Pour one out for Stuart, the Jack Russell, who lay down his shaggy head and took his leave of us this week. The best mate of Sally, a dear family friend, he was possessed of a fine character… unless you were a fluffy-tailed dog, in which case he would quickly possess himself of a mouthful of your tail. Nor was he inclined to let go in any sort of reasonable time.
Stuart had in abundance what the best of our best friends always have for us; loyalty, boundless love, and occasionally a mouthful of unexplained tail fur.
He will be missed.
They’re always missed. They are, to borrow from Lord Byron, ‘the firmest friend, the first to welcome, and foremost to defend.’
On a bookshelf just across from where I write this, I have the old red leather collar worn by my departed Labrador, Sophie. Sometimes I pick it up and hold it for a while, simply to recall her. She was a constant presence and comfort, like Stuart was for Sally. As Byron knew without ever knowing her, she had an honest heart, which even now remains my own.
Old Stuart’s heart gave out on him at the end. He was a dog who lived an age, and the end was coming for him as it always does. It came too quickly. Again, it always does.
Our friendship with our little mates is the truest we will ever know, and yet we know we can never hope to see out our days with them. They leave us behind, and it’s probably best that way.
We grieve, but eventually, we move on carrying forward their memories. Their nature is simpler. Were the fates reversed, they would grieve us and grieve forever. Not even the most satisfying chomp on a passing fluffy tail would alter that hard truth.
So pour one out for Stuart, a small king, for Sally, who misses him, and for all our friends. It’s hard to believe we deserve them.
This is very timely for me. Sadly on Wednesday we had to put one of our dogs to sleep. He was a brave good dog. We took him to the beach before the final visit to the vet. He was happy and even licked my hand. I was ok...until I got home and found he hasn't finished all his breakfast...I'm crying now thinking about it again. You will never have a more honest unconditional love than your pet has for you.
I decided after my last doggies, my Beastie Boys, two kelpie-cross brothers, left me for doggie heaven I wouldn't have any more pets. There's only so many heartbreaks to be endured.
Now I just live with the wild roos who look at me askance if I dare disturb their lawn-mowing or languid repose under the trampoline.
A lot of humans don’t deserve them… I generally prefer the company of animals to humans! I certainly love being home on a Friday night with my cat! : )
Sorry, it's such a loss. We named our Husky Hachi, after the Akira that waited at the station for his owner to come home for nine years after he died. Agree we should bear that pain, not them.
It's hard to lose a pet. But the loss of a dog has always hit me the hardest. I will drink a toast to all the pets lost this year - including my own dear Jasper, the German Shedder. Condolances to Sally for her loss.
We lost a dog to cancer this year. She was only seven. I can appreciate how people lavish kindness on their animals and then you read something like this and you end up hating humans.
One reason why I've been a vegetarian for the last 60 years.
Oh, it's hard. They give so much. Goodness, kindness, happiness - the list is long.
And if we've given them just some of that in return, at the end of their much shorter lives they get us to think about mortality, which I think is another great gift, one beyond words really.
This really gets to me. My old girl is over 15 now with her fair share of health issues. Although she is slowing down, she still loves life and really comes alive when we can get to the beach. I know THAT day is coming but with all my heart I want it to never come.
I'm not crying, you're crying! Yes a toast to our beautiful furry friends. Both those in our memories and those still on our couches, laps, backyards etc.
Just on The Drum - a discussion of pets - each panellist with photos and/or stories of their pets - dogs especially. Cats, too. I'm house-sitting in Canberra looking after two Siamese - very intelligent, Olympic order twists and leaps - and games with toys. Years since my wife and I had pets but they were important to us through our years of childlessness.
Both our doggies met their fates at a time of our choosing when their love of life was gone. Jade last Christmas, and Kransky in Easter. We have their collars on our sideboard and their photos on the fridge. We still find their hair from time to time, even though we’ve moved house.
This is very timely for me. Sadly on Wednesday we had to put one of our dogs to sleep. He was a brave good dog. We took him to the beach before the final visit to the vet. He was happy and even licked my hand. I was ok...until I got home and found he hasn't finished all his breakfast...I'm crying now thinking about it again. You will never have a more honest unconditional love than your pet has for you.
Sorry to hear this mate - it always hurts.
So sad. You have my sympathy.
I decided after my last doggies, my Beastie Boys, two kelpie-cross brothers, left me for doggie heaven I wouldn't have any more pets. There's only so many heartbreaks to be endured.
Now I just live with the wild roos who look at me askance if I dare disturb their lawn-mowing or languid repose under the trampoline.
A lot of humans don’t deserve them… I generally prefer the company of animals to humans! I certainly love being home on a Friday night with my cat! : )
I'm a little teary. So sorry for your loss, JB.
Going to give my little furry friends an extra cuddle tonight.
A wonderful tribute to a much loved family member. We keep engraved tags and collars for missed pets in a wooden bowl carved by Dad
My heart hurts for Sally. We know that loss all to well. I lift my glass to you, good Stuart, and to Sally, too.
Many dogs, as with children, don't deserve their adults-owners-parents. Super-sadly, is life
That's the hairiest Jack Russell I've ever seen
chrism
Sorry, it's such a loss. We named our Husky Hachi, after the Akira that waited at the station for his owner to come home for nine years after he died. Agree we should bear that pain, not them.
It's hard to lose a pet. But the loss of a dog has always hit me the hardest. I will drink a toast to all the pets lost this year - including my own dear Jasper, the German Shedder. Condolances to Sally for her loss.
Here's the other side of the coin.
A woman let's her dog starve to death because she wants to buy cigarettes instead of feeding it.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-25/sa-woman-jailed-for-starving-dog-to-death/101700066
We lost a dog to cancer this year. She was only seven. I can appreciate how people lavish kindness on their animals and then you read something like this and you end up hating humans.
One reason why I've been a vegetarian for the last 60 years.
The goodest of boys
I have a foxie (Max) who is 12yo and has lost a bunch of teeth but he is my constant companion, not sure who will go first but I hope it is me.
Well said.
They come and go too quickly from our lives. I dread the day this happens to my darling doggoes.
Feeling your loss and for Sally too.
Oh, it's hard. They give so much. Goodness, kindness, happiness - the list is long.
And if we've given them just some of that in return, at the end of their much shorter lives they get us to think about mortality, which I think is another great gift, one beyond words really.
This really gets to me. My old girl is over 15 now with her fair share of health issues. Although she is slowing down, she still loves life and really comes alive when we can get to the beach. I know THAT day is coming but with all my heart I want it to never come.
Goddamn dust in the air again. To all our furry friends.
I'm not crying, you're crying! Yes a toast to our beautiful furry friends. Both those in our memories and those still on our couches, laps, backyards etc.
It's always hard to let them go.
Just on The Drum - a discussion of pets - each panellist with photos and/or stories of their pets - dogs especially. Cats, too. I'm house-sitting in Canberra looking after two Siamese - very intelligent, Olympic order twists and leaps - and games with toys. Years since my wife and I had pets but they were important to us through our years of childlessness.
Both our doggies met their fates at a time of our choosing when their love of life was gone. Jade last Christmas, and Kransky in Easter. We have their collars on our sideboard and their photos on the fridge. We still find their hair from time to time, even though we’ve moved house.
Lovely John. I will raise a glass to Stuart (the right Stuart) this evening while contmplating my own happy doggos and mortality.
We grieve because we love. Makes it all worthwhile. Lovely tribute.
Not the column I expected, but the column I needed. Thanks JB, I'm just off to see about this lump in my throat...
Best mate you can have…
Beautiful