Grief, loss, and grace

When critical thinking and emotional needs smash into one another

Hendrix, my beloved pit mix rescue, is deceased. By my choice, and through communication between him, myself, and his other human. He gave more love in his five years with us than I could give in a lifetime. Dogs have that special gift of graceful loyalty. I do not think humans can hope to achieve such a state. Worth shooting for though.

Hendrix came from California. His hips and back legs were beginning to fail him. Our final visit to his favorite veterinarian was the crux point - he lost the use of his hind quarters, so I held him up and talked to him while he calmed. It took a few minutes for his nether region to regain communication with his brain. He trusted me to hold him up while his own systems couldn’t. I’m grateful that I had that moment, or two minutes with that dog. Anxiety mixed with trust, loyalty, and hope.

He lasted another month, but the lung cancer was winning. The balance was shifting. He didn’t give up because he loved his people and his walks and his bites. Routines…