This is my dog, Shadow. We found her at the Alberta Sheltie Rescue society. She had passed through two families before finding her forever home with us.
Shadow passed from this world yesterday and I miss her so very dearly. It was time, she was 15 or 16 years old (didn’t have an exact date of birth),her vision was dim, she was almost deaf and couldn’t make it up the stairs anymore. She loved her humans to the very end, (and they loved her), I stroked her back and held her paw as the vet gave her the injection. She left the world with her family.
Shadow was a great dog, she was elegant and regal, but also a rambunctious goof at times. Her smiles were always endearing.
She was a shy dog, but could always be counted on for a cold nose *boop* when you really needed it.
She was my special girl, even when we couldn’t go for the long walks any more, we did short slow ones instead. She always tried to be in the same room with me.
Now she’s gone, and I mourn her passing. All I have left of her now are these photos and her collar. It is not even close to being enough. Thank you Shadow for being my bestest dog.
bleatmop
Mystro
The Arbourist
Dead Wild Roses 
18 comments
February 8, 2020 at 8:39 am
radfemspiraling
I am shedding tears for you, my dear friend, and for your Shadow.
Unfortunately, I know this pain well.
The pain never really goes away, not completely, but for me, the weight of the pain becomes a little lighter over time as the gratitude for the time that you had with them overtakes the sadness of the profound loss.
Thank you for sharing her with us. I wish that all dogs could be so lucky, to be so loved and so missed.
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February 8, 2020 at 8:42 am
The Arbourist
@ rfs
Thank you for your comment and thoughts during these sad times.
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February 8, 2020 at 10:24 am
tildeb
Been there. Done that. It’s really hard.
I entertain people with many funny stories and events of strong personality about The Dog. It helps. (But I still have the kennel, bowls, collars, leashes, grooming stuff. It’s not time to let these go but offers the open-ended possibility for the next one… when the time is right.)
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February 8, 2020 at 11:26 am
The Arbourist
@ tildeb
For when the time is right.
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February 8, 2020 at 12:36 pm
john zande
Oh Arb, I’m so, so terribly sorry. I’ve never experienced anything quite so hard as losing a dog. If Shadow could speak, I’m sure she wouldn’t have said, “Thank you.”
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February 8, 2020 at 12:38 pm
john zande
Tildeb… I keep putting Brother’s food out, and his bed, for weeks after he passed suddenly. To this day, he’s still on my bookshelf, in a banana leaf box with some soil and seeds, but I just can’t bring myself to take him on that last walk up into the hills.
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February 8, 2020 at 12:39 pm
The Arbourist
@ JZ
Thank you John, this is another one of those experiences people tell you about, but you don’t really know until it happens. You’re absolutely right, it is so very hard.
It’s very empty right now. :/
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February 8, 2020 at 12:40 pm
The Arbourist
I’m sorry for your loss JZ.
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February 8, 2020 at 12:42 pm
john zande
And i’m sorry for yours. It’s a shattering experience.
We have 6 dogs, and 4 are getting old now. I fear what hell is going to visit us soon.
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February 8, 2020 at 12:44 pm
john zande
A good blog is Learning from Dogs, run by Paul Handover. (Link below).
He’s been through this hell and writes about it.
https://learningfromdogs.com/
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February 8, 2020 at 12:52 pm
The Arbourist
@JZ
We’ll muddle through the best we can. Sharing and messages support do help, and I’ll do what I can in the future for when those times come. The depth of feeling comes with the purity of the bond between a person and their dog. Dogs are uncomplicated and so very genuine in their actions and love. They are the exact opposite of humans and their false and tricksey natures. Partially why it so hard when they have to leave.
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February 8, 2020 at 3:04 pm
Carmen
Oh, Arb. How terribly sad. But it sounds like you gave Shadow a great life. Virtual hugs.
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February 8, 2020 at 3:11 pm
The Arbourist
@Carmen
Thank you Carmen, every little bit helps.
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February 8, 2020 at 3:14 pm
Carmen
We lost our wonderful dog years ago and still can’t bear to have another. ..
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February 8, 2020 at 4:47 pm
tildeb
But you can travel now…
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February 9, 2020 at 4:36 am
Carmen
True that! Except now we have ‘sitter’ obligations to our grandchildren so we usually go solo. . . :)
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February 9, 2020 at 9:43 pm
easilyriled
Ah, my dear Arb. Our four-leggeds give us such joy. I’m glad for you and for Shadow that you had each other, and shared love to the end.
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February 9, 2020 at 9:45 pm
The Arbourist
Thank you for your kind words.
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