Thursday, July 17, 2008

Elegy for My Lady: 1992 - 2008


On Friday, my sister called and told me that our family’s dog, Lady, had been put to sleep. Poor Lady had gotten progressively worse and worse as the 4th of July weekend went on, until her seizures returned and . . .

It makes me very sad to even write this, thinking of her shaking and scared . . .

My Dad woke up early Monday morning and saw her. He was very upset as he took her to the Emergency vet for the last time. Over the years, he had been her primary caretaker, and while he always complained how he hated that dog and always tried to give her away to . . . anyone, you know he adored her. He held her in his arms as the doctor gave her the shot. He was totally devastated and since has been slow to get rid of her toys and leashes.

She was the first pet I ever had, even though she technically was my youngest sister’s pet. When I moved out of the house, she sat in my empty room for days – in the place where my bed used to be – waiting for my return.

Whenever Mr. Random and I came over to the house, she would always jump and bark all over the place, she was so excited. She liked to sit next us on the couch or sprawl out by our feet. When we left, she always looked so sad, and I would always give her a treat and a hug as I walked out the door.

I will so miss her when I go home to visit . . .

I’m sure the house is so different, so much quieter, now that all three daughters are gone . . . and the dog. Life goes on. We all get older. People and pets we love can’t stay around forever, no matter how much we wish it not so.

Lady was a wonderful pet and we were lucky to have her in our lives, helping us to be gentler, more responsible human beings to everyone and everything around us. She lived a few days past her 16th birthday and it seems like just yesterday my parents brought this little puppy home to my 8 year old sister.

Goodbye, my Lady . . .

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to hear of this. We lost our pet a year ago and we still miss our doggy dearly. You are doing right though, to remember Lady with good thoughts. Too often, I find myself remembering the hurt of the actual loss of the person/pet and not the good memories that made up their lives.
I'm sending prayer and warm thoughts your way....
ilnisa

mommanator said...

animals can be such a blessing! Hope she rests in peace!

Virginia Gal said...

I am so sorry...no matter how much we know death is a part of our lives, it never comes easy no?

May she be in doggy heaven, frolickling to her hearts content.

Anonymous said...

It's always hard to lose a pet. 16 years - that's a good long life for a dog!

Random Kath said...

Thanks for all of the lovely thoughts, everyone!

As hard as it is, it helps that I haven't lived at home in ages, so day-to-day isn't as painful as it is for mom and dad. But, yes! she lived a good, long life, was very well-loved and brough joy to a lot of people. That's all any of us can ask of our own lives, yes?