Honoring Our Lost iPets

Anyone who has been through the loss of a treasured pet does not need to be told how sharp that pain is. The feeling that you’ve forgotten how to breathe. That your legs don’t quite reach the ground anymore. That your throat is too small. Your heart no longer pumps, because there is this unfortunate, invisible, gaping hole where all that caring for your pet used to live. And clueless people won’t understand, people who have a dog tied to a tree, or who wouldn’t have “a filthy cat” in their house.

They will say things like, “Well, dear, at least it was only a dog.”

And you’ll want them to fall through ice in a pond. You’ll want to see their bluish face looking up through the ice for your help, so you can say, “Well, dear, at least it’s only water.”

People who do understand will hold you in their hearts while yours heals. And I believe that pets who have been loved can work a little miracle. After the initial grief — grief as pure as languageless affection — that huge hole in your heart is filled with laughing memories. You don’t realize it, but one day you think of your pet and instead of that stabbing catch in your throat, you find a smile on your face. You don’t know how it even got there, but you feel warm, and safe, and you remember all the good.

I want to honor the wonderful iPets of the Week who are now making their owners smile from the other side of the bridge. Sweet Benelli, who brought so much love in her short time here to newlyweds Jackie and Eric Long.

 

 

 

And that best beloved rascal Beau, who was waited on hand and paw for 17 years by Jim and Kay Smart.

 

 

 

Spice, one of the sweetest beings I’ve ever known. Spice came to live with the whippets of Lowertown after her owner died of a brain tumor. Spice was found to have a brain tumor of her own. She’s with her mom and dad now.

 

 

Woody the Wonder Dog. What a tough loss that was for Elaine Spalding and Keyth Kahrs — Woody was a very special soul. But now they smile when they mention his name.

 

 

 

And dear Henry Veach. Martha and Greg Veach’s grand Labrador Retriever, who, with Martha’s help, before and after his passing has raised thousands of dollars for research into a cure for Canine Epilepsy.

If there are other iPets that we have lost, please let me know. I would like to honor them, too.

 

 

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You are such a good dog. There is not one dog in the whole of the world

Who’s as good as you. Not one single dog. There are no thanks.

No way to repay you. For the boy you took care of, my son, your friend.

For your wisdom, your greetings, your contagious good humor; and that incessant voice

That irked us, protected us, welcomed us home. How I’ll miss your song in the long group howl.
 You are such a good dog.
 

You were such a good dog.



From “Opie’s Song” 
Mama Pajama Tells A Story, © PCRenzulli


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