I’m sad today: Kathy Flake has lost her familiar.
When Bailey developed cancer, I finally accepted that our walks would be numbered, our explorations circumscribed by her illness. But I didn’t expect to lose her so soon.
We took her in for surgery on Wednesday, thinking we’d see her again that evening, or possibly the next day. But while she made it through the surgery, she likely developed a blood clot that stopped her heart, once, twice, and finally forever.
Bailey had such a big heart, it must have taken a lot to stop it beating.
Good girl, Bailey. Rest well.
Damn. Didn’t know Bailey, but I know her type.
They go away from us, but the love stays.
So long, kiddo.
What Hank wrote:
They go away from us, but the love stays.
I would add to that… “forever”.
Good dog, Bailey.
It is such a curse that they live for such a short time. It is such a blessing that they live at all.
My condolences, Kathy. Every time something like this happens (and it seems to have been so frequent this year), I hug Kelsey tighter. I’m going to have to find another way of expressing my love and fear for him; his eyes are starting to bulge when I do it.
It’s not fair to have lost Bailey so soon…
I’m so sorry you lost Bailey. Yes, it took terrible forces to stop her heart beating. Such a short time our friends and family are with us. One of my friends, Caralee Woods, wrote upon the death of her dog, Bruno: “He went away to make space for another.” I’ve said that to myself when I’ve lost a loved one like Bailey. Helps, but the words never fill up the hole that remains till the day we die. Sometimes I want to go to the wall and never turn around when my companions like Bailey go. So sorry. -Jack
Thanks for all your kind words. We dog people are a special breed.
KathyF, my condolences.
I just lost one of my favorite goldens, too. She wasn’t mine, but I have house-sat for her for a number of years, and I loved her so much. Her death was not untimely - she was very old - and although she was deaf and had mobility limitations, she was enjoying her life right up until the last three days, when she faded, and there was nothing else to do except to gently help her leave. I was taking care of her, but her people got home in time to say good-bye and help her.
That’s me giving her a hug. It’s from two years ago, and you can see how white her muzzle was already. Havana was one of those beautiful red-goldens. Then she got red-silvery, then silvery-red. I miss my friend.