One of the areas in which I hope to do more pastoral care in the future is pet bereavement. Many of us who have four leggeds as part of our families and our hearts know that the loss can hit us hard. It can also bring up past loss and grief of people who have gone on before us. So losing a pet is a stressful event that can shake us to our core.
I hope to be there with others who must walk through that valley of grief.
I, too, have had my world shaken by the loss of several animals. Tinker, Cinnamon, and Milo all hit me very hard. When I lost Milo, I was home alone and trying to deal with it. When I informed my then-rabbi at the synagogue I attended, she was old school and did not
believe losing a pet was deserving of comfort and pastoral care, and most certainly not the mourner's kaddish, our great prayer of mourning and loss. She
would not even tell me she was sorry to hear of my loss. Not even sorry
to hear of it and to see how hard I
struggled to land on my feet again! I knew then that I would never minimize the pain and grief that a person might feel upon losing a special furry friend.
Today I honor my sweet Peaches. Her illness, and eventual death, tore me apart. It was hard to find comfort.
Peaches
Born: April 4, 2003
Rescued: April, 2006
Died: April 26, 2014 / 26th of Nisan, 5774
Peaches was my heart dog. We rescued her when she had just turned 3 years old, having been caged for her first 3 years of life.
At six years old, she was bit by a tick in the greater Boston area in November, 2009, and on my 53rd birthday in 2009, she was suddenly unable to walk. I immediately rushed her to the vet where she was diagnosed with terminal Lyme Nephritis, aka tick-induced Glomerulonephritis. Her Lyme titer tested off the charts high, and her prognosis was 3 to 6 months. I did tons of research and made sure I gave her the best food and supplements, and TLC of course, and she was able to live another 4 1/2 quality and loving years.
Her patience with me was unending. She taught me so much in my 8 years with her, and she loved me unconditionally. Never have I been so loved unconditionally by a furry friend. She always wanted to be with me, by my side.
She was always smiling, such a bright beautiful smile that lit up her face, and my heart. Until the very end, she was smiling.
She was my furry angel in a puppy suit, and she accompanied me through a very dark time of my life. I will always miss her.
Peaches would be proud of me. She would be so happy, whirling her little helicopter tail and twirling around in a happy dance, to know that I worked hard these past 3 years, harder than I ever have in my life, to do something important, to really make something of my life and abilities.
Even though she is not here with me now to celebrate my happiness, she is one of the big reasons why I have arrived at this place. She got me through those dark Boston years, and she accompanied me here where I was able to get connected to my local TOPS group and my home base Ravelry group, and that has made all the difference in my world. They have been exactly the right toe holds for me to find a way to keep scaling the cliff. They have loved me and believed in me when I just couldn't. They have saved me.
I have Peaches to thank for helping me hold on long enough for the miracles.
My heart will always be with those who go through pet bereavement. Animals can make a significant positive impact on our lives. I will never be the kind of Rabbi who hasn't experienced that.
Peaches, dear little girl, my four-legged soul companion, rest in peace. Run and play and soak up the sunshine. Light up heaven with that bright smile! And please meet me at the Bridge when it is my time to join you.
I miss you, Peaches. I will always love you.
UPDATE FRIDAY APRIL 28th:
To date, I have embedded two different YouTube videos to end this, and both of them have been removed. So, here is a link to the lyrics to the song Whiz Kalifa & Charlie Puth sing that I call my Peaches song, See You Again.
PLEASE NOTE: Song Written by Andrew Cedar, Justin Scott Franks, Charlie Otto Puth, Cameron Jibril Thomaz • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group
Peaches and Cinnamon, August 10, 2013,
having porch time with Mom.
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