Thursday, October 30, 2008

She's gone

This is the last picture I took of her. It's also the spot where she passed away peacefully, serge and I holding her and crying. It was a very nice thing for her that she didn't have to go to the vet's office where she would have been trembling and upset. Once the vet left I sobbed uncontrollably for a long time. Woke up in the night to do it some more. And just posting this is killing me. I just can't believe my friend is gone. Goodbye Sara, you'll never die in my heart.

87 comments:

Sorted Lives said...

I am so sorry for you and Serge. I know what it is like to say goodbye to your "baby."

Snooze said...

How beautiful that you were able to find a vet to come to your home.

Anonymous said...

Good bye Sara, what a good doggie. What a good Torn and Serge. Any Dog would be proud to be your pet. The only way not to cry is not to care. Sara knows you guys cared a lot. ed

LSL said...

I'm terribly, terribly sorry (and am crying, too, for you guys). She is beautiful and certainly brought you a lot of happiness.

Anonymous said...

Condolences on the loss of Sara, no-one can replace her.

Petie said...

My Condolences. She may be gone but the memories still remains with you.

Anonymous said...

Je vous embrasse.

dpaste said...

So so sorry. Home is the only place for this to take place. My last two died at home, thankfully. This may sound callous, but take in a new friend as soon as you can, it will keep Sara even more alive in your heart. They are never replaced, but their love is carried through with the next one.

Anonymous said...

Serge & Rick:

... how sad! Sara ... immortalized by you on the web and lives on in our collective memories ... tears and lump in the throat ..

M & J

CoffeeDog said...

Sending you both lots of hugs.

Anonymous said...

Sharing your tears this morning. Sending many hugs, guys.

Summer said...

I'm so sorry on the loss of Sara. She was very lucky to have you and Serge as her family. It's so hard to lose such a wonderful friend. Only a dog lover can understand the depth of your sadness. I'm happy for all of you that you could do this at your home where she lived and loved and that you were with her. Please get the book Dog Heaven by Cynthia Ryliant. I'd send it to you if I knew where to. XO

My adventures said...

My condolences to you and Serge... she really was a very sweet dog!

Anonymous said...

I am sorry for your loss of Sara and her love for you both will always be there. She is still with you in a way and my heart goes out to you both for your loss

Anonymous said...

I am sorry. I enjoyed reading about your closeness to Sara - and hers to you.

Franciscus van Munster said...

I'm imagining Sara frolicking around in doggy heaven, making all the other dead dogs jealous by bark-telling them how wonderful and full of love her life was

Patricia said...

I'm so very sorry, Richard. There are no words, only tears. I send my love.

Polt said...

You have my deepest sympathies. I was there five years ago when we had to put our dog down then, so I know what you're feeling. Just remember all the good times with her, allow yourself to grieve and cry, and know that she's up in doggie heaven welcomed with open paws by our dog, Cookie. I'm certain they're chasing all the balls, sweek toys, and cats they could ever want.

BIG HUGS to you and Serge....

Lemuel said...

I am sitting here, typing this comment, with tears streaming down my face. My thoughts go with you for comfort and, yes, for eventual joy in the memories of your times with Sara.

The memories of my first dog come flooding back. In her last years she became quite ill and I fought the inevitable trip to the vet for months, caring for her like the aged invalid that she was. One night in October 1989, she died peacefully in her sleep in our home. I, too, sobbed uncontrollably for a week. I still miss her.

Many hugs and much love to you and Spouse.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry for your loss of your dear Sara. I know your heart is full of pain, but she's in your heart forever.

TED said...

I am very sorry for your loss. It was always obvious from how you wrote about her that she was a wonderful dog.

Anonymous said...

I'm so very sorry to hear this news, and the fact you felt for a while that the time was coming doesn't making it any easier. But I love Franck's image; I, too, am convinced that she's frolicking free of pain in doggy heaven and making the other dogs jealous with her tales of how loved she was ...and still is while remaining in your heart.

Anonymous said...

Sorry to hear about Sara. There is time for everything to return back to God and it was her time to leave. Bye Sara :(

Lyvvie said...

*HUGS*

Doug said...

Oh Torn, I'm so, so sorry. It was a good thing she could be at home in the arms of her daddies when it happened.

RJ March said...

You did well.

Birdie said...

I stopped breathing when I saw the picture. I didn't even see the headline and I knew. Oh, sweetie. I'm tearing up as I sit here in my office with my Sophie racked out on the floor behind me. I'm so sorry. My cat KC will be there with Sara, supplying her endlessly with socks for trotting about. They're having a great time.

Lacey said...

She's a beautiful soul.

Anonymous said...

So sad to lose such a beloved family member, but you do have wonderful memories which will always be with you. My heart goes out to you and Serge during this time of grieving.

Thanks for sharing the news with us. You've certainly got a lot of love and support!

Rox said...

Oh Torn. I knew that when the time came for Sara that your heart would be broken. My heart goes out to you and Serge at this time. She's at rest now, after a long and enjoyable life as the center of your world. She will be missed.

Even in her last photo, she's still giving you that look like "Dude, enough with the camera already!" Sweet thing.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry for your loss.

don said...

The look on Sara's face is so peaceful and angelic. That is how we will all remember her.
Hugs to you and Serge.

Anonymous said...

Lots of hugs and support, remember all the good times with Sara.

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear, but glad to know it was peaceful for you all. My condolences.

ME said...

I'm so sorry.

Mel said...

:-(

YNAGER '65 said...

I had not been by since I read that Sara was not doing well, and seeing the picture when I came back I knew. I am so sorry for you and Serge, I know you loved her very very much. I, myself, don't know how I will handle it when my girls get older and go to Doggie Heaven. I am sure she will be a part of you now and forever.

{{{HUGS}}}

Y

Anonymous said...

My condolences to both you and Serge. Taking the time to find a vet that would come to your home shows how much you loved her. My thoughts are with you both.

Christie said...

I am so sorry for your loss. I know she was a huge part of your lives and you were such good "parents" to her.

You were probably not considering it, but try to find the strength to go to a pet shelter and give another animal the tremedous gift of life and love you so easily provide to these wonderful creatures.

I have always believed that our pets choose us, we don't choose them. Allow someone to choose you.

Anonymous said...

I echo the comments of your other faithful readers, and offer my thoughts of kindness in this sad time. She was lucky to have you both to love her so much.

Anonymous said...

She will always be with you, just not physically. You guys gave her a great life and letting her go the way you did was humane and peaceful for her. Hugs!

Doghigh said...

I am truly, truly sorry for your loss. As the companion to an older dog now it breaks my heart to read your words and see her picture. Peace to you all...

Anonymous said...

My sympathy to you and Spouse. You did the right thing and you did the hard thing. Strange how the two are never far from each other. I've found gathering up the playthings and...I hope this doesn't sound morbid....burying them with or near the pet seems to help. It's like giving them what they'll need for the next life.
Hugs and sincerest condolences to you.

Fatinah said...

big cyber hug to you both - how nice though that she didn't have to be alone. You're good doggy parents!

Mark in DE said...

Oh Rick, I'm so sorry. Although we knew this day would come, it doesn't make it any easier.

Sharing your tears,

Mark

Java said...

Torn and Serge, I'm so sorry for your loss. How comforting that she could be with you two there at home as she passed away.
hugs!

The Wisdom of Wislon said...

Oh no, so sorry. xxxx

Patrick said...

Nothing more to add, except my sorrow and condolences. Yes, being able die at home, in the arms of people who loved you, I hope that's how I go.

Be good to yourselves. And have a glass of wine, in her honor, for me.

Robert said...

I'm so sorry for your loss. At least you were able to be with her when she went. I'm crying along with you.

Anonymous said...

I´m crying with you. Have a wonderful live in dog heaven, lovely Sara.

Unknown said...

I'm so sorry. There will come a point when your heart stops breaking and all you will feel is how well you loved her. Until then, just let yourself cry.

A Lewis said...

Hey you guys, I've been in a car all day traveling and am just now getting to this. I'm so sorry. So very sorry. I'm not sure there are proper words. And your sobbing...oh, I've been there. I wish you some sort of peace somewhere, somehow, in your lives and home. Giant wishes for better days ahead. I can't believe the beautiful girl is not with you any longer. xoxoxoxox

Sunshine said...

I'm so terribly sorry for your loss, guys. *hugz* :(

evilganome said...

I'm so sorry. It's terrible when they leave us.

Anonymous said...

Life is short. Dogs life even shorter. Don't Worry; Be Happy!

David said...

As I shed tears for you and Serge -as soon as I saw those words "She's gone," I started - I just want to say (as many have today) that I share your sorrow.

For non dog lovers, this sorrow we animal lovers feel is hard to understand.

But I do, and I send all my best, along with giant hugs for you both.

And as long as you remember her, she is never gone from your heart. A small piece may have went with her, but I know as drew her final breath, her "fate was always
safest in your hand."

Peace and love to you both.

Hammy said...

Oh baby girl...such a sweet face in a great picture.

My heart goes out to you and Spouse - you took care of her 'til the end.

Hammy

Breenlantern said...

i cried reading this and am crying still...for what it's worth, you have the support, love, sympathy and concern of a stranger from NY. Thank you for loving her as much as you did and enough to let her go in peace at home by your side. You are a hero to her (and me)!

Anonymous said...

So sorry, but hopefully she will still be with you in many ways amd your joy will eclipse your sorrow. All the best. ChristopherYVR

J-o-h-n-n-y said...

Our deepest Condolences.....goes to you both.

Anonymous said...

We totally understand what you're going through. Our condolences on your loss.

Pets today aren't just pets, they're members of the family.

And I learned something, even though I'm fairly allergic to dogs, I grok them and they grok me.

Matt said...

Oh no ... I knew this was coming, but that's no consolation. I'm so, so sorry. I'm glad that she died at home with you holding her, as little comfort as that is. Bless her. And hugs to you guys.

Ken in MS said...

Damn, I'm so sorry for you guys. And you will keep crying every time you see a picture of her. But just know that those tears mean how much she was loved.

Back in June, my spouse and I had to make the same decision as you about our 12 year old Dobie. I know this sounds horrible, but I even took her picture of him as he had just expired. It is still one of my favorite pictures of him. I don't know what your plans are, but we thankfully have a vet school nearby that cremated him for us (with incredible kindness and compassion) and sent his ashes to us. They occupy a place in our heart just like he did in our lives.

I wish you all the peace you can find and all the comfort you can get from strangers like us in Mississippi and around the globe that are reaching out to you.

Devo said...

Bye bye pretty Sara. I am so sad with you. There's nothing like loving them, is there? I'm glad she's not suffering and you were able to say goodbye at home together. Hugs

anabel said...

My heart goes out to you and Serge. I know how much that hurts.

Anonymous said...

iwishtheywouldliveforever

do you think she will see "buddha" up there? cause that's where she went.

gotta go, i'm crying too hard and everyone will think i am crazy (again)

xxx
d

dykewife said...

you gave your dear friend a beautiful and safe parting. she'll be waiting for you on the other side.

i'm sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry for your losing Sara.

Colleen

Anonymous said...

(((((((Torn))))))) So sorry that you and Serge had to go through this. I cannot imagine how it felt for you to experience it firsthand. May those close to you be near in times of support.

GayProf said...

I am really sorry that she is gone. Let me know if there is anything that I can do for you.

larry said...

its sad to lose a pet. they are part of the family. i think after a mourning period, you should adopt another dog. but you'll always remember sara...

Brad said...

It's the hardest thing in the world to lose someone you love like that. I'm so sorry. You gave her a great life.

Anonymous said...

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I went through this awhile back and can assure you that in time the pain will go away and you'll be left with the good memories that she brought to your lives.

TJ said...

(((Warm hugs)))

Anonymous said...

Augh! Sorry for your loss my dear.

*tears streaming*

Sara is now running and jumping and frolicking feeling wonderful...

Hugs

Anonymous said...

Sorry to read the news ...

Mike

justabamaguy said...

I'm trying to catch up on the blogs. Sorry about your loss of Sara recently. It hurts I know. Maybe one day you can find another one to replace her. She always looked like a very sweet puppy dog!! Have a great weekend...is it snowing up your way yet?

Curtis said...

What more could I possibly add to such loving and supportive comments?

My condolences. It's never easy to loose a member of the family.

Cincy Diva said...

I am here crying for you and with you. My Macy passed away two years ago and not a day goes by where I don't miss him. But the pain does ease. You and Serge are in my prayers.

Butch said...

I am so sorry for yours and Serge's loss, Torn. She was a good friend to you both. My thoughts are with you.

Jess said...

I'm just catching up on my blog reading and learned of your loss. I'm so sorry! Our dogs are part of our family, and I know how terribly the loss of a loved one hurts. I wish I could say something to make it better, but there are no words that can make right such a terrible loss. All I can say is that I hope the passage of time will let you cherish the good memories of her and let go of the pain. She wouldn't want you to hurt.

*hug*

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry. I understand exactly what you're going through. Yesterday my partner and I had to put down our 8 year old dog Brodie. (You can see a photo of him on my blog).

Brodie was my best boy. Fortunately we have another Sheltie, but still our home is not the same without Brodie. God I miss him.

Take care,
Greg

sageweb said...

So sorry for your loss. I know how awful it feels to lose a pet. They give such powerful love. Take care.

Tony, the Restless Foodie said...

It's amazing how we have such strong bonds to a being that actually loves us unconditionally yet can only communicate through actions. Keep her in your heart.

TigerYogiji said...

I am so sorry for your loss. We went through something similar when we lost our Cairn Terrier, Buddy, a few years ago.

I'll keep you all in my thoughts and prayers...

Phronk said...

I know I'm late here, but I am so, so sorry.

A Bear in the Woods said...

I think she was ready to go, and I'm sure she was thankful that you and Serge, the two beings she loved most, were there with her when she left.

She had a good run at life, and you boys were there for most of it.

that's a beautiful thing.

I miss her. Even though her body gave out, she had a great heart.

love....