22/12/2023
Here they are, the shrine, and the public words that you deserveâŚ
I still donât even know where to start. But I donât want too much time to go by, in case youâre waiting for these words that you so definitely deserve to hear.
First and foremost, I love you so much, it literally hurts both emotionally, and physically.
Itâs been almost 3 weeks, and it feels like you left just yesterday. It is not getting better with time, it is only getting more painful. I see you everywhere, until I realize that you arenât really there. I wake up every morning believing youâre at the end of the bed, and then have to realize all over again that you arenât.
I wake up crying in the middle of the night, because my terrible nightmare comes true, over and over again.
I look back at old videos, and I can see how much pain you were in, by how much more limited your movement was recently, and how much the light and joy had gone out of your eyes.
I could also see how much you still kept trying to be there for me, in spite of that. You never complained, not once. You still followed me everywhere, right up to the last couple weeks. And even then, when you were clearly uncomfortable, you still tried to.
And you still tried to console me, and even make me laugh, while I was trying to console you. You were truly selfless to a fault.
Over our 9 1/2 years together, we went through some pretty bad times with your health issues, and mine. But from the time you were a tiny baby, and until your last day, you never did anything ânaughtyâ. You didnât go potty in the house or cars, you didnât chew on things, you didnât take things that didnât belong to you (including food sitting at nose level), and you never hurt anybodyâŚ.You never even wanted to hurt anybody. Even the wild bunnies knew they were safe with you. And our ducks and chickens considered you their friend, as you laid out in the grass with them.
You didnât deserve the cards you were dealt, my sweet boy. There was an awful lot of pain and suffering, for someone who never did anything wrong, and who only lived to LOVE. It was so totally unfair.
I wouldâve took it all away if I could have, I promise you that. I did my best to make you as comfortable, and happy as possible. We spared no expense , and did everything we could to save you, every single time you were nearing an end, or showed any kind of suffering..
But I couldnât save you this time. đ There was nothing they could do, and I couldnât find an alternative either, and Iâm so sorry for that.
I hope you know that I truly didnât want to let you go. Please know I didnât resent you for not feeling good, or not coming with me anymore. I NEED you to know that.
I let you go because I truly believed it was the best thing for you.. It was time for you to be free. Even if it meant we had to be apart. I literally broke my own heart, so you could have some for real peace, at last. Thatâs all I ever wanted for you. You truly deserved it more than anyone I know.
I have spent my whole life working with dogs, raising dogs, helping other people with their dogs, and even had a few special ones of my own. But there was never one, not a single one, like you. And I know in my heart, there will never be another like you again.
You were not a dog. You were a real boy, trapped in a dog body. (I am not the only one who saw that.)
No one could take your place, and no one will ever be allowed to try. I will be here with dad, waiting until we can be together again. I only hope you will be waiting for me too, and you will run to me with your wiggle butt, and excited whimpers, the way you always did.đĽ°
I miss you so much, and I love you⌠always. âĽď¸đđ