Loss of Your Best Friend
One of the hardest things a dog owner will go through is the loss of their best friend.
We start out the process with an open heart ready to provide whatever is needed to give your pup the best life it could ever ask for. Any kind of medical problems are addressed immediately so that they do not suffer.
Providing warmth, presence and comfort are something a dog owner and their dog both give to each other. And, it is a priceless reciprocation of these life moments that makes it so fulfilling for both.
There are many reasons a person gets a dog. From the feeling of wanting something to fill the void, the presence of a companion who will be there for us from the minute we wake up to the minute we go to bed. Others may have a need for security, a watchdog that will tell you when there’s a reason to be on the alert.
And some of us have medical conditions that warrant a little assistance from picking up medication, guiding a blind person through a day in the city or home, helping relieve PTSD with deep, pressure therapy to get through a panic attack and so many other reasons that we need this priceless and honorable animal in our lives.
Some may even have no second thoughts that this is a family member to them and not just an animal that gets fed and walked. This is a lifestyle and it is what we want to have, to share through the thick and thin of life.
These hard times when we hit the bottom are when the magic really takes place with regards to our dogs. They are always there when we wake up, come home from work or at any time. They want you as much as you want them.
To help you endure the pain that is sure to come when you need to say goodbye to your dog, I recommend while your dog is alive and well to capture these beautiful moments on photos and in your memory. And then, when your dog is no longer with you, try to think about how these times filled your heart, gave you more confidence and brought you to a stronger, better place.
Seeing yourself 10 years from now helps to give yourself the understanding that your dog will some day not be with you. But, you will have accumulated a lifetime of incredible and magical moments.
Printing some of the photos and creating something to remember them is also a way to keep their light and brilliance present and with you. Waking up and seeing their photo in the kitchen window. Put several all around the house to remind you of them. And know that they are still with you and want nothing more than for you to be at peace with yourself no matter where you are in life.
This is a big accomplishment for both of you.
Acknowledge your dog for what they have given you every day of its life.
And, take a bow for being the best dog owner they could ever have asked for.
Never say goodbye to the best dog in the whole world. Allow yourself to grieve whenever you need. Take a walk and look around at the environment you are in. Think about purchasing a rose bush, shrub or tree and planting it in memory of them. You can get a plaque and there are even websites such as Blessingandlight.com that have beautiful and creative, concrete bricks that you can have custom messages written on for placing next to your tree or bush. (Thank you Jennifer for your gracious gift to Brian and I - I will put it right next to the Olive Tree we will plant sometime in the spring time.)
Your dog will be forever remembered for the incredible life it gave to you and to the world.
I love dogs so much and I hope if you are reading this that I will get a chance to meet you and your best friend ever.
With love,
Adelita
P.S. Rest in Peace, French Bulldog and Assistant Dog Trainer, Brian Clark. Thank you for saving my life. You will always be the best dog in the whole world. I love you so much! 6/15/11-11/6/25
