Just William


After two messages from the kennel owner stating William was " very low indeed"
I had a heavy heart standing at the kennel gate at 4 pm today.
Mary galloped out like a loon before him and jumped into my arms like a baby, but I only had real eyes for William who followed at a sedate trot with his tail waving slowly from side to side.
He stopped short of me, adjusting his position with his good eye then gently rested his head into my hands in way of a hello.
I could have cried.
I scooped him up And hugged him close and he sat in the car on the way home happily munching on cheap Swedish meatballs bought from the Spar .
When home he slept the contented and safe sleep of an old boy happy to where he was loved.
They break your heart

61 comments:

  1. Aw ... yes, indeed, they do break one's heart.

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  2. I am in tears, Reading this after losing thehamish my heart is breaking for you.
    Happy he is home and napping with his loving family.

    cheers, parsnip

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  3. They do. They fill our hearts and break our hearts and we are so much richer for knowing them.

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  4. Poor old William. Oh the joy of getting old. Please give him a pat for me.

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  5. Oh John, the photo says it all.
    Robin
    XOX

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  6. They really do break your heart. Sending lots of love to William, and to you. <3

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  7. give william a kiss from me

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  8. He's your sweet old boy. And whenever we open our hearts to anyone, we risk heartbreak. And yet we must because without our loves, life isn't worth a damn.

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  9. Sweet William indeed. Give the old guy a wee smooch from me please. X

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  10. Yes they do. Your words capture the emotions perfectly.

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  11. So sad, love to you both. Separation must be so hard on an old dog like William. Lovely to see him contentedly asleep, all is well again in William's world. And yours.

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  12. They do break your heart. I always remind myself to 'feel' my little dogs. By that I mean to notice the weight of their little bodies when they sleep on top of me, the warmth of their little butts when they sit in my lap or the moisture of their breath when they put their faces into my hands. Good moments to cherish.

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    1. I know exactly what you mean Iris. When my previous dog was getting " old", I used to take his collar off in the evenings and bury my hands in the thick fur round his neck. Just thinking about it now makes me cry. He has been gone 4 years now. My schnauzer is beside me as I am typing, and nudges my leg when I take my hand off him!

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    2. ❤️❤️

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  13. He sure looks content and they do break your heart.

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  14. teddy breaks my heart every day now. there is more and more she can no longer do. i hope william perks up now that he is home.

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  15. Sweet sweet William, so content now that he's home.
    We've lost 3 of our 4 fur babies in the last five weeks. Some days it's hard to go on.
    They were all elderly and had health problems...but to lose them so close together was about more than we could bear.
    I picked my Sophie girl out at a no kill shelter (six weeks old)...border collie mix, and the sweetest dog ever. She was 16...I miss her so. I miss them all.
    We have our little Chihuahua still with us...we got him when my aunt passed away. He has went through a depression after losing all his buddies...poor baby.

    I'm sorry for such a long comment......
    You're so right, John...they do break your heart.

    Sending a hug for William...and you.

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    1. Oh no, Sherry, I'm so sorry. My heart is with you. Stay strong! Hugs for you and the little one

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  16. I'm glad he made it home and is happy again. Dear fellow.

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  17. Dreaming doggy dreams safe and content in his doggy world. Such a dear one he is.

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  18. Kisses to those babies! As Dorothy says , " there's no place like home! "

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  19. So cute, so loved. Happy to be home.

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  20. They do, especially the old ones.

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  21. Welcome home, Wills. Back where you belong and back to where you'll be cared for and every need seen to by the very best care possible.

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  22. Aging isn't easy for any -- even our dear pets.

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  23. Bless his little furry socks x

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  24. Bless him, but all's well in his world now that he's safely home again, surrounded by love.
    Some dogs don't like disruption in their lives, just like people, and William is a boy who likes to be in familiar surroundings. My Lab is like that, and I worry that I'll have to leave her in kennels at some time - I'd hate her to think I'd abandoned her.

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  25. I hope a good rest restores his spirit X

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  26. Yes John they do indeed break your heart. I find Tess hard to manage now because of my mobility problems but I can't bear to part with her. I recently looked into doing this and found a really good foster home but when the chips were down I just couldn't do it. Do hope William recovers a bit after a few restful days. Did I imagine it or are you going abroad later in the year (think it might have been last year)- that would indeed prove a worry to you both.

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    1. We are going to new york for a few days pat, im looking at alternative care for william x

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  27. I am glad that William has an appetite and managed to enjoy the Swedish meatballs! When you next go away, is there any chance someone could come in and dog sit William? He seems happiest at home with his failing eyesight in familiar surroundings. x

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    1. Ithats what im looking into simone

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    2. The love of my life... a six month old rescue pup who was very afraid of just about everything. It took me years to get her trust in humans back. I found her a loving elderly couple who were happy to have her to stay. .When we arrived she would sit up in the back of the car and start wagging her tail in anticipation of her holiday. You can then go away and enjoy your holiday without the worry of them missing you horribly. No greater love hath a man for his dog, or come to that a dog for his man.

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  28. Anonymous9:23 am

    I've noticed that older people are more likely to react badly to changes in their daily routine - it would seem this is true of dogs too. Poor old fella!

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  29. William seems to be in the winter of his life but he is surrounded by his pack. You have given him a happy environment and a happy existence.

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  30. They steal your heart, these wonderful old dogs. xo

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  31. Hope William picks up. It's always so worrisome when they are not acting the same and we can't be sure of what's ailing them.

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  32. They can just break your hearts sometimes can't they. Hope William will be happy again at home.

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  33. Sweet little boy. He just wanted to be with his family. Now I've started my day off with tears.

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  34. Resting his head in your hands had me in tears . . .
    What a love . . .

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  35. My daughter and I are so so thankful that we have each other to mind the others doggies when we must be away. We make it a practice to take our labrador retriever cousins to each others home so they have a familiarity.

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  36. I needed a few tears to be shed this morning ... sigh ... I read this more than once .. I wish I could hold and snuggle William too.
    Give him kisses from me and the cats.

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  37. I'm sure William is happy to be back in loving arms. Ah, they do break our hearts don't they. Our beasties fill to overflowing with love for them. Give William a extra hug for me.

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  38. True love always does break your heart. William is lucky he is loved by you and so many others from getting to know him through your writing.

    Hugs to William from California.

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  39. Poor William . They really do break your hearts. One of my dogs a yorkie is 16 and at the moment she is losing it a bit sits barking at nothing she forgot where her bed was today and tried to tuck the carpet underneath her . Had to take her to it . Take care

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  40. It's OK. I actually needed a good cry today. Do me a favor and get on the couch with him....spoon him and let him feel your love.

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  41. What a sweet old boy. He looks so happy to be home.

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  42. So sad when they get old. Our cat is getting very needy and wants lots of cuddles. He's got kidney disease and we have to hydrate him every 9 days by needle. He sulks for half an hour and then is all over us. Lovely picture of the boy sleeping.

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  43. Thank you all for ypur comments , just got in after a night with family and William is sat on my knee and is fast asleep. He is much brighter! Much brighter! Thanks you x

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    1. So good to hear - thanks for the update.

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  44. Hugs to William and to you John. They do break our hearts but life is so wonderful with them.

    Had our rescue dog, Bogart put to sleep this past March. Still hurts and can still cry at the drop of a hat. Love him so much.

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  45. Yes, they do. But I would do it again in a heartbeat. I love old dogs. Love them like nothing and nobody else.

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