Buck enjoying a day at the lake

Sometimes a photo will just appear to you, and this post is about the sad photo which came to me at dusk on September 15, 2017. It’s an odd tale of chance, fate, timing or divine intervention depending upon where your beliefs lie. For me, it was a crazy set of circumstances towards the end of a horrible day.

This day started out like many others at the time, I got up to feed the dogs. We have two Newfoundlands, one 10 years old and the other 6. A third dog, Buck – a 17 year old English Pointer (plus). We adopted Buck from a shelter in Las Vegas when he was 4, and he’s been a strong, faithful dog through all of his years. Not quite an angel, but a smart guy who defended his yard and was enjoying the good life in his senior years.

Buck also had heart problems and was on two different medicines to help with this. He had a ‘Grade 6’ (out of 6) heart murmur and over the past few years he would have incidents where we thought we would lose him. His hind legs were weakened from age and were getting worse by the week. But today, he was showing his age and was falling almost every time he walked.  To end his suffering and not put him through a final decline that was nearing its end, we decided it was time to let him go.

After a quiet drive home from the vet, we came home to the two Newfys, who both seemed despondent as well.  Did they know?  Do dogs know when these things happen?  It was a quiet afternoon, but at the end of the day I wanted to go shoot a sunset scene to capture a memory.  This is something I did after we lost our dog Tosh, and it’s my way of making a final tribute to a friend.

I have a somewhat regular route I take while shooting sunsets, and I combine that with known places to see deer.  So I left Chester down the dirt road, headed east on Cedar, turned south toward where I call “Deer Corner” and finally back towards the setting sun on Diamond Road. The sun was low at this point, so I was driving slowly with the visor down and being alert for any rare oncoming traffic or any deer that might dart across the road, which would be more common than traffic.  I crossed the highway and continued along Diamond and found a great scene in front of me (photo on the left).

I shot here for a while, but the sun was about 15 minutes from setting, so I moved forward.  Again, driving very slowly in this ‘known deer area’ and half blinded by a dirty windshield,  I drove on.

Just over the crest of hill you see on the left, I saw an animal walking along the road.

Seeing an animal walking along a dirt road in Kansas is not an unusual sight.  I’ve seen deer, raccoons, rabbits, opossums fairly often.  Usually, they will scatter into the fields when the truck pulls up.  I drove diagonally across the road, parked and quickly started shooting to get some frames off before the animal ran into the corn field and was never seen again.

Instead of running off, this small animal just kept trotting along the road towards me.  Even with a 500mm lens, I couldn’t make out what kind of creature this was.  It had an odd gait, a strange shape and wasn’t running away.  At times I was even considering that I found a small monkey on a dirt road in Kansas – that’s how strange it looked.

Along Diamond Road one evening...

It got closer and closer and it wasn’t until it was about 20 feet from me, that I realized, “OMG – it’s a DOG?!?”.  I hopped out of the truck and found the skinniest puppy I had ever seen. Despite his emancipated state, he was friendly, wagging his tail and showed no fear. 

It was at this point in the evening when all of the emotions of the day came tumbling together and consumed me like a tidal wave.   Of all the times I’ve driven these back roads, ‘this‘ is the day I find a stray?

My first thought was to see if our local vet was home.  Nope – out of cell range.  What to do…. what to do…

Just as I am trying to sort out this new reality, another truck pulled up.  The man had a can of dog food and a plate, and had previously seen the young pup.   We chatted for a bit, as I was going through the mental gymnastics of what I’ll be doing next. I came to realize I really had only one option.  I picked the little guy up and put him in the back of the Suburban.

As we headed back to Chester, the sunset was getting more interesting, so I stopped to shoot a few more frames while the puppy tried to climb into the front seat and over my camera gear.

I would have like to have kept shooting, or found a more interesting location, but I had a puppy in the truck that needed some attention. He settled on the armrest for the short drive back to Chester.  As I got closer to town I was able to get enough phone reception to find out that Christie the Vet was home, but we kept getting cut off.  I stopped for a few more photos before getting into town.

Finally in Chester, I had enough of a signal to have a conversation and Christie met me out in front of her house.  She was ready with some medication and young pup received his first medical care (which he handled very well).  A quick checkup and we were ready to head home.

Just before we left, I had noticed that sky was more dramatic now, and I said to Christie, “Gotta run – this is the photo I was supposed to take tonight!”.

Buck's Ascension

This photo is titled, “Bucks’ Ascension”.  It’s my tribute to my buddy who came along on many of the drives along dusty roads as we looked for deer and sunsets.  What I find interesting in this shot is the odd dark patch near the middle.  Is this the shadow cast by a little puppy?  Does it represent the part of Buck that is still with me?  I’m not sure yet, but like Buck, this photo is a little deeper than it first appears.

After getting the shot, I drove home.  I went inside to wake up Cindy from her nap and told her she needed to come outside.  As Cindy slowly woke up, I opened the back doors of the Suburban without saying a word.  Inside… nothing.  Then a skinny puppy popped up from the front seat and ran to the back.

We brought the little guy in and fixed up a crate and made him a bed.  He had a new home, and soon, a much needed bath.  He is on the road to recovery, but not out of the woods yet.  He needs to put on weight and we hope that his kidneys and liver haven’t been damaged by his starvation.  He’s getting small meals three times a day, minimal water and several walks a day out in the yard. 

Christie warned us not to name him or get too attached for the first week as his condition could change for the worse.  We heeded her advice for almost 24 hours.

After putting up a Facebook post, Cindy had a lot of comments – one of which was that he deserved a name no matter how his health goes.  So in that spirit, we have named him “Diamond”.  Found on Diamond Road – tough as a Diamond – and a Diamond in the ‘Ruff’.

We’ll be posting updates on a new Facebook page if you want to follow along and see how Diamond progresses.  He’s a fighter, and we’re hoping for the best. 

Here’s a photo of Diamond in his new home – all 11 pounds of him!

Diamond - Spetember 15, 2017

Thanks for reading.

Here’s a short video showing Diamond 3 days after we found each other. We were very concerned that he may not fully recover and walk properly.


September 15, 2018 – One Year Update

Diamond is doing great and is a healthy, spoiled young dog.   He likes to ‘play’ with the Newfys (which is usually just biting at them) and is somewhat trained (when he chooses) – but most all… healthy. πŸ˜€  Here he is on the same stretch of Diamond Road we met on (a now annual event!).


September 15, 2019: Two years on and Diamond is growing into a fine young dog! He’s strong, smart and still a pup at heart. Here he is on the same stretch of road we met on (a now annual event!).


September 15, 2020: Diamond is getting stronger each year! He’s filled out nicely and loves his opportunities to run free.

200915_Diamond-Buck-Day

January 2021: Diamond and Maggie have become best buddies! Maggie was rescued October 2020.


September 15, 2021 – “Diamond Buck Day” with our annual photo on Diamond Road.


September 15, 2022: Wow – FIVE years! πŸ˜€ Diamond is doing great and seems like a happy dog (as long as the storms aren’t around). He follows me around most of the day and hangs out where I work (or nap). He and Maggie get along great, and of course – he loves his food!

We went back to Diamond Road tonight (late due to another photo shoot tonight), and so we did a quick posed shot and didn’t let Diamond run loose.

Diamond and Art

September 16, 2023: Yesterday the storms rolled through the area, so we didn’t get a chance to go out on the “official” day – but the following night was perfect. We were running a little late, so our light was fading fast. We gave Diamond 2 good runs down the road, then headed home, where he had a wonderful dinner. Diamond and Maggie are still playing best buddies.


14 thoughts on “The Saddest Photo I’ve Taken”

  1. What a wonderful story! It made me tear up….however I am guessing divine intervention for sure. RIP Buck 🌈 And may Diamond find strength and health.

    1. I have always believed the Great Power of the Universe, whatever you want to name it- finds a way through our grieving for our furry children that go to Fur Heaven. And as always, that same Power, puts into our lives another that needs us as much as we need them, no matter the state of our willingness. This was meant to Be.

  2. I’d say a gift from the powers that be that love all animals and those who care for them. Sending healing wishes for Diamond and solace to you.
    My little dachshund came to me at a time my family was desperate for her unconditional love. A gift.

  3. I look forward to following along on Diamond’s adventure. I’m not sure who rescued who, but I’m glad you all found each other.

  4. “Buck’s Ascension” is a powerful photograph, and Diamond was sent to you, by Buck, and the Great Power of the Universe. No matter who is saving whom, this is going to be a story of a grand love.

  5. Such a moving story and a blessing in disguise. How is the puppy doing now? I did not see a follow up but i may have missed it. The day my granddaughter was born and at the almost same time her great grandma passed away. This to us was a blessing in disguise from her to show she is always there with us.

  6. Art, I did not see a place to leave a comment on the page featuring the state capitol. I was raised in Lincoln, graduated from Lincoln High School in 1976, and departed for other realms. I now live in Atibaia, Brazil, and got on the web today to look for pictures of the capitol. to ease and then inflame the nostalgia for my home. Thank you for providing such beautiful pictures. And thank you for the pictures of the Nebraska sunsets. When as I worked as a farmhand during high school, the cool of the evening and the beauty of the sunsets were almost a time of worship.

  7. Art, I was looking on your site for a place to comment on something else & decided to read this story. I knew it from elsewhere, but teared up all the same. I’ve said it before. You are not only a great photographer, but a born story teller. Magazines and newspapers don’t know what they are missing!

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