Absence

We did some traveling this weekend so Belle had to go to the "spa" for a visit.  If you've read my blog before, you know this really means going to the "vet for boarding."   But Belle gets awesome treatment and love from the staff there, so we call it the "spa." 

 

We always say how "quiet" the house is without Belle here.  Quiet is an odd term to use as Belle typically doesn't make much noise unless she sees someone walking their dog on "her" sidewalk or someone comes to the door.  I guess her absence just makes the house seem quiet and less like home.

Sunday morning while we were traveling I got a phone call from a good friend.  She is as big of an animal lover as I am.  She told me she had to put her dog to sleep just a few hours before. As you can imagine, the tears started on both ends of that conversation. 

My heart broke for her. 

 

She had her dog for 16 years.  That is a lot of years. 

It's a lot of cuddle time

 

car rides

birthday parties (yes she had birthday parties!)

 

tail wags

 

smiles

 

and memories. 

 

Her dog was her baby and she loved this dog like crazy.  There was nothing she wouldn't do for her. 

Nothing - including letting her go when it became necessary.

We have been there.  It is the hardest decision in the world to make regarding your pet.  When do you let go?  You always wonder if you are doing the right thing for them and your mind reels afterwards with "what if's."  We feel guilty about the decision, even when we know it is the best thing for them.

After we had to let Abby go I found a saying that went something like this:

"The decision to end a pet's suffering is a decision to begin your own in his or her place." 

That is so true.  Of all the things we do for our pets over the years that is the most selfless act. 

When we picked Belle up from the "spa" on Monday I gave her extra hugs and loving, realizing how fortunate we were that she was coming home and we could pick up normal life again.

 

While the quiet at our house is noticeable with Belle gone for a day it doesn't even begin to compare to the deafening silence our friend will be experiencing. It's amazing that such quiet, unassuming, and relatively undemanding members of our family can bring so much love and joy with them, and leave such a huge void when they are gone. 

 

You miss them greeting you at the door. 

You miss them running to you, tail wagging. 

You find yourself talking in your doggy voice, to no one.

You just plain miss them. 

God loans them to us for a relatively short time, to make us better, more compassionate people.  And we willingly bring them into our hearts and homes knowing their time with us will be brief, but amazing.

 

If you are fortunate enough to be the recipient of unconditional love from a furry friend or two of your own, give them an extra hug or two today, simply because our friend isn't able to.