| THERE is sorrow enough in the natural way | |
| From men and women to fill our day; | |
| And when we are certain of sorrow in store, | |
| Why do we always arrange for more? | |
| Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware | 5 |
| Of giving your heart to a dog to tear. | |
-Rudyard Kipling |
Suffice to say Peter was a very powerful dog, attracting to him all manner of people where ever he went. On Saturday evening 8/16/2014 Peter was euthanized. He had been failing for a couple of days, plagued by fainting episodes and a weak heart. There is nothing as dreadful as those three small words you whisper to either yourself or to those near you. "It is time." Once uttered, they are irrevocable. And so it was after 19 years of companionship I sent Peter on his way to the bridge. He'll have a lot of friends there waiting. Good friends, friends also missed. Those who follow this blog have seen Peter as a stately greyed gentleman, but he was an exuberant young dog when I first met him, about 9 months old. Tall, dark and handsome and always happy. So, since words are utterly failing me, I will share a few favorite pics from our many days together.
Texas
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| Both of these are our first months together |
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| One of the pack. L to R: Fat Sam, Miss Bea , Dennett, Sammie-bug, Peter |
California
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| A group of black blobs, but I'm sure you can pick Peter out. And Charlotte makes her first appearance too! |
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| Me and my shadow and Miss Bea |
Oregon
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Scoping out the property pre house. Peter LOVED to camp and we loved having him. He was a great traveling companion.
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| Parting shots and last looks. I love you too Peter. |
For those whose hearts have also been torn or are susceptible,
here is a full version of Rudyard Kipling's poem. Have a read, hug your companions, because no matter how long they are with you, it is never long enough.
21 comments:
So hard to let a part of our hearts go. Sadness will stay in our hearts for a long time for our beloved companions who love us unconditionally. Take care and know that your Peter is happy and gay now with all of his friends and no longer suffering.
Oh dear Theresa, I can barely see through the tears to type my heart felt message to you. Indeed, Peter led a wonderful and fun filled life with all of you and will be most pleased to be reunited will all of his friends. Very sorry for your loss, I send lots of warm hugs and many prayers to all of you.
Love never dies, but stays with us in memories and special places. Goodbye Peter, I am so grateful to have known you.
So sorry for your loss, and I surely feel your pain since I recently said goodbye to my best buddy. There is definitely an empty place in our hearts for these dear companions.
All I can say is I know how you feel. I did know peter except through pictures but I have tears in my eyes as I type this, hugs to you.
It is never long enough. I am so sorry.
You know my heart is with you now, no words can ease the pain.
They leave such powerful paw prints on our hearts, and no words can express how sorry I am. You were so lucky to have each other for so many years.
Hugs from SD!!!
Its such a heart ache saying good bye to such loving friends.... be comforted by the wonderful memories.
Hugs...
Thank you for the poem. I know Peter had the best possible life in your menagerie!
I remind myself that however hard it is to lose our dear pets it doesn't compare to the joy they bring while they are with us. But it sure does hurt. May the joy take away the sorrow.
I am so sorry for your loss. It is so hard to lose such faithful and loving companions.
sending many hugs to you and Peter's friends....
I am sorry for your loss Teresa. I did tear up when I read the poem. I had read it before but it never hit me until I owned a dog. And I imagine even though you have a pack of animals you Will still miss the one who just left it.
I'm so, so sorry that you had to say goodbye to Peter. He sounds like he was an outstanding dog and companion. I bet he had a wonderful life sharing it with you. Don't you just wish that they lived longer as it's so hard to let them go.
And goodbye to Peter. What a gentleman. I know you and all his buddies are missing him.
The power of a dog. Yep, that pretty much says it all. Sitting here in an airport, a week apart from my beloved dogs and choking up for you . . . and for me, past and future.
I'm so sorry. We love them so much and they're only with us a relatively short time, loving and entertaining us. He lived a long life and may his memories live on.
No, it is never long enough. Sorry to read that your dear Peter crossed the bridge. Take care.
I just found your post -- how sad! But what a spitfire he was, jumping over every gate in his way. And growling over toys in such a high pitch that he didn't scare anyone. You gave him a great, long life, Theresa. Thank you for that.
Michael, Thank you so much for the kind words. I had forgotten his gate jumping antics. He was a spitfire, a sweet silly amazing little soul on so many levels. Lucky us who knew him. I miss him and Miss Bea who also passed in 2014 a lot and Dennett who went in 2012.
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