Goodbye Dear Faithful Companion

β€œIf you have a dog, you will most likely outlive it; to get a dog is to open yourself to profound joy and, prospectively, to equally profound sadness.”

– Marjorie Garber

πŸ’”

In the past 11 years of my life and the 4 years that I’ve been blogging, there has been one constant, My Dear Faithful Companion Scout.

This morning he died as quietly as he lived and he took a huge, irreplaceable chunk of me with him. His passing was without warning. A month ago at the vet he was in almost perfect health for a dog of 13 or 14. I thought I had longer. If I’d known yesterday what I know now, I would have hugged him and never left his side. Even now I think I’ll wake up, find it’s a very bad dream. I want, I want.

I love you, Scoutie. You are the best dog ever.

Never take life for granted, yours or the ones you love.

Please forgive me if there’s silence in the microcosm for a bit.

52 thoughts on “Goodbye Dear Faithful Companion

  1. We lost our dog 6 months ago. But its death was not in vain because we adopted a new one from a shelter that never experienced love and kindness and badly needed it. This way our former dog kind of lives on

    1. Thank you for writing this. Scout was the new member after the death of my cat. He had never experienced love or human kindness. It took him a very long time to accept us and trust us. I will want to find another dog who needs this in the future but not too soon. πŸ’–

      1. You should definitely adopt another dog once you get over the loss. This way your deceased dog will kind of live on by giving another needy dog a chance

  2. I’m so sorry for your loss. Scout was beautiful and Im Sad her passing was a sudden since her health was so good before for her age. For her size she lived to a good Life. I’m glad she did not suffer and my prayers are with you.

    Hugs

    1. Thank you, Mandi. You are so right and I have had to keep reminding myself that we don’t really know how old he was 13-15? That time frame is old for a dog his size. The one thing I am grateful for is that it was quick and he most likely wasn’t in pain. This is what I would have wished for him after everything he went through before he came to us.

  3. I know how you feel having lost our beautiful dog a few months ago, I don’t think I will have another dog the heartbreak when they go is too much. Some people when they die are supposed to say they are going to see their dog or cat and I can now understand, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if I saw our dog when I go.

    1. It is hard, especially when they’ve been so much of your day-to-day life. I would love to see all of my guys again. At least they sometimes visit in dream and I hope Scout will. Thank you. πŸ’–

  4. ‘bye, Scout. I never met you, but I know your pack. Run well, mate, you hold a heart in your care, as she holds yours.

    My deepest condolences.

  5. Oh Sascha, I am so very very sorry. When we lost Barney in 2005 it was totally out of the blue. Maggie is 15 now, and showing her age. She sleeps with me, and I hope she goes to Rainbow Bridge in her sleep beside me. Our pets are family and they leave such a big hole when they pass away. My thoughts are with you. <3

    1. Thank you so much, Di. Yes, I was prepared for when my other dogs left and it wasn’t easy for them so I am relieved that Scout went quickly and pain-free. I hope for your sake Maggie goes quietly as well. Hugs.

  6. I am so sorry to see this. It is a heart breaker when they leave us. I have had to say goodbye to horses and dogs and it never gets easier. I don’t know what Scout’s favorite treats were but I will send him a virtual one ” for the road.”

    1. Thank you so much, Anne. He would appreciate a greenie. I don’t know if it’s because it was unexpected, but I think it’s getting harder as I get older to lose a dog. But it also could be I spent more time with him than any other dog before.

      1. I think it could be both of those things. Our dog loves Greenies too. So I will send your friend a virtual one ” for the road.”

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.