For all the dogs who've touched our hearts

The Pain of Losing a Dog

Loving a dog comes with inevitable loss and terrible pain, but if we let that pain overwhelm us we risk losing something wonderful.

Living with a whole heart

Many of my friends have just lost a beloved dog or cat. The sad truth is our animal friends don’t live as long as we do. Loss is inevitable. And it hurts.

Pain is the price of loving so completely.

Snuffy was my first dog as an independent adult. He lived to be nearly 19 and I adored him. When he died my heart was broken.

Snuffy vale

Feeling the Pain

It's easy to wall yourself up in response to the pain of losing a dog, too easy. Sometimes we don’t even know it's happening.

Scallywag was diagnosed with chronic heart failure when she was nine years old. The vet said she had 6 months at the most. It's not easy living with a dog who can die at any moment. I stopped enjoying the life she had while waiting for her to die.

Luckily I realised before it was too late and made an effort to enjoy our time together. My indomitable, tiny terrier was always full of life. A crippled heart and blind eyes never stopped her from living with enthusiasm.

Scallywag defied all odds and passed away at the grand old age of sixteen and a half. We had a lot of fun together.

Pain

Pain sucks. We work hard to protect ourselves from it.

Physical pain keeps our bodies safe – withdraw your hand from fire or you'll be burned. Withdrawing from emotional pain feels like safety, but what do we lose?

We need open and full hearts to truly live with love.

Scallywag vale

Making the Most of the Moment

I share my life with a pretty, bright-eyed Sheltie called Bonnie. The truth is she's not my dog, I'm looking after her for a family friend.

I've always known that Bonnie will leave and because of this I’ve been reluctant to give her my heart. She is however, the one who follows me around and who jumps on the bed for morning cuddles. It's Bonnie who lies beside me on the couch and who magically appears in whatever room I'm in.

She's lying next to me right now as I type.

Bonnie has given me all her heart, the way dogs invariably do, she deserves to have all my heart in return.

Bonnie

Whole hearted

For all my friends who've lost a beloved animal friend, I salute you. I salute you for being brave enough to love them completely despite their short lives.

Whatever life brings, be in it wholeheartedly. Love lots and allow the pain.

You deserve the richness it brings.

In loving memory of all the wonderful animals who have touched my life. Some lived with me, some with family and friends. Sadly I don’t have pictures of you all.