Our Faithful Companion Brindle passed away last week. She was 14 years old and had many ailments on top of just general old age aches and pains and a touch of arthritis. She valiantly fought cancer and Valley Fever, the latter of which is common in our southern Arizona location affecting both humans and canines. She'd already submitted to surgery for her cancer earlier this year but unfortunately, it came back within months. She was on medication for her Valley Fever, but the medicine was as hard on her as the disease itself I'm afraid.
Chris had Brindle from the time she was a small puppy and when we married in 1993 she was healthy, bouncy two year old. I had brought Buster into the marriage and he was the exact same age as Brindle. Brindle was a German Shepherd/Greyhound mix and Buster is a Cock-a-poo. They got along from the moment they met and have spent nearly 12 years together. They looked like Mutt and Jeff - Brindle was the size of a Shepherd but a little slimmer - weighing in at around 70 lbs. Buster, low to the ground and should be about 15 lbs (but much more portly in his old age now).
Brindle passed away peacefully in her sleep during the early morning hours of October 21. She was right where she wanted to be ~ on her bed beside ours and that gives us great comfort. Buster was sleeping within 2 feet of her on his bed and never woke us so we know it was peaceful. Buster is deaf as a board now but he sensed everything going on with her. We had known the end of coming as she'd had a particularly bad week but we were still heartbroken that she had to leave us. She was 'Daddy's girl' when he was home but during the week when he was at work, she was my constant companion ~ always laying within a few feet of whereever I was. She was sweet and gentle and yet always alert and ready to rise to my defense if she felt someone that didn't belong here was at the door. She had taken over the role of protector for us all when Buck died of cancer.
Her death has left a huge void in our lives. We miss her so much ~ as do Buster and our newest baby, Baron. He only got to spend two weeks with her but in that two weeks she taught him a lot of what he needed to know in manners and about being watchful
We've had an outpouring of love and hugs from our friends and family. Special poems and writings have been sent to us in the past few days and we have appreciated every note, every special word and the outpouring of kindness shown to us.
Below you will find some of these special things and a couple more pictures of our Brindle ~ thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read about this very special canine child of ours. We'll carry her in our hearts forever.
Brindle, My Loyal Brindle
Sweet precious friend,
You were with me years,
Losing you brings heartache,
And a flowing flood of tears.
Faithful and loyal,
Trusting without demand,
Canine love without attachments,
Why can't it be with human?
Always there for me,
When I was feeling blue,
Sweet precious Brindle,
I am so lost without you.
I know you are better,
Not suffering here below,
But my wonderful companion,
I sure do hate to let you go.
I'll miss your inquisitive eyes,
The perking of your ears,
A look of assurance,
You knew my fears.
Race through the clouds,
Play in complete freedom,
One day I will call again,
And sweet Brindle will come.
Your passing hurts,
It will take a toll,
Yet I know that you,
Will watch over Angel Cole.
Peaceful rest to you sweet Brindle.
Gayle Davis© 10/23/2004
Thank you Gayle for this beautiful poem for us and Brindle
The beautiful writings below were sent to me
by my dear friend Gery (aka Moonchild) ~ Thank you sweet friend.
For Jean
What would I do without you
My precious furry friend ?
Part mischief but all blessing
And faithful to the end !
You look at me with eyes of love
You never hold a grudge
You think I’m far too wonderful
To criticise or judge.
It seems your greatest joy in life
Is being close to me
I think God knew how comforting
Your warm soft fur would be.
I know you think you’re human
But I’m glad it isn’t true
The world would be a nicer place
If folks were more like you !
A few short years are all we have
One day we’ll have to part
But you, my pet, will always have
A place within my heart.
From Brindle
You were the best, I want you to know
You raised me, loved me then let me go.
Through all our years, fourteen or so
The memories we made will keep me close.
This past year when times got tough
You cared and loved but you never gave up.
The friends we made that helped us hope
Please turn to them to help you cope
My body’s tired and I must go
You loved me, raised me
You let me go.
From my dear sweet friend Lin (Amitylady) ~
Thank you so much. I felt every hug you sent from across the Pond.
Thank you Jane for this beautiful graphic ~
It's my favorite picture of her.
Jean, I am so sorry to hear about Brindle, I know how much you loved her. Was a blessing that she went peacefully. Carry in your heart all the joy Brindle brought to your family and she will live on forever in your heart
From Gramma Mimi - thank you for this comforting note and all your cyber hugs.
My Gift To Jesus
I wish someone had given little Jesus
a dog as loyal and as loving as mine
To sleep by His manger and gaze in His
eyes and adore Him for being divine
As our Lord grew to manhood,
His own faithful dog would have
followed Him all through the day
while He preached to the crowds and
made the sick well and knelt in the
garden to pray
It is sad to remember that Christ went away
to face death alone and apart with no tender
dog following close behind to comfort
it's Master's heart
And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn
how happy He would have been
as His dog kissed His hand and barked its delight
for the one who died for all men !
Well, the Lord has a dog now, I just sent Him mine
the old pal so dear to me, And I smile through my
tears on this first day alone knowing they are in
Eternity.
Author Unknown
Thank you Pacpat for sharing this with me.
Thank you Gery and Pacpat for this beautiful graphic.
I'm so blessed to have such wonderful friends
I LIT A CANDLE IN MEMORY OF BRINDLE
Thank you Chris (Ward) ~ your support and love
have helped me through the last many difficult
months as Brindle worsened.
Thank you Toto ~ for this beautiful snowglobe and
just for being you ~ always a dear friend.
Brindle, we'll miss you forever ~
Wait for us at the Rainbow Bridge with Buck, Brandy and Susie.
Run and play again and enjoy your new eternal life free of pain.
Hope they have lots of Frisbee's at the Rainbow Bridge.
We love you sweet girlie.
Rest In Peace
Mom
Dad
Aunt Sherry
Buster
Baron
Paulie
Blaize
Lil One
Wendy
Pajama
Also left so sad
Chris
Andrea
Mark
Amy
Ali
Mike
Jim
Tony
Herb
Dillon
Brynna
Jake
Mason
