Shadow passed away May 10th 2023 at around 2:00pm surrounded by the ones who loved him to pieces. He loved a full life of about 14-15 years and although he only spent 6 with us, they were the best 6 years of my life. “I love you enough, to let you go” It finally happened, he’s gone…the dog I had for 6 years, the handsome gentleman always there to comfort me, the boy always waiting for me in the morning or when I got home from somewhere. Now all I see is an empty bed, a limp collar, a broken heart. No matter how hard this is to write, Shadow deserves his story to be told: Shadow was found up in the mountains and to my uncle who discovered him, he looked to be a bear or a wolf. Upon closer inspection however, it was remarked from my uncle that the mysterious creature was a dog. The handsome jet black dog was a bit skittish and lethargic when they took him home, but one of them decided to call up their cousins to come see the dog. That’s when I first saw Shadow, young me had no idea what I’d go through with him, no idea he’d mean the world to me. As I crouched beside the dog he seemed to almost smile, his brown eyed gaze soft and gentle. My aunt and uncle decided to give the dog to us, for they already had themselves a dog. We took the dog to the shelter and were told that if no one claimed him after 5 days, we could take him home. 5 days passed and we went to pick him up. I gave him the name “Shadow” due to his jet black pelt and the way he blended in with the night so magnificently. Then, the years seemed to go by in a blur. We had many, many scares with Shadow, thinking he was going to die years before he actually met his end. And just as quick as it had began, Shadow began to grow weak. He stopped going on walks with us, stopped going on the hikes he’d loved so much, his weight decreased greatly, his appetite began to fail, and his whole body just started shutting down. No matter how much we tried telling ourselves he was fine, there was no dodging the inevitable, the pain meds weren’t helping anymore. Shadow was ready to go home. Suddenly it was the 10th, today. We treated him to a magnificent feast and watched a movie with him. I cried as I held the dog I’d known for 6 whole years, the dog who’d always been there when I needed him most. Then, the vet knocked on our door, she explained what was to happen she said that she’d inject pain meds and sleep medicine into Shadow, to get him nice and comfortable. Once he was fully asleep she’d inject the final thing that would stop his heart. One thing I’ll remember my whole life was what Shadow did after the sleep and pain meds. Before lying down he came to each of us and said goodbye, laid his head against ours for just a minute. Then, he went to the vet and gently pressed his head to hers as if saying ‘thank you’. He finally turned to me and then his legs began to shake, Shadow leaned into me as he drifted off, as if he trusted I would hold him til the end. And I did, I kept him against me as the final shot was injected. I felt his breathing finally stop and then, his heart. I helped the vet hoist him onto a stretcher and before she closed the car door I whispered one last thing to him ‘I love you Shadow, more then you could ever know. I’ll miss you forever baby and never forget you and all you did for me. I hope you can hear me up in heaven as I give you my thanks. Thank you my handsome Shadow, Thank you.’ Then he was gone. My mom showed us a video she made of all the photos and videos we had of him over the years. All the wonderful memories that we created with him and the pain that has been enveloping me is overwhelming. The empty bed, the friend that is gone. This was by far the hardest thing I’ve ver gone through, the hardest loss because you were the one who helped me through losses. You helped me through everything Shadow, everything. I love you forever Shadow and miss you oh so much. Thank you baby, for being here for me. I’m glad I finally got to be there for you, even though my heart is breaking over you buddy. I hope you know I loved you more than anything in the whole world. <3 -Your Best Friend The Final Battle—Written by Twi—A Tribute Poem: You give me the best life possible, Buy me all you can. And give me unconditional love, Until the end. When the day comes, That life no longer treats me well. I trust that you will make the right decision, However hard it may be. I have trust you’ll make the call, It’s hard on us both. But this one battle we both know I can’t win, This is my final battle. As my eyes close, I know the end is coming, And I trust you’ll be by my side, Until our final goodbye. I give you one last look, As we both say farewell. And my weary eyes close, As I drift off into slumber. I feel one last injection, And Before I know it, It’s over. The final battle is unenviable, And it can’t be won. I thank you, |Cont. Below|
For all the love you gave, To me until my end. How strong you tried to stay for me, Knowing I’d need your strength. I’m grateful to have such a good friend, Like you. And I hope you know, I loved you dearly. And will be watching over you, Keeping you safe. A guardian angel, Watching a grieving friend. And providing gentle comfort, From the pain of the final battle. .The End. Shadow, to tell the truth, I never expected letting go to be this hard. I tried my best to stay strong for you, but as you saw. I crumpled, my heart shattering. I feel so honored that you chose to trust me enough to hold you, as you left this world. It’s been hours, and yet I’m still sobbing every two minutes. I miss you so much it hurts, you truly meant everything to me. I know you were ready to go home baby, but I wasn’t ready for you to leave. I’ll always love you, my handsome boy, my Shadow. <3 -Your girl, (Real name)
