Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Toro

Sad news at our house this weekend.  Yesterday we had to put my dog, Toro, to sleep.  If you read this blog regularly, you probably remember Toro from this post, this post, and this post...  this one, this one and this one too.

Toro was my constant companion ever since my dad brought him home on Valentine's Day in fifth grade.  I won't say he was the perfect dog... his mischievous side paired perfectly with his stubborn streak,  but we sure did love him a lot.  He won over the hearts of just about everyone who met him, and the entire vet office was in tears with us yesterday.






We spent Toro's last night in our house cuddled up on the living room floor.  I couldn't help but think how this was exactly how we'd spent his first night in our house, in almost the exact same spot.  The last few weeks have been far from easy, and even though I've been trying to prepare myself for his passing for almost a year now, I'm definitely not handling it as well as I had expected.  It speaks volumes of what a great dog he was that he spent his last hours licking my face, giving me sweet puppy eyes, and convincing ME it was all going to be OK.  He will be so missed.

A very wise dog woman once told me that dogs find owners, not the other way around.  They pick you and they choose to stay with you.  In that way, they are also giving you the end of their life.  The deeper the bond, the harder it is to say goodbye.  I know I'd rather have any amount of time with a dog I love and suffer the mourning than not have the time at all.
                       -You Had Me at Woof by Julie Klam


1 comment:

Suzy said...

I am so sorry for your loss, Sara. I understand your connection and your love for Toro, and I know that he had a really wonderful life!! Keep your head up!!