TIME MARCHES ON…
Another year has come and gone in the blink of an eye…We tend to reflect at this time of year, as we review the goals we set in hopes of accomplishing them; the disappointments of not yet reaching some of our set goals; the trips we have taken; the new friendships we have in our lives; the friendships we have lost and are no longer viable; the gatherings of family and friends that make us smile and warm our hearts creating the memories we now have; the losses we have incurred of those no longer with us—-those lost to sickness, accidents, tragedies, old age and failing bodies…yet we carry them in our hearts, knowing that one day we WILL meet again.
We none know of that loss until we have personally experienced it, the loneliness it brings as well as the emptiness that surrounds it.
“I never knew this would be so hard…but I did not anticipate it would affect me as it has. Belvedeere was such a part of my every move inside and outside of our home. I didn’t realize how much my daily routine evolved around anticipating his presence. He was my shadow—-following me everywhere. We took up a lot of space as a unit in our home. The void is like nothing I could imagine.” —Wendy Orrell
Another client described her experience with one of her dogs Sawyer, after picking up the ashes of her recently deceased super-senior dog:
“I had picked up Huck’s ashes and had them buckled in the front seat when I went to pick up Sawyer at day-care. Normally Sawyer jumps in the car and goes to her bed and is asleep before we get out of the driveway to day-care. But on this particular day, she stood erect in the car and began sniffing the air and just wouldn’t stop. Then she kept trying to get in the front seat . I finally had to pull over, unbuckle the bag containing the urn and show it to Sawyer. She immediately began to lick it all over while I sat there and cried! Once she finished, she laid down in her bed and went to sleep!—K. Ford
Our pets too share in their loss of their companions. They grieve similar to us, but have different ways of expressing it: anorexia, depression. clinginess, standoffishness…It can often take our pets up to a month in some cases to work through their grief. They don’t understand what has happened to their friend!
As a result, I tell my clients that have their pets cremated to place the urn on the floor when the urn returns home and allow their companions to sniff it. This in turn will let them know that their buddy is now back with them in the comfort of their home.
But before we move on to next year, we must take a moment to honor those that have crossed our paths and are no longer with us: Ellie B., Mattie F., Skylar M., Mitzy S., Ben S., Puff W., Bella L., Huck F., Lucy W., Mattie F., Skylar M., Willow and Tyson H., Maximus M., Coal P., Petey S., Arthur M., Millie C., Copper C., Hoss C., Mittens J., Daisy F.-F., Casey A., Hershey S., Daisy S., Blue and Hank P., Coco H., Butter T., Belvedeere O., Penny E., Meow Meow L., Tinkerbelle B., Wakanda H., Neko B., Harry T., Barron C., Channon H..
We will see our loved ones again, in time when it is our time to cross over. In the meantime, thank you for entrusting me with their care. It is truly humbling!
-Teresa L. Klatt, DVM