Coming Home to an Empty House....
I was 50 years old before I got my first dog. I was never a big dog person--most of my experiences with dogs were less than pleasant as I was out running or cycling. It took two years after I married my current wife before she and the kids talked me into it. I resisted partly because I knew who would end up taking care of the puppy. But I finally gave in and decided if I was going to to this, I would go all the way. So I studied up on how to care for a new dog and accepted him with open arms.
Now I am coming home to an empty house.
He was born on New Years Day 2003, came home with us in March, a white bundle of fur with a chunky nose and huge brown eyes. We called him Dylan and he was a purebred golden retriever. He sniffed around his new home and settled in. We took up the carpets in part of the house and closed it off so he could learn "self control" without the anxiety of a lot of household accidents. We explored the bike paths around our neighborhood and bonded the way humans and animals do. In his eyes, I became the Big Dog, the who was respected, while my wife got more of the affection--maybe he was trying to take my spot, we never figured it out.
Now I am coming home to an empty house.
We wanted our dog to be polite and well-mannered. We also wanted him to have socialization, so we enrolled him in puppy training classes--and learned the power of a liver treat. . The dogs received "points" for how well they performed. In every class, Dylan won "top dog" honors. Even more than most Goldens, Dylan was a people person. His favorite place in the world was our local dog park--not because of the dogs, but the people. Dylan would run from person to person, plop down in front of them and nudge them to pet him--he could do it all day. When it was time to leave, he would sometimes run off when he knew we were heading for the exit gate and head over to another group of people, where he would invite himself to stay even longer. He never failed to put a smile on everyone's face with his love and enthusiasm.
Now I am coming home to an empty house.
Like most Goldens, he had a voracious appetite. No food was safe from the "table shark" as he circled, waiting for a lapse in attention. On a number of occasions, we would mistakenly leave a casserole, sheet cake, etc, too close to the kitchen counter, only to come in later and find an empty platter and a happy dog with incriminating evidence on his lips. He was nicknamed "Dylan the Villain" for his stealth tactics. Goldens are also big time chewers and so there were always socks, shoes and toys strewn about. But we won't have to worry about the food now and the socks will be left undisturbed--
Now I am coming home to an empty house.
As everyone knows, one of the joys of having a dog is having a companion that accepts you uncritically--just the way you are. Goldens need to be with people, so he would follow you around, lying underfoot when you were on the couch, or next to my chair in my office; when I first got my stairclimber, he would curl himself around the bottom of the machine while I was exercising. When I came home, he was always there, looking out the window after hearing the car, then running to "retrieve" something--anything--to bring me as I walked through the door. This morning was different--this morning I came home to an empty house.
Dylan was born with a heart defect. It was discovered when he was 1 year old. At the time, the doctors said they did not think it would affect his quality of life or longevity, but they couldn't be sure. We tried to keep an eye on things, but the only way to be sure of the progress would be with a lot of expensive tests, and sometimes you have to choose things like keeping your house and sending the kids to college over expensive medical tests for a dog. In the last few months, Dylan started having episodes of increased lethargy. We would take him to the vet, but they could not detect any new signs -- even a chest xray back in January was normal. And, after a few days he would bounce back and be his normal self--maybe it was just an allergy, or something he ate, or just normal behavior for an 8 1/2 year old dog. I took him to the vet last Friday because he seemed more out of it, but, again, nothing could be detected. Last night, he seemed OK. In the middle of the night, he became restless, so I took him out of bed and went to sleep downstairs. At around 6 am we found him lying on the stairway landing and he had vomited some blood on the carpet. As we got him up to see how he was doing, he collapsed and fell down the last 3 stairs to the floor. The vets office opens at 7:30 am. We suspected the worst and decided to wait to take him there rather than to an ER full of strangers. We wanted him to be in a place he enjoyed (he always loved going to the vet and the people there loved him), surrounded by those who loved him. We got some blankets and carried him to the car. At the vets, the doc confirmed our worst fears and said he was in bad shape. I asked them to run one more blood test--I knew deep down where this was going, but I thought some evidence would help me to closure and also give us some more time. Dylan had been in the back rooms during his exam. When they brought him back to our waiting room after 30 min, he had deteriorated even further--it was a shock. He barely held on long enough for us to say our final goodbyes and passed on peacefully in our arms.
In the end, his heart was just too big and too full of love to last. I am trying to remember the good times and to find a smile through the tears, but right now, it is so painful...
Coming home to an empty house.
Goodbye, my buddy.
(PS: you can see his picture in my profile)
Now I am coming home to an empty house.
He was born on New Years Day 2003, came home with us in March, a white bundle of fur with a chunky nose and huge brown eyes. We called him Dylan and he was a purebred golden retriever. He sniffed around his new home and settled in. We took up the carpets in part of the house and closed it off so he could learn "self control" without the anxiety of a lot of household accidents. We explored the bike paths around our neighborhood and bonded the way humans and animals do. In his eyes, I became the Big Dog, the who was respected, while my wife got more of the affection--maybe he was trying to take my spot, we never figured it out.
Now I am coming home to an empty house.
We wanted our dog to be polite and well-mannered. We also wanted him to have socialization, so we enrolled him in puppy training classes--and learned the power of a liver treat. . The dogs received "points" for how well they performed. In every class, Dylan won "top dog" honors. Even more than most Goldens, Dylan was a people person. His favorite place in the world was our local dog park--not because of the dogs, but the people. Dylan would run from person to person, plop down in front of them and nudge them to pet him--he could do it all day. When it was time to leave, he would sometimes run off when he knew we were heading for the exit gate and head over to another group of people, where he would invite himself to stay even longer. He never failed to put a smile on everyone's face with his love and enthusiasm.
Now I am coming home to an empty house.
Like most Goldens, he had a voracious appetite. No food was safe from the "table shark" as he circled, waiting for a lapse in attention. On a number of occasions, we would mistakenly leave a casserole, sheet cake, etc, too close to the kitchen counter, only to come in later and find an empty platter and a happy dog with incriminating evidence on his lips. He was nicknamed "Dylan the Villain" for his stealth tactics. Goldens are also big time chewers and so there were always socks, shoes and toys strewn about. But we won't have to worry about the food now and the socks will be left undisturbed--
Now I am coming home to an empty house.
As everyone knows, one of the joys of having a dog is having a companion that accepts you uncritically--just the way you are. Goldens need to be with people, so he would follow you around, lying underfoot when you were on the couch, or next to my chair in my office; when I first got my stairclimber, he would curl himself around the bottom of the machine while I was exercising. When I came home, he was always there, looking out the window after hearing the car, then running to "retrieve" something--anything--to bring me as I walked through the door. This morning was different--this morning I came home to an empty house.
Dylan was born with a heart defect. It was discovered when he was 1 year old. At the time, the doctors said they did not think it would affect his quality of life or longevity, but they couldn't be sure. We tried to keep an eye on things, but the only way to be sure of the progress would be with a lot of expensive tests, and sometimes you have to choose things like keeping your house and sending the kids to college over expensive medical tests for a dog. In the last few months, Dylan started having episodes of increased lethargy. We would take him to the vet, but they could not detect any new signs -- even a chest xray back in January was normal. And, after a few days he would bounce back and be his normal self--maybe it was just an allergy, or something he ate, or just normal behavior for an 8 1/2 year old dog. I took him to the vet last Friday because he seemed more out of it, but, again, nothing could be detected. Last night, he seemed OK. In the middle of the night, he became restless, so I took him out of bed and went to sleep downstairs. At around 6 am we found him lying on the stairway landing and he had vomited some blood on the carpet. As we got him up to see how he was doing, he collapsed and fell down the last 3 stairs to the floor. The vets office opens at 7:30 am. We suspected the worst and decided to wait to take him there rather than to an ER full of strangers. We wanted him to be in a place he enjoyed (he always loved going to the vet and the people there loved him), surrounded by those who loved him. We got some blankets and carried him to the car. At the vets, the doc confirmed our worst fears and said he was in bad shape. I asked them to run one more blood test--I knew deep down where this was going, but I thought some evidence would help me to closure and also give us some more time. Dylan had been in the back rooms during his exam. When they brought him back to our waiting room after 30 min, he had deteriorated even further--it was a shock. He barely held on long enough for us to say our final goodbyes and passed on peacefully in our arms.
In the end, his heart was just too big and too full of love to last. I am trying to remember the good times and to find a smile through the tears, but right now, it is so painful...
Coming home to an empty house.
Goodbye, my buddy.
(PS: you can see his picture in my profile)
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Replies
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I'm so sorry for your loss.0
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I'm so so so very sorry.
I was actually looking at a golden puppy this weekend, and thought of your dylan.
Again...so very sorry. he was gorgeous and I'm sure a very fine friend.
RIP Dylan.0 -
Sorry for your loss! I have a boxer and will be posting the same when she goes0
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:brokenheart:
A lovely tribute.0 -
Sorry man, I couldn't even finish your post....I have a Golden........0
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Sorry for your loss. He sounds wonderful!0
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I am so sorry for your loss.
Saying goodbye hurts so deeply. And there never seems to be a way to make sense of it.
Keep those great memories and be happy that you showed him love and what a good life was while he was in your life.
Sending prayers your way....0 -
OMG, I'm so so very sorry! My father died in November and I got myself a puppy - for the very reason you quoted...unconditional love and she has become the little apple of my eye. I love her more than I ever dreamed I could. She's my lifeline. I'm so so very sorry for your loss.
Dylan is spending time chasing butterflies in Heaven now. He's surely blessed to have been a loved member of your family. Not all pets are so lucky. God bless and comfort you in the loss of your loved one.0 -
So, so sorry... Dogs have a way of getting into our hearts and staying there forever. I had the same dog for 22 years growing up. Right now I borrow my sister's golden when I need somy puppy kisses...0
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This made me cry. I know how it feels to lose a beloved pet. They don't ask for much, but they give us their entire selves.
I'm very sorry.0 -
I am so sorry for you loss. I had one of my dogs die in my arms this year while I was at the vet. I guess she didnt want to be put down, so she left on her own, in my arms and looking at me....Oh ****, now I am crying again. I guess you never get over it. She was 15, but she was still my baby.
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I am so sorry for your loss!0
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so sorry for your loss.
if this is any help to you
there is a website where you can create memorial pages
for people AND pets (furry family).
source: http://www.gonetoosoon.org/
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 vigor. 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 to them, who had to be 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 quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him 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 the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....
Author unknown0 -
Im so sorry0
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He looks just like my golden (whose name, by the way, is Jacob Dylan). I've had dogs my whole life and I know what you're feeling right now. It's the absolute worst. I'm so sorry :frown:0
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That is so very sad! I have lost so much this year myself, parents, pets. It's a sadness and emptyness I cannot begin to describe. Good luck to you, and I'm sorry for your loss.0
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Indeed so sorry for your loss. I have a 13 yr old Akita that according to my vet is considered to be "ancient" for her breed. Her health is slowly deteriorating and so I understand where you are coming from. My thoughts are with you.0
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oo, I cried reading that...so sorry for your loss0
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Very nice post. So sorry for your loss.0
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Oh no, so sorry for your loss.0
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I'm so, so sorry for your loss. *BIG hugs*0
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thats a beautiful story, i'm very sorry for your loss.
i have a 3 year old Golden and they are such lovely dogs.
sending love xoxo0 -
That was a really lovely and loving tribute.0
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Couldn't keep my eyes dry while I finished your post. SO sorry for your loss! I've been a lifelong dog person, but some endear themselves to you more than others. Sounds like you had a wonderful friend!0
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I can tell that you loved him and he loved you right back.
How wonderful that you got to have such a special friendship.
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I'm so sorry for your loss.... I was just giving our puppy heck for digging in the mud and after cleaning up came here and read your post. Similar to you I did not have a dog until I was 42. Never had time or inclination for them and now I have 3, a German Shepherd (Gunner) a Shepherd /Husky cross ( Munchkin who is anything but a munchkin) and a Lab/ Border Collie cross (Buddy, the 11 month old who is a huge handful)
I cannot imagine losing one of them, as I love them all dearly. Munchkin and Buddy were pound puppies and I am always glad that we have given them a loving home. Gunner was a puppy picked out by Munchkin and she still mothers him even though he is 4 years old.
You have lost a member of your family and that is always difficult. Please know you are in my thoughts.0 -
I am sorry for your loss. He is looking down on you from the rainbow bridge and says Fret not, I am no longer in pain. I can live free now.
Dylan - Run free my sweet, run free over the rainbow bridge.0 -
We had Goldens in the house from before I was born until I was about 16...they are such awesome friends! I am so sorry for your loss...I'm not sure if someone posted this in full; but I found this comforting when we lost our dog a couple of summers ago:
The Rainbow Bridge
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.
For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.
The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.0 -
I can't even finish reading what everyone else wrote. Trying really hard not to cry right now. I'm so sorry for your loss. (((hugs))) I just found out last night on Facebook from my younger sister that her little puppy got run over. I lost my precious Blacky Cat around a dozen years ago and cried myself to sleep for weeks after. Pets are so special and they do work their way into our hearts. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers too. 0
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Wow, I'm so sorry. Honestly this made me cry.0
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