My Setter Sam

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Sampson🙏

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When Sampson (Smart Lady's Singleton Sam), my beloved English Setter, was allowed to peacefully go over the Rainbow Bridge on December 24, 2024, our household here in lovely Lexington, Massachusetts, lost much of its vibrance. But it regained some of that missing bird dog energy about 10 months after Sampson left this world when Gypsy (Sampson's maternal cousin) gave birth to puppies on September 11, 2025. Two of those precious pups, Lady and Olive, now 7 months old, have become a permanent part of our family and keep us on our toes every minute of every day. The Goofy Girls have brought us great joy and much laughter with their wrestle-mania antics in the yard and in the living room at all hours of the day and night. But despite a non-stop whirlwind of activity, our household will forever feel empty without the beautiful boy with the never-ending smile who brought such joy to our lives. Gypsy and I are still trying to adjust to life without Sampson, because he left such a deep paw print on our hearts. Gypsy is a busy mom, spending hours each day playing with Lady and Olive and teaching them how to point at and stalk birds the very same way Sampson taught her when she was a pup. She adores her pups, but soulmate Sampson remains foremost in her heart. Gypsy understands that the love of her life has passed, but she still deeply misses him. She finds comfort spending time joyfully watching the many videos of the two of them playing together. For me, Sampson's passing was like losing three dogs. His paternal great-aunt was my beloved Samantha, who passed in 2008, and was the impetus for The Hunt of Her Life book series. And many of you knew Sampson's precious mother, Lady, who passed in 2018 at age 14 after living nearly two years with a heart pacemaker. Sampson – the star of The Hunt of Her Life Sequel – kept their spirits alive in this world. Each time I gazed at him, I saw a part of Samantha and Lady come to life. He physically looked like them, pointed at birds in the same methodical manner, and played the same keep-away games with his toys. Sampson's bloodline continues to live on through Gypsy (Smart Gypsy Lady), who is the great-niece of Sampson's mother, Lady (Zippo Smart Lady), and Gypsy's children, Lady (Smart Gypsy Lady II) and Olive (Smart Lady Olive), who are the great-great nieces of Sampson's mother, Lady. The pups' relationship to Sampson runs even closer, because their father, Jack (Knightstown Jack), who belongs to our friend in Madison, Indiana, is Sampson's cousin on the paternal side. And Gypsy's third pup, a beautiful boy named Cooper, lives with my friend and Jack. These pups are cousins on both sides of Sampson's bloodline, making them truly special. I am thankful to God for blessing us with Sampson's special birth on April 30 (also my late mother's birthday) back in 2010 and giving us 14 years, 7 months and 24 days of wonderful memories with him. Sampson, my precious boy, "You are My Setter Sam. And I will love you dearly – more dearly than the spoken word can tell."

Read Sampson's obituary: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1155226923276354&set=a.636092745189777

Watch Sampson's touching farewell to his soulmate, Gypsy, in the video: Until death do us part: An English Setter duo's love story - https://www.facebook.com/thehuntofherlife/videos/2404792639863319

Watch Sampson in action in the fields at Lincoln Park in Lexington, Massachusetts: https://www.facebook.com/reel/872871409757323

Go with a rescue DOG on a captivating journey - a trip like no other - that will touch your heart.

The HUNT OF HER LIFE, a book series about a rescue dog that will touch your heart, makes a wonderful holiday gift. And right now, Amazon is offering the Original book (55% off) at the lowest new price ever listed! And the deal gets even better, because if you buy the Sequel book, too, you will qualify for free shipping. Amazon is providing no information on how long the discount will be available, so hurry and get them now! These two deluxe color books, containing more than 100 color photos of dogs, make a truly unique gift. Signed sets also are available directly from the author. For direct links to the book's Amazon pages as well as details for those wishing to purchase signed sets of the books, go to the website of author Joseph A. Reppucci: https://mysettersam.blogspot.com/.../samantha-reppucci.html
Friend the author on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joseph.reppucci
Like The Hunt of Her Life on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehuntofherlife/
Like My Setter Sam on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mysettersam/

Introducing Gypsy's babies!

My sweet English Setter, Gypsy (Smart Gypsy Lady), gave birth to these precious pups (a boy, at left, and two girls) on September 11. They are now 9 weeks old. One will be going to relatives in Indiana, one will be staying with me and Gypsy here in Lexington, Massachusetts, and I am hoping to place the third pup with someone who lives closer to home so it can remain in contact with Gypsy and its sibling. These precious pups are English Setters from the Llewellin bloodline. My beloved dog Lady, whose passed away in 2018, is the great, great aunt of these pups, and they also are cousins of Lady's son, my beloved Sampson, who passed away last year on December 24. Their ancestry tracks back to champion dogs Grouse Ridge Will, Grouse Ridge Sampson and Grouse Ridge Gypsy. Send me a message ASAP if you are interested in adoption or know someone that might be interested, and I will send you the pedigrees.

We welcome friend requests from those who also love to spoil their 4-legged companions: https://www.facebook.com/joseph.reppucci

My beloved Lady (January 7, 2005, to December 16, 2018) and her son. Sampson (April 30, 2010, to December 24, 2024) star in the book series, The Hunt of Her Life. Like it on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thehuntofherlife/

Happy 5th birthday to Gypsy!🎂🎉

Gypsy (Smart Gypsy Lady) celebrates her 5th birthday today, May 9. This pretty English Setter is the total package. In the fields, she is a fierce bird dog, and at home, she turns into a playful pup who loves to play with bouncy balls and squeaky toys. She will get lots of spoiling today, including her favroite food for dinner – a turkey breast burger! Please join me in wishing a happy birthday to this sweet girl.

We welcome friend requests (https://www.facebook.com/joseph.reppucci) from those who also love to spoil their 4-legged companions.

Gypsy is the great-niece of my beloved Lady (Zippo Smart Lady - January 7, 2005, to December 16, 2018), one of the stars of the book series, The Hunt of Her Life. Like it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehuntofherlife/

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Sampson!🙏🙏🙏

A little more than 4 months have passed since Sampson (Smart Lady's Singleton Sam) crossed over the Rainbow Bridge on December 24, 2024, and I want to say a very belated "thank you" to all our Facebook friends for your outpouring of prayers and warm sentiments for my beloved boy on this day, April 30, which would have been his 15th birthday. I feel truly honored to have had this fine representative of the English Setter breed in my life for 14 years and 8 months. At home, he was a gentleman who had endless affection for people and other dogs, and, in the fields, he was a fierce, focused bird dog. Those who have read my books know this dichotomy has been a special trait of the dogs in his ancestral bloodline, and Sampson proudly carried it on. Gypsy, his soulmate, and I are still trying to adjust to life without him, because he has left such a deep paw print on our hearts. For me, Sampson's passing was like losing three dogs. His paternal great-aunt was my beloved Samantha, who passed in 2008, and was the impetus for The Hunt of Her Life book series . And many of you knew his precious mother, Lady, who passed in 2018 after living nearly two years with a heart pacemaker. Sampson kept their spirits alive in this world. Each time I gazed at him, I saw a part of Samantha and Lady come to life. He physically looked like them, pointed at birds in the same slow methodical manner, and played the same kind of keep-away games with his toys. His loss for me is deep, but it pales in comparison to the void felt by his soulmate, sweet Gypsy. She understands that the love of her life has passed, but she continues to sleep in his spot, whine for him at times and look for any sign that he might somehow miraculously return. Long walks every day in fields filled with birds have been the best medicine for her. Spoiling her with her favorite food, freshly cooked turkey breast with broth, has also helped. But despite the emotional challenges of this transition period, I am thankful to God for blessing us with Sampson's against-all-odds birth on April 30, 2010, and giving us all those wonderful years with him.

Read Sampson's obituary: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1155226923276354&set=a.636092745189777

Watch Sampson's touching farewell to his soulmate, Gypsy, in the video: Until death do us part: An English Setter duo's love story - https://www.facebook.com/thehuntofherlife/videos/2404792639863319

God bless my beautiful and beloved Sampson🙏🙏🙏

Sampson (Smart Lady's Singleton Sam), my beloved and beautiful English Setter, was allowed to peacefully go over the Rainbow Bridge at 12:20 a.m. EST Tuesday, December 24, surrounded by family and friends. Sampson gently went to God as his dad sang his favorite lullaby - "Puff the Magic Dragon" - and softly stroked her head. His dad also serenaded him with Sampson's personal song, an adaption of Roger Whittaker's "The Last Farewell," with the personalized refrained lyrics:

"For you are beautiful, and I will love you dearly,
more dearly than the spoken word can tell.
You are My Setter Sam, and I will love you dearly,
more dearly than the spoken word can tell."

Sampson, who was 14 years and 7 months old, was born on April 30, 2010. He was the son of my precious Lady (Zippo Smart Lady), who passed away on December 16, 2018, and the paternal great-nephew of my sweet Samantha, who passed away on April 7, 2008. Sampson's has a bloodline that tracks back to many champion dogs, including: Grouse Ridge Will, the 1970 bird dog national champion and a member of the Bird Dog Hall of Fame; Grouse Ridge Sampson and Grouse Ridge Gypsy. Unlike most dogs who get to spend about 8 weeks with their mothers, Sampson got to spend more than 8 years with his mother. Sampson adored his mother, and the two were very close. They teamed up to point at birds in the fields and played by gleefully chasing each other around at home. When Lady passed away 6 years ago, this sensitive boy was confused and lost until a sweet pup by the name of Gypsy (Smart Gypsy Lady) joined our family. Gypsy would grow into a beautiful girl and become Sampson's soulmate. Sampson will always be remembered for his great affinity for pointing at birds, but it was his love of family that made him a true champion. He was a sweet, gentle soul who deeply loved his mother, Lady, and his soulmate, Gypsy. Sampson's journey in this world has ended, but his passion for life endures through the many people and four-legged friends that he has touched. I am truly honored and proud to have had this precious boy as a part of my life, and I will always love him dearly, more dearly than the spoken word can tell.

See Sampson with his soulmate Gypsy only days before his passing in a touching video, "Until death do us part: An English Setter duo's love story" -
https://www.facebook.com/thehuntofherlife/videos/2404792639863319

Sampson comes home! 🙏🙏🙏

Sampson is home after a three-day stay and emergency surgery at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Waltham, Massachusetts. My beloved 14-year-old English Setter had to be rushed to the hospital with internal bleeding caused by a growth on his spleen. He has much healing to do and medication is keeping him comfortable. Many thanks to all our wonderful Facebook friends for all the prayers and well wishes. We are awaiting biopsy results, so please keep those prayers and good vibes coming for my sweet boy. A full description of the situation is in the original post: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1105492818249765&set=a.636092745189777

Positive thoughts and prayers for Sampson 🙏🙏🙏

To all our wonderful Facebook friends, please keep my beloved Sampson in your thoughts and prayers. He underwent emergency surgery earlier today at Blue Pearl Hospital in Waltham, Massachusetts. My 14-year-old boy had internal bleeding caused by a growth on his spleen. The surgery went well, and he is now in recovery. His spleen had several small nodules, but his liver and other organs look normal and lungs are clear. We are awaiting the results of a pathology report to determine if the growths are malignant. The most common kinds of growth in the spleen are hemangioma and hemangiosarcoma, with the later being highly aggressive. Sampson (Smart Lady's Singleton Sam) is the son of my beloved Lady, who passed away on December 16, 2018, which makes this situation particularly emotional for me. So please keep those good vibes coming for my precious boy.

Happy 4th birthday to Gypsy! 🎂🎉

Gypsy (Smart Gypsy Lady) will celebrate her 4th birthday today, May 9, with lots of spoiling. First, this English Setter will go to the park to participate in her favorite pastime - pointing at birds. Then, she will come home and play with her birthday gift – a new squeaky ball. And finally, she will eat the food she enjoys most for dinner – a turkey breast burger! Please join me in wishing a happy birthday to this sweet girl.

We welcome friend requests (https://www.facebook.com/joseph.reppucci) from those who also love to spoil their 4-legged companions.

Gypsy is the great-niece of my beloved Lady (Zippo Smart Lady - January 7, 2005, to December 16, 2018), one of the stars of the book series, The Hunt of Her Life. Like it on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehuntofherlife/

Happy 14th birthday to Sampson!

This elderly English Setter no longer sprints across fields like he did as a youngster, but he never misses his one-hour vibrant daily walk. He no longer raises his tail to 12 o'clock while pointing at birds, but he still lifts his front paw. And he no longer vigorously tosses his squeaky toy around the living room, but instead gently carries it. One feature, however, about my beloved Sampson (Smart Lady's Singleton Sam) endures: his Sensational Setter Smile! The adorable puppy who stole everyone's heart with that smile when he came into this world all those years ago celebrates his 14th birthday today, April 30. This beautiful bird dog will be spoiled with a morning walk at his favorite park, where he can point at birds, and later with a special dinner of rabbit and potato. Please join me in wishing a happy birthday to this fine representative of the English Setter breed.

We welcome friend requests from those who also love to spoil their 4-legged companions:
https://www.facebook.com/joseph.reppucci

Sampson is the son of my beloved Lady (January 7, 2005, to December 16, 2018). He stars in the book series, The Hunt of Her Life. Like it on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/thehuntofherlife/