by tish mcclurg
I believe that we can own many animals in our lifetime but that we only truly bond with a few of them. I lost my best friend one week ago. It has been one of the most heart wrenching experiences of my life. I have always had animals around me - horses, dogs, cats. I loved them all and was sorry when their lives came to an end. This dog however this beautiful dog - and I shared something wonderful.
She came into my life as a giant 9 week old puppy. Part Great Pyrenees and part Shepard. She was big and white and could be mean if I had let her. She was my protector, my solace and my sanity. We spent nine years together. What she liked to do most (besides being with me) was to run free in the woods. She was not the most obedient dog in the world and she certainly had a mind of her own. Once, on one of our outings in the woods she caught a scent of some wild animal and she simply vanished. I spent the most terrified hour of my life as darkness was setting in- frantically calling out her name and running through the dark woods. When I finally found her it was obvious that she had also spent much of that hour looking for me retracing our path. We leapt onto one another exhausted.
She became ill about two months ago and the vet said she only had a few weeks to live. She lived well and comfortably for about 6 weeks enjoying her most favourite foods and still being very capable of going for long walks. In her last 24 hours on this earth she became blind and I knew that it was time. I got up early that morning and sat beside her, stroking her head. She walked into the vets proudly even though she couldnt see. She sat down beside me and the vet began the injection. She peacefully laid her head down and was gone in a matter of seconds.
I dont know when or if I will ever get over this loss. It is however comforting to know that there are so many people out there who have lost their most beloved companions. Yes indeed we have them for such a short time and our hearts break when we lose them but ultimately we begin again with another.