On Friday we said good bye to Skipperdee, our Australian Shepherd. Our son Andrew and our soon to be daughter-in-law Jill had to take him to an urgent care vet after he began having seizures and could no longer walk. At almost fifteen years, he was ready and he had a gentle death for which we are very grateful.
Skippy with one of his many hedgehogs. He loved to be inside the Christmas Cave, our version of a Christmas tree.
Our dogs have played such an important part in the life of our family. We have had three dogs since we were married almost 36 years ago and the family’s collective memories of our lives together are laced by our time spent with Abby, a little spaniel, Francesca and Skipperdee. While we have mourned all of their deaths, I think this one may hurt the most. Skippy is the last dog that all of us had together, as a family. The kids were still kids, more or less, when this little puppy wriggled into our lives. Now, Claire is in Ecuador, Melissa and I are in Mexico, and Andrew is in Washington. We miss Skippy and in missing him, we realize that we miss the old us. We miss the family, dogs and all, that we were.
Aboard our Cal 34. Andrew encouraging Skippy to love the sea lions. Alas, he did not. Nor the boat.
These are the times where our Little Cunning Plan doesn’t seem so cunning. We could not be there with Andrew and Jill to ease Skippy out of this life. When Francesca died, we all gathered around her as she went. We shared that pain together and it made us realize the great love that we share for one another. Now, scattered to the winds as we are, we share our pain via Skype and Facebook. It’s better than nothing but it can never be the same.
Skippy guarding the tent. One of his less desirable traits was his intense hatred of the mailman.
Skippy and Franny and our Claire. Just having fun.
Skippy helping me build the Puddler Pram
And as parents our roles have changed. Making the hard decision to call the vet would have been left to Melissa or me. Now it is Andrew who must make that call. We can offer support and advice but more and more, we must step aside as Claire and Andrew create their own families. And that means they must make hard, sometimes painful choices. That is what good parents do though. Watch with pride and some sadness as their children become good, kind, loving adults.
Franny and Skippy shaking me down for treats.
Franny and Skippy under the Daffodil Rhody
Like Abby and Francesca before him, Skippy made all of us better people. Dogs show you how grateful you should be just to have a bit of kibble, a fresh hedge hog toy and a good belly rub. And scattered or no, we are all grateful for the love and beauty that Skipperdee brought to our family.
Am so sorry that your companion Skippy has gone over the Rainbow Bridge. Knowing you as a family, I’m certain she had the best, most loving care a family can give. I’m imagining Skippy and Franny playing together with joy, and no more aches and pains. Much love to all of you who mourn this temporary separation.
Thank you Joanne. We take some pride in the fact that all of our dogs died at a ripe old age and enjoyed full, active lives. Our first dog, Abby, just laid down in the yard at a birthday gathering in our back yard and that was that. Abby set the standard for a good death and with both Franny and Skippy we always hoped for the same.
A beautiful tribute, Mike, to what being a pet parent and a human parent is all about. I remember well when you first got Skippy….such a happy guy who would bring his Frisbee to meet me at the gate…. The unconditional love of our furry family members is a true gift….They leave indelible paw prints on our hearts and I am saddened by your family’s loss.
Thank you, Teri. Skippy was always game for fetching the frisbee. H also used it redirect his fury against the mailman, running up and down the fence line shaking it vigorously.
We have been lucky to have such great dogs in our lives.
My condolences. Losing a canine family member is gut-wrenching.
My favorite quote about dogs is, “I strive to be the person my dog thinks I am.”
It pretty much sums up the whole thing on both sides of the relationship.
Thank you sènor Pook. I try to live by that adage as well.
Sympathy to the entire pack left behind with Skipperdee’s passing. Losing an ever loyal canine family member is as hard as losing any other member of the family.
We are just getting back to the land of usable celluar.
Thank you Peter. Not being there to see skippy off made this a diffcult loss. We knew it would happen but had hoped we would be there with the family.
What a lovely post – wonderful reflections on love and family (both human and furry kind). I’m so sorry you lost your Skippy. Keeping you guys in my thoughts.
Thank you Ellen. Although we are flung across the globe, we are a close family. Our animals bring us together in many ways not the least of which is by showing us how to love without reztraint.
Melissa, I am so sorry for you and the entire family. Losing a pet is more than that, it is losing a family member. The heart breaks; however, you,use be grateful for 15 blessed years and the fact that Skippy is not in pain. Hugs.
Thank you Tina. We are indeed grateful that all of our dogs have live long, healthy lives.
Be well and fair breezes, Skippy. Kibble and belly rubs… We could learn a lot from our canine children! Bless you both.
Thank you. We did learn a lot from skipperdee.
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