Friday, February 8, 2008

Hercules

December 1997
When given a choice between several puppies we picked you. We brought you home and made you our first born. Like any child we spoiled you with toys...and we rejoiced when you learned how to walk down the stairs.
A year later we brought home another puppy.
You gently taught him how to play your favorite games.
That's my good dog.
Do you remember all the camping trips?And the snow?All the fun we had together.
You must have been shocked when we started bringing home babies.
But you took it all in stride.
And you became great friends.You are a prince.
It has been painful for us to watch the cancer destroy your body. Today, you couldn't stand up, so tomorrow we will take you to the vet for the last time. They tell me that it is the right thing to do. They tell me that you will feel no pain.

Tomorrow will be the hardest day I have ever faced. Every fiber of my being wants to keep you here with me, even though so little of you remains.

Take the piece of my heart that is broken from the loss of you. When you get to heaven, say hi to Koda. Tell her that Tod and Amy really miss her. If you run into an old dog named Maggie, ask her about me. She and I go way back. Please don't chase Schatz and Liebe. I know you love cats, but those two are very special to me.

If you get a chance can you check into reincarnation? I would really like for you to come back as a dog, but not just any dog. Could you be a black dog with a white chest? That is what I will be looking for when I go to the pound someday, and I want to be sure that I pick you all over again. Okay buddy?

Good dog.

27 comments:

Mamarazzi said...

oh Amy. i hardly know what to say. we went through the same thing not that long ago and then recently had to give away a puppy we loved. it is so hard. my heart and thoughts are with you and your family during this sad and heartbreaking time.

you ARE doing the right thing for Hercules...you really are.

(((HUGS)))

Barb said...

I'm sorry you're losing your gorgeous Hercules. God gives us these wonderful creatures for such a short time and then they cross the Bridge so quickly.

pb&j in a bowl said...

Oh man. I'm so sorry. Sounds like you were blessed with an awesome friend.

Meg said...

Oh Amy, I am so sorry! Please know in your heart, that as hard as this decision is to make, it IS the right one to make. I will be facing the same decision soon with one of my dogs...I will keep you in my prayers! God Bless you!

dlyn said...

Oh my gosh Amy - I am so sorry that you guys will be going through this today. It is the hardest thing ever and I will be keeping you in my prayers today. I came by to tell you that I tagged you this morning, but that seems pretty trivial now. Again - so sorry. :(

jennwa said...

I am so sorry for your loss. Animals are so much a part of the family.
This is my first time to your blog, but I still send you a *hug*.
You will be in my thoughts because I know how hard this is.

Not the Maid said...

Oh Amy, my heart aches for you today. Losing a pet for some people is akin to losing a child. I put my cat to sleep a couple of years ago - one that I knew longer than my kids and my husband - and to this day, I have to remind myself that he's not here.

Hugs to you and your beautiful family.

LunaNik said...

I went thru this twice. I know exactly how you feel.

Zeus was the first to go. He was a German Shepard. He developed cancer in the joint of his back leg. At the end he couldn't even stand up. He was only 4 years old. To watch him deteriorate was agony for me.

Penny developed cancer in her lymphnodes. After a while she didn't want to eat. She wasted away to nothing. My sweet girl. I had her throughout my childhood.

I don't really know what else to say except that I've been there. And I'm sorry.

krissy said...

I'm choked up! I'm so sorry! Dogs are just like our own kids and I would be devestated too!!!

Hercules, I know mom said to leave her 2 cats alone but there are many other cats that you can chase and torment! Have fun in Heaven!!!

lattemommy said...

Oh, Amy. I'm so very sad for you today. It's so hard to let them go, even though you know it's totally the right thing to do. I wish you the strength to get through this day, to say goodbye to your beloved Hercules, to explain to your girls why he has to go to doggy heaven, to help your other dog through the loneliness of losing his best friend.

Your post was a beautiful tribute to Hercules. You made him proud.

Kellan said...

Oh, Amy, I am so sorry you are having to lose this beautiful friend - this precious pet. I know it is probably for the best, to save him from further pain, but it is difficult - I am so sorry. My thoughts and prayers will be with you - I send my love to you and your family! Take care - Kellan

Anonymous said...

I cried like a baby reading this blog. I went through the same thing with my childhood best friend named Missy. She was a beautiful poodle and was there for me when no one else was. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Just My Type said...

Oh Amy, I'm so sorry. Your post was a beautiful tribute to Hercules.

Sending love.
Tina

Honeybell said...

Oh I'm so sorry. What a beautiful dog, and how lucky he is to have owners that would rather let him go than see him suffer. I lost my best friend Bo, a Boston Terrier, several years ago. I still think of him often, and his picture has a place of honor among all the pictures of my boys.

Maria said...

Aww, that is so sad. Poor doggy. I know how hard that is. I always thought I could never do that, until my cat got sick. Her got skin cancer that started taking over her whole head. Hef stopped eating and could barely walk. Every day I thought would be her last. We finally decided we couldn't let her suffer any longer.

ConverseMomma said...

Oh sweetheart.
Listen, I'm here.
I'm so sorry.
I'm sending you my cell-phone number.
Use it if you need it.
I've been there. I had a big old loveable golden retriever named
Corduroy.
Hugs and love!

morninglight mama said...

Oh, Amy, my eyes are all welled up with tears for your sweet doggie, you and your family. I will be thinking of you, and I wish you peace.

Kidzmama said...

My tears are welling up. You gave him a wonderful life. You are doing the right thing. I've been where you're standing right now and it was the greatest sadness I have ever felt. You'll get through it. You will.

OHmommy said...

Oh... I am so sorry, Amy. So sorry!

But, boy, are you cute in your pictures! I love finally seeing everyone.

Maureen said...

Tears fall as I read this..... I am so sorry.

Maureen
Still blog hoppin'

Amy said...

Amy I am so sorry! He looks like he was a wonderful dog and you had a lot of fantastic times with him! What a sweet, sweet tribute to him!

Unknown said...

That was sadly beautiful. I have nothing more than major ((hugs)).

Cynthia said...

So sorry for what you all must be going through...Hercules looks like a sweet pup.

Unknown said...

Oh my gosh! As I was reading, I thought "What a beautiful post!!" Then when I got to the last but, I started CRYING!!!

I'm sorry to hear about your dog. Our pets truly are our first babies :) At least Hercules had a wonderful, happy life with you and your family.

My Chance is now 5 years old and I cry just thinking about that day when he gets too old or sick...

*Hugs*
From a new reader of yours :)

Leanne said...

Oh, I just found you and I'm so sorry to read this. I had to put down my cat last year after she had a stroke that left her paralyzed and it was so hard. I'm so sorry for your loss. Hugs.

The Sports Mama said...

This? Was BEAUTIFUL.

My very first puppy, the first one that was all my own, lived to a very old age. But he was riddled with arthritis, and looking back I wonder if it would have been kinder to let him go than to keep him around and sprinkling ground up tylenol on his food.

He stayed at my parent's house when I got married and moved, so as to be easier on his body. The day my mom called me at work to tell me he was gone, I broke down and sobbed like my heart was breaking.

Just knowing what I know of you, I know that Hercules is now where all the good dogs go, telling everyone how amazing his time here with you was.

Fine For Now said...

Oh your poor family!

We lost my first dog ever to cancer two years ago.

Maybe Hercules will meet Buster, the Boykin Spaniel and they can swim in lakes and chase balls all the days long.