bell find a special place in a hunter’s heart that few people can truly understand, that is unless you had one for yourself. Rest in Peace Haddie Bell 10/27/14 – 11/09/24
Their is nothing like the love of a dog and the compassion they have for their masters dogs are god spelled backwards god put the on earth for us im sure she is setting at jesus feet waiting for her master
I agree Nancy.