Farewell, friend

03 October 2020, 08:40 AM

wtg

Farewell, friend

We had to make the difficult decision to let our Maggie go. We were both able to be with her.

She turned 15 last Sunday, quite a remarkable age for a golden retriever.

I've talked about her before as my once in a lifetime dog. She had a deep and abiding spirit and was the perfect companion. I'm going to miss her so, so much.

Maggie on her first day home, the day before Thanksgiving, 15 years ago:

She loved to stick her head between your knees, usually when you were standing up and least expecting it. She caught me one day a few years ago when I was sitting in the screen room:

And these last three were taken just last Sunday on her birthday. I can't believe things went south so quickly, but it happens sometimes. In her case her kidneys gave out.

We've always had two dogs until we lost Lucy two years ago. At that time we decided to let Maggie be the only dog for whatever time she had; she loved being the center of attention for a couple of years.

It was so strange to come home to an empty house for the first time in 40 years.

--------------------------------
We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home. - Australian Aboriginal proverb

Bazootiehead-in-training

03 October 2020, 09:05 AM

Piano*Dad

quote:
It was so strange to come home to an empty house for the first time in 40 years.

I'll bet.

A quiet space/time to reflect on the past 15 years.

03 October 2020, 09:10 AM

Cindysphinx

I’m so, so sorry.

We put our dog Oliver down on Election Day 2016. I’m still not over it.

Maggie loved you for letting her be part of your family. She was very lucky.

03 October 2020, 09:15 AM

Axtremus

My condolences.

03 October 2020, 09:48 AM

rontuner

Such a tough reality for dog lovers. I've been through that a couple of times. I feel for you.

03 October 2020, 10:12 AM

ShiroKuro

Oh, I'm so sorry! Sending you lots of hugs today!

03 October 2020, 11:24 AM

Steve Miller

I'm very sorry, WTG.

03 October 2020, 11:39 AM

jodi

I am so terribly sorry, I know how heartbreaking this is. 15 years is amazing. She had a wonderful life with you.

03 October 2020, 11:50 AM

CHAS

Sorry you lost Maggie.

03 October 2020, 12:30 PM

Nina

I'm so sorry, wtg. 15 years is a long time. I have a soft spot for golden retrievers, and their lovely white faces as they age. You gave Maggie a wonderful life.

03 October 2020, 12:40 PM

QuirtEvans

I'm so sorry, wtg. I know how much she meant to you.

I had my once-in-a-lifetime dog already. He died 12 years ago. I still miss him.

I still have dogs, and I imagine I'll always have dogs, but the feeling about that one will always be different. I still tell stories about him. So I understand how you feel about Maggie.

03 October 2020, 03:47 PM

pianojuggler

Hugs. And a lot more hugs.

03 October 2020, 03:59 PM

wtg

Thank you all so very much. We're a pet friendly group here, and it really helps to share with people who understand how hard it is.

I wanted to share something that my high school friend, whom I reconnected with about a year ago, had to say. She's a dog person, too; mostly she's had Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers. She's adopted several challenging rescues.

quote:
(wtg), I am so sorry. Not much surpasses the heartache of losing a dog. I hope it brings you comfort to know that you gave her an exceptional life, and that she loved you just as much as you loved her.

Each dog, like each friend, brings something different into your life. Seamus was just a happy-go-lucky "never met a stranger" kind of buddy. Loved everyone and everything. Sydney is a typical toller - very sweet and very challenging, not considering her "special" attributes. When I give her a command she looks for other options, which doesn't make training any easier but it does make me laugh. I once had a black cocker with blonde roots - not much upstairs but terminally happy.

I know Maggie was a very special dog. The next one will be, too.

Thanks again for letting me share my wonderful Maggie with y'all.