Friday, January 2, 2015

A Farewell to the Fluffiest Friend

One of the really big downsides to dogs is how short their lives are relative to a person's. If you're a person who likes to have dogs around--as we do--then it's inevitable that in the course of your dog-owning life, you're going to have to say goodbye to a lot of dogs.

This morning we're saying goodbye to Leda the Fluffball.


The fluffiest of all, indeed.

She had been declining slowly for awhile now, not surprising considering she was coming up on her twelfth birthday in March. That's pretty old for a collie. Yesterday morning she wouldn't eat her breakfast, though she was happy to go on a walk in the woods with the family and the rest of the dogs. Last night she was noticeably worse, and when the MiL went out to check on her before bed, Leda was nowhere to be found.

This morning A. found her curled up in the flower bed by the door. She had died right where she wanted to be. She died quickly, and after a day in which she got to have a last adventure in the woods.

Not a bad way to go for a dog.

We're all sad, of course, though not surprised. When the weather warms up this weekend, we'll bury her in the pasture where so many of the family's pets have been buried over the years.


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear this! Leda was a wonderful member of the Blackrock family. Mary in MN

tu mere said...

Oh my, such a sweet old girl. It will be strange for her not to be one of the Blackrock greeters when we next visit.

Joellen said...

Sorry for the loss of your dog.

Anonymous said...

It's so difficult to lose our furry friends. I'm glad she had such a lovely life--and glad you all were guarded by her.

Roger A. Post said...

That was sad. "Leda, Good Dog," says it all.

Lindsey @ Half Dime Homestead said...

Sad/happy - you know?
Sad she's gone, happy she did it on her own terms.
In all of my years owning and loving animals, I've never had the experience of them dying on their own - it's always months of fretting, vet visits, tests, and the final gut wrenching decision to put them to sleep.
Sweet dog - rest in peace. What an awesome place to get to live as a dog - with the family Blackrock and their land.

Sherry said...

I agree with the post above. It is just gut wrenching to have to make the decision to put a dog to sleep. You gave this dog a good life and may that bring you comfort.

Daisy said...

Hugs to all of you.

FinnyKnits said...

We should all go so gracefully and be so loved.