Question:
I recently read in your column (with great interest and a few tears) the story of two retired workhorses, Pete and Florie -- when Florie fell over and died one day, Pete examined the situation and died right next to her moments after.I had two wonderful dogs, Lady and her runt-of-the-litter daughter, Sissy. Lady lived to be 17. After she died, Sissy became completely disoriented; she almost ran away several times because she suddenly didn't recognize me -- the only way I got her back was by voice-coaxing her. The only life she ever knew was at her mom's side, and that was gone. I think she was devastated by the loss and constantly looked for her mom but never found her; thus, she decided life wasn't worth living anymore.Sissy became instantly old and died less than a year later. I'm sure she just wanted to be with Mom again. I buried her next to her mom and planted bleeding heart flowers above them. Every time I saw that bush I imagined the roots intertwining among the remains of these two beautiful creature
T.U., Minneapolis, MN Dec 19, 2004
Answer:
Thanks for your sad and moving account of Sissy's grieving. What you describe is also inspiring in a spiritual sense, and helps deepen out appreciation of the emotional lives of our fellow creatures.
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