“And it is exceedingly short, his galloping life. Dogs die so soon. I have my stories of that grief, no doubt many of you do also. It is almost a failure of will, a failure of love, to let them grow old—or so it feels. We would do anything to keep them with us, and to keep them young. The one gift we cannot give.” – Mary Oliver, Dog Songs
How to say goodbye to a beloved dog
you don’t, it’s too hard.
i buried my face one last time in his furry neck
and i whispered
thank you for being in my life
my heart, it hurts
i’m not ready to let go
I am so sorry for your loss. Our pets are so dear to us and are our famly.
They truly are Pat. Thank you for your words of sympathy.
Oh, Bridgette,
I’m so sorry. What a beautiful face on your pup. Some of the happiest moments of my life have included our three dogs, all three gone now. Our first helped my son to grow up. Our second made the ache of losing the first subside a little. Our last was ten years old when we brought him home.Never was a dog so grateful to have a home. We waited a year and then brought home our fourth dog, Willy, a five-year old rescue. The truth is he rescued us. Well, they all did.
Thank you Mary. You put it so well. We got him from a rescue as well. I was 24 years old. He taught me so much and brought so much to my life. He was probably 7 already when my first son was born and was his first companion. He rescued us as well. That’s so wonderful that you’ve had so many dogs in your life. I think I will have to wait a bit, but the idea of giving a home to another rescue makes my heart happy. Going through the pain again though……we love and we lose, that is life. Thank you for sharing your experience. It helps.
Oh Bridgette! I am so very sorry! I didn’t think I was an animal person but I’ve had a few dogs wiggle their way into my heart. They have such an amazing capacity for unwavering love and joy. I hope you all have time and space to be soft and gentle with yourselves. Take care.
Thanks Tina, they really do give us so much and teach us so much about giving love and being joyful.
Losing a beloved dog is one of the most gut-wrenching experiences I know and the sadness lasts a long time. They are bigger than life and they occupy an equally large physical space in our homes. You get used to being nudged in the leg, feeling a small friendly lick or a cold nose in the palm of your hand, stepping over them in their favorite hang-out spot. When those things are gone, it feels like a huge empty space has opened up both in your home and in your heart.
You describe the loss perfectly Barb. It’s the things that you don’t even realize until it’s gone. The hardest was expecting him at the door every time I came home and that he wouldn’t be there. It’s been difficult, but as the days have gone by I also realize that he was in so much pain. He’s resting now. I will always miss his presence in my life though. He taught me so much. Thank you for your words.