As we say in rescue, “we can’t save them all”. I know this. It yields little consolation. My mission, my reason for being on this earth is to save animal lives. Losing one, no matter that it was one life in a thousand lives; fractures my soul. Smokey’s life did matter to me and everyone that worked with him. Smokey was damaged when he came into rescue, as many of them are. Heroic measures above and beyond were taken to give him the opportunity at a forever home. He was loved, carefully rehabilitated, trained, and cared for day in and day out, all of us hoping that we could fix what others destroyed. Though he made amazing progress, a fairy tale ending for Smokey was just that…a fairy tale.
We must not dwell on what we have lost but what we have gained. We have learned from him. Our world was brightened by his prancing feet, goofy grin and wagging tail that greeted us as if we were long lost friends EVERY time he saw us no matter that it was thirty minutes prior. I will never ever forget his giant paw, ever so gently, reaching through the cold steel of the kennel gate to touch us, to satisfy his need for the human touch. It always brought us great joy when we saw how much you loved the big bones we used to bring you. You always knew to sit and wait patiently to get one. He had the devotion and drive of a German Shepherd, but the sensitive heart and clownish behavior of a Rottweiler.
Smokey had a special person that he loved more than life itself that cared for him deeply. His eyes would sparkle like the Northern Star when this person came to visit him. And that person unselfishly put his own feelings of sorrow aside so that he could guide Smokey to the Rainbow Bridge. None of us could bear for Smokey’s last memory of this world to be one of the heart-piercing loneliness he knew all of his life. We are grateful that, instead, Smokey knew unconditional and devoted love and the gentle stroke of a kind hand on his head while making his journey to the Rainbow Bridge. Smokey may not have had his forever home or the fairy tale ending we had hoped for, but he knew, unequivocally, that he was loved in those last moments of his short life.
On the night of Smokey’s passing, I got a vision and it brought me comfort. Sharing it will hopefully give others some comfort as well. In my “vision”, Smokey was prancing around, tail waiving like a flag in the wind, and that goofy grin plastered across his face. He was as happy as can be. “Tell them I am fine now, not to worry. Life is good here. I will be okay. There are lots of bones to chew and toys to play with. I am finally free!”.
Smokey finally got his forever home where he will be safe and loved and treated with kindness…while he awaits his special person. No more fighting for scraps of food. No more loneliness, infinite boredom, fear or disappointment, no searing heat or mind-numbing cold. All is good at the Bridge.
Our fight to save lives will continue, but I am sure we will always have a place in our hearts for Smokey. He was a handsome, intelligent, loving boy and he had to leave this world way too soon. We will miss you, Smokey. Run like the wind my big boy.
Please, so that we don’t have to write more “tributes” like this. Spay and neuter your pets. Socialize them early. Be kind to them. Treat them with respect and compassion. Teach them what they need to know to be good canine citizens with kindness, consistency and patience. This will be Smokey’s legacy…if it deters just one person from trying to purposefully make a dog mean or breeding with no thought for temperament or health, then his death will not be in vain.
We will miss you and will always remember you, Smokey.
With love and sorrow,
| Smokey |
| 2014 |
| Denise, Tom & Daisy |