Goodbye Beloved Companion

This post is in honor of our beloved dog, Lady, who left us today, far, far too early, at just 8 years of age due to irreversible liver disease.

Lady came into our lives just three short years ago, which is when we found and adopted her from an animal rescue organization. Once we brought her home and got to know her sweet, loving ways, we couldn't imagine why anyone would have ever given her up. She was consistently happy, consistently loving, and consistently without any bad habits whatsoever, save an adorable passion for stopping in her tracks and plaintively howling at passing fire engines - which occurred with fairly regular frequency since we live right up the street from a fire station.

As I so often do when faced with things I don't understand, I went looking for words of comfort to help me deal with our loss. I found the lovely essay below, which has helped to soothe my hurting heart. I hope those of you that also love dogs find as much comfort in this as I did.

Why Do We Love Our Dogs So Much?

    It’s really quite simple: because people really, really love dogs—almost as much as they love their children. Sometimes, even more. 

    Dogs have very special social abilities. They have the capacity for love and devotion without expectations. They are grateful for what is given them on a daily basis. They have an instinctive need to be part of a pack whether that pack is other dogs, several people, or one person. They are intensely devoted to their pack. They will fight for the survival of that pack, including protecting you, the yard (territory), or other animals within their pack. 

    Dogs live in the moment, they forget about the disappointment the day before, and love you more than ever when you are there for them. They will try their best to please you if you are a good, kind pack leader, and will let you know if they are not pleased with your leadership --but even then, they do not stop being loyal to you. 

    Dogs are cuddly, warm, and amusing. They are intelligent animals that have the ability to communicate with you on a one-to-one basis if you are open enough to understand their language. Dogs can make you laugh, cry, and make you feel the need to nurture another living being - which is enormously soothing and fulfilling. 

    They provide companionship in a very committed way, that is nonjudgmental and complete in their devotion. We as humans can learn a lot from our dogs. Our fondness for dogs reminds us what we hope to become ourselves.

    And in return, our dogs only want to be fed, and told they are good, and most of all loved. If a dog has love, he really needs nothing else.

So goodbye sweet girl. We loved you with all our hearts, and our forever changed for the better for having had you in our lives. May you be out of pain forever, and in a place of peace until we hopefully meet again some day.