Yesterday, exact time unknown, a dog passed from this world, and another was seriously injured. Most likely this tragedy was one among thousands and thousands that occurred.
People died yesterday, some of them in horrible ways.
Dogs died yesterday, some of them in horrible ways.
But yesterday, exact time unknown a much loved dog passed from this world and another much loved dog was seriously injured.
I did not know this dog, have never sat on a couch with her, never petted her never spoke her name, yet she was dear to me. I have viewed a hundred photos of her in my Facebook feed; have Liked a few here and there when I have the time to take notice. Almost always in these photos of this dog, and the one injured, were one or two little girls. So often were these two young ladies in the photos with these two dogs that I had to spend some time going through all these photos to even find one that was just the dogs.
Just as I have never met these two dogs, I have never met these two little girls who love them, but the various photos I have seen over time; clearly show the great love that exists between these little humans and their canine friends. Photos of them curled in bed, photos of them sleeping on couches, photos with laughing child faces and happy content canine ones. Beautiful photos, yet the sort that slip past you for the most part……until a day like today, a day when you know one dog has died and the other is fighting to survive her injuries, and you know that two little girls are heartbroken….you know that their mom, who also loved these two dogs, is dying inside, for the loss of the dog and the sorrow of watching her two little girls deal with this tragedy.
Who knows what happened. Somehow a door was open and the two dogs went on an adventure, as dogs are prone to do. Perhaps it was something else entirely, as the following letter was posted to Facebook today.....
"Girls I got your names from another angel friend. I understand you are the loving earth friends of Gigi and Livy Grace, my earth angel dogs. I have a serious problem here in heaven and I am hoping you will understand. I am the angel that helps animals as they come to heaven. Last week I had several special dogs that preformed miracles and saved their forever friends on earth. Rex climbed into a burning building and saved two children. His injuries were so severe I called him home to heaven. Oscar and Buster were protecting soldiers and after saving their lives, they both were called to heaven. I have lots of things that have happened and I can't find enough dog angels to help me with these four pawed heroes. I have heard such wonderful things about Gigi and Livy Grace and I understand how much you love them. They both have told me so much about you! I stopped by yesterday to speak with you girls and your Mom and Dad. I knocked on your door but no one answered. I opened the door a little bit to talk to Gigi and Livy Grace. I told them how much I needed them to help me out and let them know I would wait to hear from them. Gigi thought about it and said she would help. Livy Grace has not made a decision yet. If you girls would please say a prayer for Gigi, she is sitting here in heaven beside Oscar and helping him so much. Thank you both for being such good friends of Gigi on earth. She says to tell you she will love you forever and to pray for her as she will be Oscars helping angel. She wants you to pray for Oscar’s soldier. His name is Smitty and he is having a hard time. God loves you and so do all the animal angels. I'll check in with Livy Grace and see what she wants to do later. Take care earth angels and lover of animals......”
Whatever happened, this family is hurting, these two little girls are hurting, this mom, and dad are hurting, and Livy Grace is hurting.
One minute everything is wonderful, you are home, planning dinner, and the next you are out frantically looking for your two missing furbabies………..and then you are dealing with the worst of news……..struck by car….
Gigi was killed instantly... Livy Grace terribly injured……she made it through the night…….countless prayers are going up all over the country………but we just don’t know yet.
So the next time you are out, and you see that lost dog, and you think to yourself of how very busy you are, instead of whispering a prayer……stop. Find it. Take it home, take it to the pound, but don’t leave it loose. You never know how much heartache you might be preventing…..
And as to the person who hit these two dogs, it was someone in an SUV. They did not stop, they did not slow down...they just kept on driving, one dog dead in the street and the other in agony. The lady behind this person stopped, and struggled alone to load two large dogs into her truck, people passed by her, no one helped. This angel in a pick up is responsible for saving Livy Grace's life. We don't know her name, but we pray a multitude of blessings be poured down upon her. We pray also for the people who kept on going, that they might slow down, and consider things, and feel compassion. It's a sad world, that so many will not take time to care, to care about an injured animal, to care enough to assist a fellow human...but its a beautiful world also, because of those who do take the time to care.
“There are various places within which a dog may be buried. We are thinking now of a Gigi, whose coat was as white as the snow, and who, so far as we are aware, never entertained a mean or an unworthy thought.
Beneath a cherry tree, or an apple, or any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to bury a good dog. Beneath such trees, such shrubs, she slept in the drowsy summer, or gnawed at a flavorous bone, or lifted head to challenge some strange intruder. These are good places, in life or in death. Yet it is a small matter, and it touches sentiment more than anything else.
For if the dog be well remembered, if sometimes she leaps through your dreams actual as in life, eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing, begging, it matters not at all where that dog sleeps at long and at last. On a hill where the wind is unrebuked and the trees are roaring, or beside a stream she knew in puppyhood, or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where most exhilarating cattle graze. It is all one to the dog, and all one to you, and nothing is gained, and nothing lost -- if memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a dog. One place that is best of all.
If you bury her in this spot, the secret of which you must already have, she will come to you when you call --come to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the well-remembered path, and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel they should not growl at her, nor resent her coming, for she is yours and she belongs there.
People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by her footfall, who hear no whimper pitched too fine for mere audition, people who may never really have had a dog. Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth the knowing. The one best place to bury a good dog is in your heart.”
Where to Bury A Dog, by Ben Hur Lampman (adapted for Gigi)
Rest in peace Gigi girl, you were a good dog, rest now in the hearts of those who loved you most.
We contine to pray for Livy Grace and for all her humans. The last report received is that Livy is hanging in there and that she has followed peoples movements with her eyes. This is good news as first reports were that she might have lost her eyesight. Livy Grace is deaf so we are praying hard that she will be able to see.
Please join us in praying for this dog and her humans. And don't forget to add some prayers for Smitty.
(letter from angel courtesty of Sandra Clark Yebba)