June 28, 2025

Dear Sydney in heaven. It’s Daddy here. I hope your first day beyond the rainbow bridge was okay and that you are comfortable and settling in nicely. We know that you were met by Opa and you are rekindling your bond since he predeceased you two years ago. Please tell him we are still thinking of him often, although I believe he knows.

I hope you don’t miss us too too much. Honestly, I can’t say the same thing for me, Mom and Ailsa. We miss you a ton, even though we understand that you had to leave us. Nineteen years is an awfully long time for a doggie here on earth and you were ready to go. We know this in our hearts.

It must have been hard for you in recent months to have lost your ability to see and hear, and to feel that something was wrong inside. I’ve never had kidney failure so I can only imagine how awful it is. I would say the dementia was hard for you too although the weird thing about dementia is that it’s hardest on those that love you. Seeing you look confused and unaware and walk into walls was sad and we hated it.

It’s been several years since you could run like the wind for hours and you probably miss that, as much as we miss seeing you do it. Your walking in the last few months was slow and lethargic, especially since your seizure last March. You recovered from that in nearly miraculous style. Then you just got old, more so than before. You barely sniffed any more, certainly not with the usual familiar gusto.

We didn’t want you to suffer so we made the best arrangements possible to say farewell. The lady veterinarian from Peaceful Passing Home Pet Euthanasia Service was so nice. She made it as easy as possible for us. Did you hear me ask her if she’s ever seen a giant grown man cry? You know me; I couldn’t hold back the tears. I didn’t much try. You already looked so close to passing away before the process began. You barely acknowledged when the vet came into the room and hardly sniffed her as she held her hand close to your nose. I don’t want to dwell on the rest of the half hour. It went quickly and so did you. You laid in Ailsa’s lap the whole time, the way she wanted it. It reminded us of all the cuddles you two shared when you first came home to us and we called you sisters. Continue reading →