At teatime there was a gentle knock on the lane window
It was Trendy Carol and her face had crumpled up like old newspaper
Her poorly Welsh Terrier Seren was no better and she had just been asked to make the decision all pets owners dread
It was time to say goodbye.
Carol had that faraway lost look of the shocked
So I suggested that I take her and her husband to the vets ten miles away.
I am glad I did as the waiting room was filled with bright eyed and yappy patients which were too much for Carol to bare. I waited in line for the appointment to come
Whilst carol and her husband waited outside .
They didn't have to wait long.
A dog's death has a special power about it.
There is something quite special about just how, once owner and dog are reunited, a certain peace descends .
All the dog can see and feel is the presence of the pack .
The alpha is back in charge.
The immediacy of the moment taking over .
It's lovely but heartbreaking to watch as the dog has no real concept of the reality of the moment.
And so minutes after we arrived
Poorly Seren gently folded into Carol's lap little a sleepy toddler would do at the end of a busy day and all Carol could feel was the oh-so-familiar warmth of a Black and Tan body on her own
It was Trendy Carol and her face had crumpled up like old newspaper
Her poorly Welsh Terrier Seren was no better and she had just been asked to make the decision all pets owners dread
It was time to say goodbye.
Carol had that faraway lost look of the shocked
So I suggested that I take her and her husband to the vets ten miles away.
I am glad I did as the waiting room was filled with bright eyed and yappy patients which were too much for Carol to bare. I waited in line for the appointment to come
Whilst carol and her husband waited outside .
They didn't have to wait long.
A dog's death has a special power about it.
There is something quite special about just how, once owner and dog are reunited, a certain peace descends .
All the dog can see and feel is the presence of the pack .
The alpha is back in charge.
The immediacy of the moment taking over .
It's lovely but heartbreaking to watch as the dog has no real concept of the reality of the moment.
And so minutes after we arrived
Poorly Seren gently folded into Carol's lap little a sleepy toddler would do at the end of a busy day and all Carol could feel was the oh-so-familiar warmth of a Black and Tan body on her own
I shouldn't have read that; I now have tears in my eyes thinking back to my own 'visits to the Vet'. Best wishes to Carol.
ReplyDeleteSorry cro.....it's still a bit raw for you , and for me both
DeleteAll the best to Trendy Carol at this devastating time.
ReplyDeleteWe have all been there, me with cats, it's heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteTears in my eyes here too, I feel for Carol.
ReplyDeleteAnd me. All the best to Carol, and thank you for being there with her and her husband.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh tears here. Beaming hugs to Carol and family. Now like her Welsh name, Seren will be with the other stars.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you found some beauty in the moment, as it is indeed the most difficult one I have had to live through.
ReplyDeleteBless you John, tears in my eyes too. Hugs to Carol and family xx
ReplyDeleteIt is the worst decision to have to make. I am sure having you there helped. When I have had to do it my vet's office whisks me through the waiting room to a special office which is some help. Hugs to Carol.
ReplyDeletePeter
my condolences to carol and her spouse. it's a tough decision to make, but we cannot let our animal companions suffer. we have had to make that decision 4 times over the past 18 years.
ReplyDeleteUf, heartbreaking and poignantly described.
ReplyDeleteI'm tearing up as well - just had to say goodbye to a pet before Christmas. They trust us to take the best care of them. -Jenn
ReplyDeleteYou are a true friend, John. A gifted writer. Eyes awash in tears for Seren--for Carol and her husband.
ReplyDeleteFor you, Carole and her family, take time and take care of yourselves.
ReplyDeleteBless your beautiful heart....
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. It's heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteVery sad. My condolences to Carol and her husband.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, tears, our almost 15 is “knocking at that door.”
ReplyDeleteAnd you have a “knowing” having been there with your “loves” . . .
Thankful “Trendy Carol” came to you . . .
and you were there, with them.
Sad for them in their grief . . .
What a “gift” you are to others . . .
Oh my . . . you can write . . .
(Saved and shared.)
So sad.
ReplyDeleteSaying good bye to pets is the greatest grief I've known. It is different for me than other goodbyes. But oh the time we have with them is something I could not do without in my life.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, that made me cry. I can still feel the tiny warmth that was Bella as she died in my arms last year. I grieve for her every day ... as does Mavis.
ReplyDeleteI hugged our dear old golden retriever Sam, told him he was a wonderful much loved boy while he drifted away. I'm so glad I was there for him at the end.
ReplyDeleteSo sad for Carol x
You have said it perfectly. Those last moments with 'them' is the most intimate and personal of moments. And moments, I have relived 1000 times, and will again very soon.
ReplyDeleteYou were so kind and thoughtful to help Carol and her husband through that difficult time. My thoughts are with them.
ReplyDeleteThank you John. We will remember Carol and family in my dailies
ReplyDeleteThanks for really understanding, John. Wish you were near 3 weeks ago for us. Sending gentle hugs to Carol and her husband and a peaceful journey for Seren.
ReplyDeleteThe saddest moment, written about so beautifully. What a fine neighbor you are.
ReplyDeleteI started to write but had to start again it's hard to find the right words you do it so beautifully, I feel such sadness for Carol and her husband, our pets trust us so completely and to make that final descision is so hard even when it's the right thing to do, we have gone through the pain many times but it does not get easier, they have all left their own mark in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteour pets give us endless best days....and also the worst day of our lives.
ReplyDeleteOh, poor Carol. That is indeed the worst decision we're faced with as pet owners. At least they could be together right at the end.
ReplyDeleteI know how much l have sort of embarassed my husband when l have insisted in laying on the floor to hold my darling Rottweilers and Boxer dog each time we have had to say goodbye in the vets,draped next to and over my dogs at the end.
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad time for Carol and ber hubby please send heartfelt good wishes to them from me.
Tess xx
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ReplyDeleteVery kind of you John, a true friend. This is one reason I don't have a dog, I get too attached and I say that just when you think you can't imagine your life without them, it's usually time to say goodbye.
ReplyDeleteThis brought tears to my eyes too. It is always so hard to let them go. Hugs to Carol and her family.
ReplyDeleteThese experiences crumple one up inside. One is never the same afterwards. I feel deeply for anyone who goes through this, knowing only too well what it's like (in my case with cats).
ReplyDeleteWe were lucky that our vet came to our house a few years ago when our chocolate lab Hiro had to go. Hiro was always so anxious at the vet clinic and I couldn't bear for him to feel that way right at the end, and our vet was so kind and knew Hiro so well, we really appreciated that he came over.
ReplyDeleteSending love to Carol and her husband. It is never easy to do that, but it is the humane thing to do. <3
Feel for Carol and partner. Always difficult. But so wish this human could go to the vets. That I had the option.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for Carol and her husband.My most recent sadness was a year last July and I'm still struggling daily with the loss.The comfort is that we can help them not to suffer too much.Seren will be safe in their hearts forever xxx
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking, just heartbreaking. You are a good friend John.
ReplyDeletePoor Carol and Mr Carol. Such a hard time. I'm glad you were there for them, John. I'm sure that made it one tiny bit easier.
ReplyDeleteThis is the hardest part of having pets, but one of the most important things we can do - being there at the end to ease their anxiety. There is comfort for us owners in having someone to share the sadness, and I'm glad Carol and her husband had you to call on for that.
ReplyDeleteBoth beautiful and heartbreaking. Tears and love for you and for Carol and her family.
ReplyDeleteMy sympathy to Trendy Carol and family as we've experienced the unwelcome decision when three of our dogs were ready to go. We weren't ready but their eyes said it was time. I read somewhere that one of the greatest heartbreaks of human life is that our dogs don't live nearly as long as we do.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you were able to help.
Tears here, too.
Hugs
Heartbreaking, but at the end I feel it's only right to be there with your friend. I've done it so far with 4 dogs and a cat and it never gets easier and the heartache doesn't end - you just learn to live with it. All the best to Carol.
ReplyDeletePaul
Just as I felt when my darling Tess slipped away from me oh so gently a fortnight ago - no pain, no realisation of what was happening, just a quiet going to sleep.
ReplyDeleteSo very sorry. You wrote about it beautifully, but it's hard to read when you evoke the experience so well. (Cats for me, the last was 14 months ago and still missed daily.) I seem to have something in my eye. Hugs and sympathy to you and Carol.
ReplyDeleteOh this is so hard to read. I have been there so many times and always made a point that my dear pet could see my face and feel my touch and love right to and past the end. Heartbreaking. I send my sympathies to dear Carol and her husband.
ReplyDeleteThank you all on carol 's behalf
DeleteShe was very touched by all of your kind comments
How very sad the partings are. I hope ,in time, Carol is able to delight in the memories of her beloved little Seren with a smile and fewer tears.
ReplyDeleteSo late with this comment.
ReplyDeleteTo Carol and Husband, I am so sorry.
This is so hard to read and I do have tears in my eyes.
parsnip