I have posted this before, but it seems lately more and more a relevent topic to share.
It feels like around once a week at least someone will come to our shop donating their recently departed dogs items, for us to find new homes for, and help go towards another dog recieving the benefit somehow.
I would usually say something like, im sorry to hear that, its always sad, they simply dont live as long as we do.
And then try move the topic on because I know its difficult to talk more about it.
Relationships with our dogs are chapters in our lives, and our lives are enriched with as many different beautiful chapters that we have time for.
I had to make the difficult decision of letting my 1st dog go to sleep, I kept putting it off, my mother said the right words to me, theres 1 more thing your dog needs you to do for him.
I chose for him to be cremated, I even found it very difficult to go pick his ashes up, a friend did it for me. I still have his ashes now about 18 years on.
A few months ago my second lovely dog had to go. I learnt from my 1st, putting the decision off was for my benefit, not his.
2nd time around I made the decision quicker, to be kind to her, to be responsible, and I picked up her ashes quickly.
When my 1st dog died I found it difficult to show any liking to any other dog as if I was betraying his memory.
But eventually when I got my 2nd dog she taught me that none are a replacement, and its up to us to make each chapter as beautiful as we can.
I attended a close friends cremation and ceremony at a more spiritual place, you stayed with the dog until the very last seconds.
A lady asked my friend if she would like to say a few words over her dogs body, she looked to me for something to say, I said just say thank you, for the years of feeling mutual love that she created.
That still feels today like the best way to think of it for a healthy closure. Having some small ceremony also helps.
Now I have my young 3rd dog, if I am fortunate enough that he has a similar very long age as my 1st 2, I would be somewhere in my 70s. And if I also survived that long I would probably be wondering if I had time for a fourth chapter.
Who knows I may think of adopting a mature dog then, we will see. For now I am focused and busy and committed to my care and responsibility to him.
On more than one ocasion a customer has said to me they could never get another dog again because they dont think they could cope with the pain of loosing again.
I sympathise with that, but it sounds like its a lot of love that some dog out there wouldnt be receiving to me.
If you choose to take on another chapter for your life, you could consider fostering, fosterer’s are in high demand, you get help with a lot of the cost, and you could choose to permanently adopt if all goes well,or not.
Starting a new chapter is the most powerful way to find a healthy closure from your last.
My 1st dog was a superstar, my 2nd taught me all dogs can be a superstar in their own right, and they have both taught me things that will be positive influences with my 3rd.
I have framed photos of them both on my wall, and I have both of their ashes with me, keeping their memory close to me helps me with how I am with my new boy.
A DOGS LIFE – Shop
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