Change is always going to happen whether we like it or not. Almost three weeks ago I had to help my dog cross that rainbow bridge. My heart is aching. Still. Despite knowing that she was almost 13 years old and that there was nothing anyone could do to make her better, it was traumatic for me. Making that call is traumatic for most people who have to undertake that role whether it’s to help a pet or a family member. It doesn’t get easier with each passing day, it just gets familiar.

Lily was my girl that had to leave me and her sister Addie and our newly acquired pup, that was my mother’s Boston terrier, Lacy. Lacy seems indifferent about Lily’s absence but Addie seems to miss her. I tried to thin out the dog bed situation but Addie would have none of it as she climbed atop the pile of memory foam and round dog beds that were Lily’s. When I feed the two remaining, Addie looks for Lily’s dish then looks to me as if questioning where is she?

Lily was my first pup after having to put down my greyhound Snowy…he took a big part of my heart when he passed. Lily brought comfort and so much love after two years of being dog-less. Lily was sensitive and very intuitive. She would lean on anyone who cried, run to my mother if she sneezed, and she laid her head on my chest when I had asthma attacks. She was such a sweet, sensitive, mushy girl.

Lily was also very well behaved and a silent tattle-tale. If Addie was getting into something that she shouldn’t have, Lily would come to me and sit pressingly close while looking away from the area that Addie was in. Each time she did this, I would ask, “what’s Addie up to”? and sure enough she was tearing tissues from the trash or papers from my office.

After a long and wrenching day with my mother I would come home to be greeted by happy dogs. Lily was a leaner and being sensitive to other’s anxieties she quickly drew out the stress and negativity from me. Each night while unwinding, watching TV, she would lay beside me, often between Dale and me, with her paw, her head or her back touching me – connection. I miss those puppy hugs that she gave so well.

This part of being a pet parent completely stinks. We all miss you sweet girl. I believe you are with your adopted siblings from years past and making new friends. I know that we will see each other again. Thank you for being my girl, for helping me through some tough times and for always being happy to see me no matter what.

Change will always happen and it won’t always feel good but with each passing day it get’s more familiar and we learn to accept what is. We need to embrace the good things in our lives because there will always be endings and new beginnings.

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