She’s gone. The gut-wrenching implications of that phrase weigh heavy on my heart. My best friend and constant companion has crossed over the Rainbow bride.
Spring. She always had a positive outlook on whatever we did. She was my co-pilot every time we climbed into the car. She got along with every dog and human she met.
We have all had some of our toughest days in our lives connected with letting our furry friends pass away. One of the beautiful things we as pet owners share with our companions is the capability to take care of them, keep them safe from harm. Nurture them for the best life possible. That also means making the most difficult decision of all.
Our Spring has been with us since she was about one year old. She became a member of our pack while we still had two other dogs. They passed and we adopted a rescue sister for Spring. The two of them rarely parted.
Many of my pet blogs have been generated thanks to Spring and the goofy way she approached life.
I suspect many of you pet owners have experienced those instances where you felt your dog knew what you were saying and how you felt. They might look at you with deep caring eyes. Tilt their head just so to try to understand you. They might even intentionally walk to you on their own to try and soothe your pain. Spring could read me like a Dog’s Life magazine.
I felt like I must have been an open book to her. She would look at me with her brown eyes and ask, “what’s wrong dad?” She would end our emotional or stressful chat with a lick or two to my face just to say everything would be ok.
Spring had a goofy way of approaching life. She was always by my side to inspect the dirty plates as they entered the dishwasher. She was the first to “sacrifice herself” to ensure whatever I cooked was ok for everyone else.
I learned about happy-tail from Spring. Her long tail cleared a wide area when it got going. Sometimes she wagged it in a circular motion. No wall was safe when she was excited. I’d find red lines at about her height all along walls or furniture. The force from her tail against a hard surface made her tail bleed leaving behind the red marks of where she was at her happiest moment.
The house seems different right now. The beds and couches are empty where she would lay in her favorite spot.
Her younger sister Viva seems just as lost and sad as we are. She is a german shorthair pointer – read high energy. She has been laying around close to me as we both try to figure out what we will do next.
For now though, Viva and I will begin a different routine. Our own routine without Spring. It will likely be awkward at first. But in short order we will be tight constant companions. We all shared our love and attention between the three of us, Spring, Viva and me. Now Viva and I start our own journey filled with outdoor adventures, car rides to the pet store, and just hanging out in the yard while I mow the lawn.
I live in Utah. If we do get any measurable snow in the backcountry then Viva and I will go on our first adventure together. Just the two of us.
I hope you all stay well in this new year. Give your companion a hug for me. They are the best connection we have to sanity and good health.
Spring was a lab and German shorthair pointer mix. She was 12 years young.
Dog Hikes 