Goodbye Blaze (from April, 2006)
Written by Jeffrey L Tucker on April 6th, 2010Last night I had to put down my collie, Blaze. She’d become a part of this farm, having gotten her the month after I moved in. She was a working dog and this was ‘her’ herd. She and Skidder, our border collie kept watch of the herd 24/7. I can only remember maybe two nights that they slept inside the house, the rest of the time they had to be outside watching the herd.
She was my constant companion and a friend and playmate to the horses, always playing their game of tag. Having brought her lifeless body home, we gave Skidder time to grieve and came back to find him quietly laying with his head on her back. He stopped calling for her in the middle of the night like he had done the previous night. He helped me bury her, staying at her side. At one point he tried to stop me then realized the futility. I let him say his “goodbyes” to her before covering her up with the light she had chewed up in my driveway and her favorite bones and blocks of wood, and that blue blanket she wrapped herself up in on cold winter nights, sleeping in late in the mornings. She wasn’t exactly a morning dog…not unlike her owner.
I went out to see what my 13 year old had written on the white cross. “Blaze, soar on incandescent wings, rest in peace.” I guess I can’t find anything more profound to say to you Blaze. Now I have to listen for you in the wind as you chase the herd. Only this time, I won’t call you back and tell you to stop teasing them. It’s good for them Blaze. And it’s good for me. God bless you and you’ll live in my memory and heart forever.
Raindance’s Blazing Skies
February 28, 2005 – April 6, 2006
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Jeff, that surely brings back the bitter sweet memories of the passing of my nearly 15 year old yellow lab Sadie two years ago. The bond that dogs develop with both humans and other animals is beyond understanding. Like you with Blaze, Sadie will live in my memory and heart forever. She is my avatar photo in the forum.
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RIP Blaze, the tears are coming, the bond animals have with each other is amazing.
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There are people who can’t understand the depth we have for our animal companions. Rastie is going on 17 and has made it to another spring. I think it will be his time to go to the Rainbow Bridge in the near future. It gets a little tougher each day, but he keeps going and gives it his all. We were worried this winter, and Rick said he wished for spring to come so Rastie could run around the yard one more spring. He made it, and though he is slow, he still runs his slow run at least once a day. I told him to tell me when it is time for him to go and we will let him go.