I will start with how lucky and blessed I feel to have you in my life. You were my first dog and because of that you will not be my last. I will always have dogs in my life because of you. You have taught me more than I had ever expected to learn from a dog, and given me more than I had ever expected to receive from an animal.
When I first met you, I didn’t want you. You were sickly, loud, frantic and filthy – but you saw me, and stopped your distraught pleas for attention and laid down at my feet. You had chosen me and you hopped in my car, uninvited – you didn’t look back.
I didn’t know where you came from but you didn’t seem concerned about that. You did your best to show me how hard you were willing to work to be the best dog you could be and you did so gracefully.
You stayed by my side when I had collapsed, you waited for the ambulance to arrive. You sat with me and licked the tears off my face while I nursed a broken heart and you celebrated with me when you walked down the isle at my wedding. You welcomed my husband with joy and accepted my children into your life, just like they were your family.
Time has moved forward and you and I know things are different now. There’s a shadow that is enclosing on all the joy you bring to my life.
You may not want to play like you used to but I know your heart still laughs. Climbing stairs is now a challenge for you and you’re radiant personality is not what it was. I love you no less, if not even more, because I know that dogs are one of life’s greatest gifts, and their short time on earth is one of life’s worst tragedies.
You taught me to live in the moment, never to hold grudges, the importance of play, to accept myself and more over to love unconditionally. You have always been my best friend, closest confident, partner in life and remained by my side. You have let me know recently that time is not ours and that the shadow has almost overcome you.
Tomorrow I will stay by your side.
I will not leave you, I will not let go of your paw. I will press my head to your head, just like we’ve always done. I will wait to feel the last beat of your heart, your last breath and then I will still hold on.
Silent heartbreak will fill the room and for a moment, I will forget how to breathe, think and speak. But in that instant I will know with complete certainty, that I have had the irrevocable privilege to love the greatest dog that ever lived.
Loving you forever,
Your Best Friend
We also love dogs and cats. Be assured that at your life’s closing; the Creator has opened a gently, easy walkway, for u to climb to the Rainbow Bridge, to renew forever your companionship with your dog(s/cat(s)!
Thank you for sharing, you reminded me why I need another dog in my life.
I know the feeling, my old dog had a stroke and we were with him till the end…Not a day goes by that he’s not talked about, we haven’t got a new dog yet, we will wait till next Summer and go rescue one .