Dusty 12/16/1997 - 1/5/2010

[wilkink]

Very hard to believe that my best friend is gone. It's been just over six weeks and it's not getting any easier. We got Dusty in February of 1998 and she became an instant part of the family. We went through the "growing pains" of a cattle dog in the house. She was our first ACD and quite a handfull when she was a pup. She had her odd quirks and weird habits but she was a wonderful friend, a loyal and trusted companion and a protector of my family. We had to make the unbelievably difficult decision to have her pass in a peaceful way at the vet's office on January 5th. She had cancer and severe internal bleeding. The tough part is that she never let us know; it was like she didn't want to disappoint us so she kept her pain hidden until it was too much for her. I just wish we had known sooner and had been able to help her more. I miss her so much. The past 12 years just flew by; I wish I had realized how fast it went at the time. I look forward to the day we cross the Bridge together.

I've hung pictures of Dusty in almost every room of the house. I thank God that I took so many pictures when she was with us.

It's really hard to think about getting another dog right now; it's almost like I feel we're betraying my best friend by even thinking about it. The rest of the family is still struggling with it too. Hopefully later this year we'll be able to come to terms with everything and agree we need another ACD as part of our family.

It's been great reading the posts on this board. I never knew so many people had these great animals as part of their families.

Thanks for letting me share.

[bryn_mawr]

many of us here have dogs that live on in our heart even though they no longer walk this earth. Grief is normal and natural.

Kate posted a cool paragraph about how some people just don't understand what a dog is. We all do here, feel free to share your stories, good and bad about life with Dusty. we all enjoy it and we all understand what it is like to have this gaping hole in your life. When the time is right, there will be room in your heart for another cattledog. For some the time is soon, and others have to wait a bit. Take the time you need. Grieve for your loss but also celebrate the wonderful life you shared with Dusty and all the fun time and great times she gave you. It was your gift to each other.

I absolutely love the picture you added. It brought back memories of our Sizzle a lovely red girl I bred and loved. She is/was a heart dog for me and not many days pass that I don't think of her in some fashion.

[Sky's mom]

Keith,

Thanks for sharing a bit of Dusty with us.

The hole Dusty's passing left in your heart will always be there but when you are ready to give a home to a new dog, you'll find that the edges of that hole don't hurt quite as sharply. Like Dusty, Dylan wouldn't show that he had (probably the same kind of) cancer. He was running agility two weeks before he died.

I still miss Dylan after 2 years but Sky makes us smile every day.

[wilkink]

Thanks for your kind words. I read something last week that I wanted to pass along. You probably have read this already, but if you haven't it's helped me somewhat.

WORDS FROM A BELOVED PET
Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and
talk of me as if I were beside you...I loved you so - 'twas
heaven here with you.

-Author Unknown

[kds16508]

Keith,
Our first ACD, Dylan will be gone two years in April. He had stomach cancer, and we never knew until it metastasized and he went into renal failure. Roland was born two days later; Monica and David made the perfect match placing him in our home. Still, not a day goes by that Patty and I don't feel Dylan's absence, or that of our Pit Bull, Raven, who left us in July. As Rosemary said, the jagged edges of the holes in our beings erode with time. The pain is less overwhelming, as the ache is buffered with a lot of sweet memories. The poem is lovely. Here's the entire piece:
If I should ever leave you whom I love
to go along the Silent Way, grieve not,
nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk
of me as if I were beside you there.
(I'd come-I'd come, could I but find a way!
But would not tears and grief be barriers?)
And when you hear a song or see a bird
I loved, please do not let the thought of me
be sad .... For I am loving you just as
I always have ... You were so good, to me!
There are so many things I wanted still
to do --- so many things to say to you ...
Remember that I did not fear ... It was
just leaving you that was so hard to face ...
We cannot see Beyond.. But this I know:
I loved you so - 'twas heaven here with you!
~ Author Unknown~

[wilkink]

That really is beautiful - I never saw the whole poem before. Thanks so much for sharing it.

Dusty loved to go hiking on the Appalachian Trail with my son Shawn and I. This picture is from a few years ago and is one of my favorites. Don't worry - the pack was very light (just her food and snacks) but she loved it everytime I pulled it out of the basement. She hiked over 100 miles on the trail with me on different trips in PA and NJ. She was truly an amazing dog.

[Ned]

It's hard to belive that a crazy little furry creature can occupy such a big part of your heart. It's even harder to believe how empty you feel when they are gone. It was about a year ago when Boris started losing his sight from his brain tumor and just thinking about it has brought the tears back quite a few times. He was my third ACD, and I swear it doesn't get easier. It took me about two months before I even started to feel better. I miss them all, but nearly 14 years with Boris left an especially big hole. At least I had nearly 14 years of good times and lots of funny memories. I hope you feel better soon.

[basketbargain]

Hi Keith

I just saw this post and am so sorry to hear about Dusty. You wrote a great tribute to your best friend and I love the hiking photo

Deb