Do you ever wonder what happens? How they feel?
We all have that day where they tell us they have had enough. Their eyes say it all, and our hearts break. I’ve heard many times “they will let you know”. Well you know what.. when it gets to that point.. then you have let it go too far. Our furkids do not want to show signs of weakness, signs of pain.. so they really don’t let you know when it’s time. You know in your heart when it’s time.. and your heart has to convince your head that it’s time.
I can’t tell you how many times when Franklin was leaving us I thought.. no.. just one more day.. look at him.. he’s standing there wagging his tail and smiling! But.. then my head would remind my heart of what he went through trying to hop and losing breath and coughing, coughing, coughing. So.. even the day we let him run free, and he was standing out side the vets, wagging his tail at everyone, we knew it was his time.. even though he didn’t look it at that time. I am sure he was welcomed at the Bridge by some pretty amazing Tripawds who were hanging out there having a good time…. and he is waiting for me. I’m sure our cat Diesel was there, acting like the Godfather as he usually did.
My Maggie, well, she went quicker than Franklin. and I know she opened her eyes and felt that golden warm sun shining on her face and fur… she inhaled deep and savoured the sweet smelling grass that was fresh on her paws… and as she looked to the right, she saw the clearest, crisp, most thirst quenching, fresh water that she has ever laid eyes on.. And as she stood up, she was strong.. she inhaled deeply again and she had no pain, her legs and lungs were strong and her tongue lolled out the side of her mouth as she looked around at all those furkids coming to greet her with happy smiles on their faces. I know Franklin and Diesel were there first.. after all… they were the 3 Amigos!
They showed her around…. told her why she was there.. and that one day, she would again be with those she loved. See.. the thing at the Bridge is that there is no sense of time there… it doesn’t feel like years to our furkids there… it only feels like a few days to them…. that way they never feel alone or lonely for very long. There is so much to do there that they enjoy, that they don’t even realize that they have been gone for that long. And when the time comes that they meet us with muddy paw prints, slobbery kisses and knocking us over on our butts, we are the only ones who know how long it has been for us till we hold that head in our hands again, and kiss that nose or that brow.. right between their eyes! I personally know that I don’t plan on meeting my furkids at the Bridge for a very long time… which is a good thing. But when I do.. the love will be just as strong then, as it is now.
Do you know what it’s like at the Bridge? It’s clean, it’s fresh and it is has the most luxurious, sweet, fresh, greenest green grass to play in, roll in and sprawl out on your belly in!! The water quenches their thirst with just one lick, tasting of the sweetest liquid, almost as sweet and fresh as honey but without the calories!! They are never alone! They share stories of their pawrents and laugh at the silly things that we used to do. And… not only do they become young, strong, and vibrant again.. their senses are incredibly vivid and they can smell a milkbone miles away! That’s because there is a never ending supply of their favourite things there! Milkbones, pig ears, ice creams, pizzas and even deer poop and chocolate! It’s a never ending supply, the box never goes down!! Of course, in the beginning, it takes them a few days to realize that they don’t have to try and eat it ALL and they go to bed every night with a full belly, engorged on pizza and steak… snoring in a beautiful symphony while they dream of the day that they jump in our arms again and slobber all over our faces.
When they wake up in the morning and lift their head and sniff the most purest, cleanest air, they realize that the box isn’t empty and they pace themselves a little better. After all.. I know how I would be if I had an unlimited, never ending, supply of cheesecake!!!!
This is my belief, and it helps me cope.
We lose our furbabies in many different ways… sometimes through an accident, sometimes a simple operation at the vet hospital has devestating results. Sometimes, we are blessed enough to have them slip away peacefully in the night, in their favourite bed, in their home where they are comfortable and with their pack. They leave our sides.. but they never leave our hearts…..
I know it hurts, and the tears will flow for a while…. but, the smiles will come eventually and the memories will make you laugh, and your heart will swell when you feel your fur baby wagging their tail in your heart.
It will be 5 years for my Frank n farter on May 15th.. and 3 years for my Maggie Girl on September 13. And time has flown by so quickly. Wilson and Annie keep us smiling and love us unconditionally. Yet.. still… tears do flow ocassionally and that is ok.. cause they are still there in my heart.. wagging their tails… and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bark atcha later!