It just doesn’t seem the same around here. Our good dog, friend and fellow goatherd Joey has passed away.
It happened a couple of weeks ago. I’d noticed that he appeared to be unusually sluggish for a couple of mornings, but (having heard him barking during the night) I just assumed he was tired. But on Sunday morning he had little energy and I knew he was sick. I was still hoping it wasn’t anything serious. But within a few hours he was gone.
Joey walked over the waterer and laid down. All around him were the goats he’s protected for years, on a day we had lots of kids being born. He died comfortably, among his friends.
He will be greatly missed.
Love Wins
I’m sorry. He was a beautiful dog.
Thanks Lynda. That he was.
I had read of Joey’s passing on Cherie’s blog, but it didn’t hit me hard until right now. The picture of him and Miracle side by side is heartbreaking. I surely hope they are in green pastures, beside still waters, romping together in the sunlight. I can’t stop crying. Grieving deeply for a beautiful dog I never knew in person but grieving just the same. what a beautiful dog he is.
You have a kind and gentle heart Teresa. Thank you for your comment. I share your hope. In some sense I feel pretty sure it is a reality. peace…
Hope our dogs get to go to heaven – would love to have more time with Axel who loved me like no one else on this earth…I know how you feel!
Thanks Ann. John Wesley believed that and preached a famous sermon on it. His insistence that kindness to animals was part of a genuine Christian faith is very interesting in light of the systemic cruelty we tolerate these days.
The love of a dog is so pure and sincere. As someone once said, I’d like to be half as good a person as my dog thinks I am. I’m imagining Joey and Axel playing together somewhere right now. It’s a beautiful thought.
I don’t know much about Wesley but I know I respect him for saying that! I’ll have to read up on him.
Sincerest condolences on Joey’s death. He looked like a lovely animal and I know he did a great job.
Thank you Sophie. We miss him.
Wesley was a fascinating man. His evangelism was deeply infused with a call for social justice and he aimed to help improve the health and condition of the poor (to whom most of his work was directed), not just to save their souls. His beliefs with respect to animal souls are fascinating. Here is a post I did about The General Deliverance sermon: http://practicingresurrection.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-general-deliverance/
The little boy seemed to accept his dog’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
The six-year old who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.
He said,”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The little boy continued,
”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
–Losing a dog is one of the hardest things I experience and this explanation has always been one of my favorites–it rings true. I hope it brings a bit of comfort to you as you mourn the loss of your friend.
That is beautiful. Thanks for sharing it. Dogs just seem to absorb and radiate love. We could learn a lot from a good dog.