The past three days have been difficult. Sometimes finding the words to say is harder than it seems... so here we go.
First—I'm not going to go into details—but for reasons that I won't explain, we don't have Twiggy anymore. It's heartbreaking. I hesitated even putting it out there at all, but I just wanted to let you know that you won't be seeing her big blue eyes around this space anymore. I hope you can understand that I don't want to go into it, out of respect for our family and for the breed. We miss her so much.
Second, this morning I held our family beagle, Tally Ho, as she passed away. My mom and I stroked her fuzzy head through our tears while she took her last breath. She was 16 years old and she was a faithful and loving family dog to us. The bottom right photo of her is sitting in a frame on my desk—a gift I received this morning from my mom—and I smile each time I look at it.
Tally Ho was "that doggy" in the window of the pet shop that we pleaded for day after day. Tally Ho was the dog who sprinted out the door any chance she could just to go smell the neighborhood and live it up. Tally Ho was the dog who escaped into the fields behind our house in Oklahoma and came home covered in ticks, happy as can be. Tally Ho was the dog who curled up in the bend of my legs each night to sleep. Tally Ho was our dog, our little beagle, our furry friend.
This week I said "goodbye" to Tally Ho and Twiggy, both members of our family. Saying goodbye to Tally, though, was also knowing that her suffering was over. I said goodbye to her frail body, but in exchange now have 16-years of wonderful, cuddly, warm memories to hold tight to when I miss her.
Tally Ho, rest in peace little lady. Now you get to be with your buddy Scooter (brown schnauzer in the top left photo), and play and wrestle forever. We love you & miss you.
57 comments:
I'm so sorry. Saying goodbye to a pet is a terrible thing. I'll be thinking of you today.
Very sad to see her go... She was a good 'ol girl.
Hugs. <3
That's heartbreaking:( I know how it feels like if your lovely "puppy" (as it doesn't matter how old the dog is - it will be always your little puppy - for me it's like so:)) past away! My mum got the wonderfulest cocker spaniel female doggy when I was a little girl and after 11 magical years with her - I grow up with her! - she past away , she was maybe one of my nearest friends in my childhood and sometimes I'm missing her . Now it's almost four years ago, when I came home after school and she was already in the sky.
But what I would like to say, it's always hard and heartbreaking BUT you will keep both of your sweethearts in your mind and they'll be always there - 'cause it's ONLY important, that they had a wonderful time with you and your family the last years! That's the thing you shouldn't forget - your doggys had an amazing time with you:) as our female dog has got - and it's sometimes sweet to think on them, even if you're alone or in a hard situation - you've always a memory of sweet and happy times!
Wish you and your fam' lovely and lucky next days and just all the best !
I really enjoy reading your posts and hope that you'll maybe visit me on my blog too:)
Blog: http://nikasinspirations80slifeandbeauty.blogspot.co.at/
Bye,
NIKA
Hi Aunie, I'm visiting from Style Elixir. You have the sweetest smile and I enjoyed you're Style Q&A today! I'm so sorry for your loss. This is absolutely heart breaking. Our sweet cat (Pixel) is an important part of our little family and I'd be devastated if she were no longer with us. I hope your heart is able to heal soon!
Oh I'm so sorry. =(
i'm so sorry for you loss, losing a pet is losing a special member of your family, the ones who you can talk to and don't need a reply, the ones who give you hugs when you dont ask for them and the ones that love you unconditionally. hugs in this difficult time
I am sending love to you, Aunie. We lost our first-adopted a little over a year ago, and I still remember the sting of that pain. You are right. Tally Ho can frolic about in the fields of Heaven. The best place to be. :) I'm also sorry to hear about Twiggy, but I'm sure you guys made the right choice for yourselves and for Twiggy. Love you, girl!
Sending lots of love and strength to you. Losing a family pet is really hard. Some people don't understand what's so difficult about losing a pet, they think they're just an animal. But to us who own them, and cared and loved them for so long, they're not just a pet - they're another member of the family and they're loved just as much as we love our close family members. I know how hard it is, praying for you and your family.
So sorry to hear about your loss. Our pets are family and hold such a special place in our hearts.
I am so sorry Aunie! I am praying for you and hoping that God sends his peace to you and your family. Furry friends nuzzle a special place in your heart, and loosing them can be very difficult no matter the circumstances. There are no words that are right for a situation like this but know that I am keeping you in my thoughts! Big Hugs.<3
I am so sorry for your losses. We, too, lost our family beagle about 6 months ago and it was a very hard time for my family and I since it was our first family pet. It won't be easy but you will get by with the support of your family and friends both in real life and online. Keeping you in my thoughts today.
i am sending you so much love Aunie. I feel horrible about your two losses this week. This can't be easy for you and honestly, I don't know how this does feel. Animals are so precious and they stick hard on our soul. I hope your pain gets a little easier through time. xoxo
I'm so sorry for your losses :( sending love your way.
I am so very sorry! I can't even imagine. My Yorkie, Brody is my child. I'd be devastated.
Wishing I could give you a big hug.
Oh my goodness Aunie, I am so so so so sorry that you've had to say goodbye to both of them in such a short space of time. I wish I could give you a hug to make you feel better. It's absolutely horrible when we lose our four legged friends, and I honestly dread the day that we lose Rex, I was unbelievably heartbroken when my rats died, MY RATS, so I can't eve begin to imagine the pain you feel for your dogs right now, like you've said though, Tally Ho is no longer in pain and she was probably happy to have gone in your arms, with you both stroking her. I'm sure she loved you all to pieces. I hope you're ok xxxxxx
I wish I could give you a big hug Aunie. I remember putting our family dog down and it was so hard and so sad. But you're right, her suffering is over. And I imagine doggy heaven as being the absolute best part of heaven.
I'm sorry for both your losses. Keeping you and your fam in my thoughts.
I am so sorry!! I have had to say goodbye to pets before and know just how heartbreaking it can be.
I'm so sorry to hear that.. So glad she got to have a long, wonderful life with you and your family. What a sweet face. She's in a better place now.
I'm so sorry for you. I work at a veterinary surgery practice but, up until last spring, I had never understood the pain that comes with saying goodbye to a pet. It just wasn't something I'd ever been through, or seen. And then, my best friend put down the last of her three dogs, and I understood. It's the silence when you talk to yourself because you forget nobody's there. And the way you expect them to wait for you when you return home. It seems entirely unfair that dogs don't live nearly as long as humans, with the way we care about them, doesn't it?
Kaleigh at www.rewritinglife.net
I'm so sorry Aunie :( Losing a pet is never easy. Sending you lots of hugs!
I'm really sorry for both of your losses this week. There's nothing like the love and companionship of a dog, and when they're no longer with us, it is truly heartbreaking. As a momma of a pit bull/American bulldog mix, I just cannot help but worry about Twiggy...no details needed, but I would like to know if she is still alive and in a safe place.
I'm so sorry, Annelise! I know that having to say goodbye to any of my pets has been heartbreaking; I'm truly sorry for the goodbyes you've had to say.
This is so sad! Sending you my warm hugs, stay strong! And you're right, you have all those good memories to hold to!
I'm so sorry for your losses. It's so hard. I know some people don't believe pets can be family but I definitely do.
So sorry for your loss, we recently grieved a loved family pet as well.
Sheree
The Hartungs Blog
thehartungs.blogspot.ca
So sorry for your loss! It's truly heartbreaking and like losing a family member. I went through something similar recently, you have my sympathy!
movingtotheorangetrees.wordpress.com
So sorry to hear this. Thinking of you at this hard time. Lots of love to all your family.
Cat
Oh what a rough week. I'm so sorry to hear about Tally Ho and Twiggy. Tally Ho is in a much better place though it sounds like and Twiggy is (hopefully) in a good home now too. Take it day by day love and don't forget to keep smiling, the pups wouldn't want to see you sad for them.
Sending my love <3
readeatcreate.com
Aunie I'm so sorry for your loss. It sounds like Tally Ho had a wonderful life and that she was so well loved. I know how hard it is to lose a pet and my heart goes out to you for both Tally Ho and your sweet Twiggy.
All my love,
Niki
I'm so sorry for your losses, Aunie. Sending hugs and prayers your way.
So sorry to hear about your losses! Losing pets is so hard. I'm so glad you got to be with Tally Ho, though! When my first dog passed away, she was at the vet and she hung on until our entire family was there to say goodbye. Hardest moment of my life (first and only death I've really experienced) but I am so grateful I got to say goodbye. Hang in there, girl! I'll be praying for ya. :)
I am so sorry for your loss, sending prayers your way!
xx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Girl I feel your pain. I bet it was so hard for you. I know your a strong girl and you can get through ANYTHING! Keep your head up!
Aunie I am so sorry - what heartbreaking losses. much love to you and your family
I'm thinking of you and your family. I can't even imagine how hard this must be. Love. <3
I'll be thinking about you and your family. I know how hard this time is. My family had to put our dog down this past fall and I still miss her. I cannot imagine the loss of two at the same time. Peace to you, sweetie.
-Chelsea
She sure was... the toothless little lady :) ha! Missing her :)
You're right! Knowing you gave them the best life possible is what keeps me smiling :) Thank you Nika!
So happy to have you here, thank you. Pixel is an adorable name for a cat. Thank you for your nice comment!
You're so right, Jess!! They ALWAYS love us :) even when they're gone! :)
I bet doggy heaven IS the best part. All those cute puppies? Too precious.
It's the "wiggles" that don't greet you when you get home. So sad, but the memories always bring a smile.
She is safe. Thank you for your concern. We had something really unexpected happen ... and we had to make the best decision for all of us. We just wish she could still live with us... she will always be loved.
Sending you some fond memories, too! Hugs!
Thank you, friend :) Your continual support, love and friendship is so encouraging!
Thanks Kiki! We went to the vet, too! It was really hard and she totally hung on for way longer than we ever thought she would!!
This is just one more little bump in the road that slows us down and reminds us of all the special times we had & helps us be thankful for all we still have :) thanks miss kate!
Thank you SO much for this update, Aunie! I have been thinking about your family all week, and am glad to hear this :)
Every time I see a post on losing pets, I almost always turn away simply because by the end of it, I'm always in tears because I've had my share of lost pets since I was a little girl. And every time I hear about someone else going through it, my heart aches for them. I know there's nothing I can say or do even to make this easier on you, but I really wish I could because that heartache hurts. But I do know you're strong enough to get through it and in the end, there's always the hope that the Rainbow Bridge does exist. Take care, Aunie! Keeping you and your furry loved ones in my heart and thoughts.
Thank you! You are so, so kind to keep us in your thoughts. Life happens, you know? Thanks for the support :) It really means a lot!
Thank you, Ashley! That's such a heartfelt comment. I'm doing so much better. I have her photo on my desk, and Twiggy is in my heart, too! Thank you a bunch for your support. The best memories are the cuddly ones!
Wow. That has to be hard. I am sorry.
I'm so sorry to hear that. I got a little teary reading that because I've had several furry losses over the years (my family are major animal lovers so not only have we owned quite a few, we've obviously lost quite a few). It's incredibly hard to lose loved ones, human or animals. xo
Oh girl, I'm tearing up over here. I have two beagles, and even though we've had dogs in the past, nothing compares to the beagles we have now. Most likely because they're "our" dogs and not our parents', but they truly are the best. I'm so sorry for your loss, and I know it's been a few days..but I just stumbled upon your blog, and was reading through.
On a lighter note, my cousin lives in the Boise area! I know nada about Idaho, being a Texas girl and all, but I thought it was an interesting tid bit!
xo
kristina
aww, thinking of you! it's sooo hard losing a doggy family member. just cherish all the good memories you have. i hope your heart & soul find comfort, soon.
Kristina, thank you for saying hi and sending loves! She was our little howler, but man do we miss her.
Boise is a wonderful place. I LOVE Texas... I'd live there in a heartbeat!
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