WomenCo.

Sorry, Sherrie, that had to be difficult for you.

Thanks for sharing your pain.  I have had to do this too so I understand what you are going through.  One of my stories got published about my yellow lab that I had to put down almost 4 years ago.  This may comfort you to know that Murphy has gone over the rainbow bridge and is happy, healthy and safe now.  He might even give you a sign like my Jack did.

The Christmas Bell

The week before Christmas in 2004 I experienced one of the hardest days of my life.  My best friend died. In October Jack, my yellow Labrador Retriever saw the vet for his annual checkup.  Jack was as healthy as ever, especially for a ten year old.

            I rescued Jack when he was three months old.  Someone had left him at the side of the road.     In the ten years we spent together we did everything together.  We had fun. One day at the park he went running at full speed, mouth open chasing a butterfly.  When he leapt into the air, overshooting the butterfly, I laughed so hard at the confused look on his face.  It was as if he was saying, “Where did it go?”

            We had bad times too.  My ex-husband kidnapped Jack. A bold rescue on my part got him squirreled away to a friend’s farm.  When it was safe, Jack and I traveled all over after that; Nevada, Utah, Arizona.  We were inseparable.

            I met my second husband and all of us lived together as a family for several years, but in November of that year Jack started having “episodes”, loosing weight and not eating.

            Somehow I knew that Monday when we went to the vet that the news was not going to be good.  Jack had an aggressive cancer that showed no signs at his checkup in October.  The doctor told us Jack only had a month left.  I knew he was suffering.  I also knew I wanted him to leave this world with dignity and not become an invalid over the next month.  The decision was made and in the next few moments I watched my beloved friend leave this earth to be with the angels.

            On weekends I would always get up early with Jack, sit in my living room and read the newspaper.  Twelve days after Jack had passed, on Christmas morning I got up early to read the paper.  I sat on the couch next to the tree.  In the silence of that Christmas morning, I heard a little bell ring.  I had no idea where it came from, especially since my husband was sound asleep. I looked all over to see where it had come from but could find nothing.  Two weeks later when we were taking the tree down, toward the top of the tree was a small porcelain dog ornament that was also a bell.  We had forgotten it was on the tree.

            I am convinced that the tinkle of the bell I heard on Christmas morning was Jack letting me know that he was Okay.  It’s been three years now and every year that same bell goes on the tree.  This Christmas will be different though.  My husband and I adopted two Dalmatian mix puppies that were part of an abused litter.  I know Jack will be smiling down on us this Christmas when he watches the new babies open their presents.

In October 2003 I had to have my beloved boxer, Isabelle, put down.  Every Christmas that we had her we got a Hallmark "Puppy Love" ornament for her (that line started the first Christmas we had her and each year featured a different breed).  In December I bought the ornaments for my children and the latest Puppy Love - and that year it was a boxer!  I felt that God knew I needed a boxer and directed the artist's hand at Hallmark.

i hope some of the pain has eased.