Goodbye my sweet girl, you will be so sorely missed.

Of all the blog posts I’ve written over the last few months, this is probably the hardest. As you would have read on yesterday’s entry, Molly came home from hospital. Although she wasn’t herself, she appeared to be on the mend. Trudes and I were so happy to have her home, she snuggles up on the sofa beside her momma and had a sleep, she then bimbled over to her bed by the TV and dug out a pigs ear and spent about twenty minutes having a chew. I fed her at eleven, as per the vets’ instructions, and gave her a shot of insulin. With her fed, watered and jabbed I let her out for her night time pee and we set of to bed. I put her blanket on my bed, in case she was sick during the night, and spent about an hour lying with her gently stroking her and chatting to her. Eventually we fell asleep. I woke up with light the still on and our girl snoring away in a state of total comfort and bliss. I gave her a kiss and settled into bed properly. I awoke to Molly desperate for a pee and eager to get downstairs, so off we went. Knowing that wasn’t due to be fed I just sorted out her tablets and tried to give them to her, she wasn’t interested. This is when I realised that she was still poorly. Trudes had heard the sound of my panicking and came down to offer the voice of reason and suggested putting her pills in some cheese, that worked! I set off for work more than a little worried. My phone rang at about ten, it was Trudy saying that I should come home as Molly had been very sick and was not eating; she added that she had spoken to the vet and that he had said that if she was not keeping food down without the help of a drip it was not a good sign. In a way it was, Trudes and I both feel that Molly had manage to recover enough to be well enough to spend one last night with us at home, with that done, our sweet little Molly Popples let Trudy know that she was ready to cross the rainbow bridge. I spoke to my boss and explained what was happening and he told me to go. I phoned the friend that had taken us to collect her last night, I guess from the tone of my voice she knew why I was calling, and she simply said that she would meet us at Trudy’s. Shortly after I arrived home two of my very close friends, who also adore our girl, came to say goodbye. We drove to the vets in Hythe and shortly after we got there I had one last cuddle with our Molly and Trudes carried her in to spend the last few moments with her.

So I write this with a shattered and heavy heart in the front room of a very empty house. Trudes and I feel blessed to have had the few, all too short, months we had with Molly, but we rest easy knowing that she loved us as much, if not more, as we loved her. I don’t doubt that we will, given time, foster or adopt another little dog, but I will always have a Molly shaped hole at the centre of my heart. She was the first dog in my life that was mine, and that makes her extra special. Despite all her ailments she never once complained, not even at the end.

So goodbye my sweet little Molly Popples, I will love you forever and you have left paw prints on my heart.

When you have read to the end of this entry, please take a moment to speak a few words for our girl, and then, if you have a pet you hold dear, go and love them. Hold them and kiss them and tell them that they mean the world to you. For the love of a pet is unconditional, and they return the love you give without question.

To have loved and then said farewell is better than to have never loved at all.
For all of the times that you stooped and touched my head, fed me my favourite treat and
returned the love that I so unconditionally gave to you. For the care that you gave to me
so unselfishly. For all of these things I am grateful and thankful. I ask that you grieve
not for the loss but rejoice in the fact that we lived, loved and touched each other's lives.
My life was fuller because you were there, not as owner, but as my friend. Today, I am
as I was in my youth. The grass is always green, butterflies flit among the flowers and
the sun shines gently down upon all of God's creatures. I can run, jump and play
and do all of the things that I did in my youth. There is no sickness, no aching joints
and no regrets and no aging. We await the arrival of our lifelong companions and know
that togetherness is forever. You live in our hearts as we do in yours. Companions such
as you are very rare and unique. Don't hold the love that you have within yourself.
Give it to another like me and then I will live forever. For love never really dies
and you are loved and missed as surely as we are.

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an
animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet
goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our
special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of
food, water and sunshine and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and
vigour; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong
again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times
gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small
thing: they each miss someone very special, someone who was left
behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly
stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; his
eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly, he breaks from the group,
flying over the green grass, faster and faster. You have been
spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling
together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses
rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and
you look once more into those trusting eyes, so long gone from your
life, but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together...

I think this last one sums up our last day with Molly.

Do you think the time is right?
May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless tired nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first; I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and loving light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
that my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

Is tired nights accurate? Maybe not, Molly would bound up the stairs to with either me or her mommas bed, and she would sleep soundly through the night, with the occaisional snore and a little yip now and then as she chased squibbles and bunnies in her sleep 

Thank you for taking the time to read through this.

Kindest regards

Steve