Living love

If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember...

The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your young new friend. You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a breeder. Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen that silly looking mutt in a shelter--simple because something in its eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that special, chosen pet home, and watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front room--and when you feel it brush against you for the first time, when it looks into your eyes with so much trust and innocence, it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come.

The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. It will be a day like any other. Routine and nothing out of the ordinary. But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will see sleep where you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your friend's diet--and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until the third day finally arrives.

And on this day--if your friend and God have not decided for you, then you will be faced with making a decision of your own--on behalf of your beloved, lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest spirit. But whichever way your cherished friend eventually leaves you---you will feel as alone as a single star in the dark night.

If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you.

But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished unconditionally through the many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul--a bit smaller in size than your own--- seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come. And sometimes, at moments during your tears, you may think you feel something brush against your leg-- very very lightly. And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend used to lay--- you will remember those three significant days. The memory will most likely be painful, and leave an ache in your heart--- As time passes the ache will come and go as it has a life of its own. You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. Either way, it will still be an ache.

But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when--- along with the memory of your pet--- and piercing through the heaviness in your heart---there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living Love---like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this Love will remain and grow-- and be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live.

It is a Love which is ours alone.

And until we ourselves leave, perhaps to join our Beloved Pets--it is a Love that we will always posess.

Dear Toby, what a beautiful boy youe were. Our first longhaired baby and so loving and cuddly. You were such a special little boy and everyone fell in love with you. What terrible pain when your young life ended so abruptly. We know that Chris and Christel will never ever forget you, and neither will we.  xxx

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DOTJE

Dotje. Our funny little adoption baby from Annemiek, a vet who found Dotje.  

Dotje was a little bit crazy and thats one of the reasons why we loved you. We did our very best for you and willed you to live, but maybe it was better that you were taken from us. You were such a brave little fighter.  God bless you baby, now you have found the peace you sought so hard for.  xxxxx

Thankyou Annemiek for choosing and trusting us to care for your baby  foundling. We wont ever forget little Dotje.. 

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ROXANNE

My darling Roxy.
I still miss you Roxy Chops, you were my best friend. We shared so much together and you were such a comfort to me.
You guarded Chinook and me, there was so much love and understanding between us.
We will always love you. You were the best doggy in the world and you will stay in my heart forever..xxx

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DANNY

Dear, sweet Danny. My first doggy friend, so close to me.
Everywhere I went, you went too.
So faithful and loving,
you gave me so much love.
I love you Doggy.
You will always a very special place in my heart. xxx

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SANTA CRUZ 

Why did you have to go so very soon baby?  It was too soon and your life had barely started. 

Dear sweet Cruz, your love was almost touchable, all the love you had, you gave to me. I will never forget the last hours.....holding you and praying for you. Your paw holding my fingers..... the tears and the helplessness...knowing deep inside.....

We miss you  so much darling xxxx

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