“Little darling, it’s been a long, cold, lonely winter”
Here comes the Sun by The Beatles
It had been 30 minutes since I left the veterinarian’s office – our old black Lab of 13 years had to be put down. All around me now, the patrons of Tim’s coffee shop are going about their early morning ritual; I stare vacantly out the window waiting for my wife to meet up with me on this bleak winter’s day.
Earlier we were loading our old dog into the van which, almost certainly, would be the last time we would see him. Before leaving, my wife looked into his unresponsive eyes and wept.
It had come on suddenly. Just a day earlier our dog had been his tail-wagging, bright-eyed, and what we called his “yuppie-the-puppy” self – a bit slowed down with age, but still, robust.
Yet during these past 24 hours, he refused to eat, went into the dry (and not so dry) heaves; when he could hardly get up to do his morning constitutionals – in fact, laid down in the cold snow motionless – it seemed he knew, even if we didn’t want to believe it, his time had come.
I tried lifting him, but with almost 85 pounds of dead weight, it was too much for me. However, as if in one final effort to please, he miraculously raised his head and wobbled to his feet. And, with a last great painful effort, he slowly stumbled his way back to the porch some 30 feet away. What more could the poor old guy do for me? I was humbled by this final act of bravery.
Dr. Rick arrived early at his vet clinic and verified officially our collective consensus: euthanasia. With the big dog’s head in my hands, I said goodbye and felt his response by the exhaust of breath from his nostrils across my face – the last of his once mighty strength faded away.
So what’s the big deal about pets? Plenty! The shining eyes so happy to see you: as warm and reassuring as a sunny day in spring. I ask… who else would put up with our mood swings and inflated egos? Not many. Pets are as constant in their love as the North Star.
And who really is the master? I suggest it’s our pets that set the best human example, to which we can only aspire. When I look out my window at four-legged foot tracks in the snow I’m reminded of their lasting impact on our lives. The rain may wash away any obvious trace, but never the imprints they make on our hearts.
Looking down at my now empty paper coffee cup, the message on it tells me to “Roll up the rim to win!” – which I do – and smile at the message: “Please play again”.
“Here comes the sun and I say, ‘It’s all right’”
Here comes the Sun by The Beatles
Photo Credit
Photo by Fred Parry – All Rights Reserved
Guest Author Bio
Fred Parry
Fred Parry lives in Southern Ontario. He is a lover of people and a collector of stories, music, wisdom, and grandchildren. His newspaper column, Music in Me, can be found in ‘The New Hamburg Independent’ Metroland Media. His book, ‘The Music In Me’ (2013) Friesen Press is Available from Amazon and Indigo / Chapters.
Blog / Website: www.fredparry.ca
Recent Guest Author Articles:
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Carol says
Fred…I’m compelled to comment…I enjoyed your story very much. The title is what got me…yes, it was about your pet, but it was perfect in that it spoke of the final goodbye…period. To me, love is love. A connection, whether with a pet or another person, is the issue. You shared a love and a bond with another being. You’ve stirred something inside of me and I may one day have to write about my own experience with this. It’s never easy saying goodbye, and my heart goes out to you. How fortunate you were to have known Maverick and all that he was. Thank you for sharing…not only your story, but your emotion. Take care, Carol
Fred Parry says
Hi Carol and thank you very much for your thoughtful reply.
I particularly appreciated your comment, “To me, love is love. A connection, whether with a pet or another person, is the issue.”
I do hope you write about your own experience with this – we need all the support we can share – as the Beatles reminded us, “Here, there and everywhere.”
Fred
janice says
A sad and lovely article. I think most who have lost animal companions will relate. Play again? absolutely. Your old lab would most likely want you to do nothing other…….
Janice
Fred Parry says
Dear Janice,
I’ll let you in on a little secret… I cried (practically in my coffee) as I wrote that piece. And, even now, I can feel my eyes well up. (So, thank you for your encouragement.)
Still, some people feel it’s not manly to show emotion – especially for a pet! Well…
“Gather round all you clowns /Let me hear you say
Hey, you’ve got to hide your love away” – by The Beatles
Fred
Gil Namur says
You are not alone Fred. I teared up when I read your piece after you sent it in to us. It brought back 8 year old memories and I STILL tear up ….
Fred Parry says
Hi Gil,
Well, it looks like the “secret” is out… for both of us!
Thanks again,
Fred
Martha says
Hi Fred,
Such a wonderful story about your dog, and I can relate. We lost our Trinny in the summer. It is not easy that’s for sure, they are part of our family. Take care.
Martha
Fred Parry says
Dear Martha, I’m so sorry for your loss.
I know for weeks after we said goodbye to Maverick, I was sure I saw him everywhere… even walking around areas in the house where he’d sleep – thinking he was still there.
I also worried if I was always good to him… thinking I could have been a better owner. It took awhile, but now I just smile at what wonderful, agonizing memories he gave us: you never really forget.
Thank you, Fred
Gil Namur says
Dear Fred,
Thank you for this beautiful piece. We too had a black lab – Pharaoh – who passed 8 years ago almost in the same way. One day playing … the next … gone.
I hope you DO play again! We did not long later with a chocolate lab – Jazz!
I wrote a piece a while back that I hope will make you chuckle!
http://lifeasahuman.com/2013/pets/dogs/close-encounters-of-the-google-kind/
Thanks for sharing this with us Fred!
Cheers,
Gil
Fred Parry says
Dear Gil,
I’m so glad that you decided to write that amusing (so-lab-typical) story.
Man, the things we do for our pets… then again, the things they do for us!
Many thanks,
Fred