Last night I was reading Poppy Z. Brite’s LJ entries about her cat, William, who’s ill. She has lost two cats in the last year, Nathan and Colm. My LJ friend Wendy also recently lost two cats, Sadie and Oscar, and yesterday had to have her golden retriever, Cassidy, put to sleep. And Really Rob recently lost his sweet dog Nickie.
People who’ve loved companion animals know too well the unfathomable sorrow of losing them. But because we also know their immeasurable love and the happiness they bring, we are almost always willing to open our hearts to more of them. There is no such thing as replacing those who are lost. It just can’t be done. But our hearts seem to expand and make more space for new animal friends to nestle in and call home.
I had conversations with Tim and Jim about this yesterday, and afterward, Jim sent some photos hoping they’d make me feel better. They did, so I thought I’d share them with you.
Beautiful Brandi.
Brandi’s daughter, Hailey.
Brandi and Hailey.
I should probably mention that both of Jim’s girls were adopted through a golden retriever rescue organization. They’d had a rough life before, but he and Bill have given them a splendid home and they’re very happy dogs now.
you’ve taken what started as a sad post and turned it into one that made me smile. a beautiful take on such a topic. 🙂
If I made you smile, it’s only fair, since your photos of your cats and dogs (including the new Bean!) have made me smile so often.
You can’t be sad when you remember all the good times you shared, but yesterday Oskar left himself out of the house and went to the back of the yard and just sat by the spot where Nickie is buried. Guess he still misses a companion he knew all of his life. Animals are really smarter than most humans.
Really Rob
They’re certainly NICER than most humans. Poor Oskar.
Your Jim knows how to cheer– those dogs look so content. Have you ever met Brandi and Hailey?
No, I have not. It shocks me that I haven’t been to CA in so long. I think 2000 was the last year I was there. That’s just wrong.
They’re so beautiful. Thanks to Jim for sending them to you.
(And I love his patio, especially with the grass [?] growing between the blocks.)
I commented on that same thing. I haven’t been to CA since they bought that house, which is another indication that it’s been too long, because they’ve lived there forever, it seems.
well, i think we’ve been here about 7 years this october….that IS a long time. when are you coming back???
jim
I think it has to be soon.
They’re beautiful!
We thought our vacation would give us time to heal a bit over Cassidy, since we wouldn’t be around all his favorite places, but did you know that Long Island is like Golden Retrieverland? They were everywhere…real ones, pictures, stuff animals. It was good to see goldens that were happy, though.