It's a tribute to how much pleasure she brought to our lives that we will probably get another dog. I remember reading once that the greatest legacy you can have for a dog you've loved and lost is to give another one a chance. Zanna was a giveaway - had become too big and boisterous for a young couple who hadn't given her that much training and who now had a baby. Hopefully we can give another dog the chance of a loving home. However we won't do anything until after our trip - wouldn't be fair to get a dog in the next few weeks and then stress it all over again putting it in the kennels for a month - but maybe after we come back we'll have a look around to see who needs help.
I've just spent the last half an hour or so going through all my photos and laughing and crying at the same time while seeing just what a big part she played in our family. Here's a selection below and also some beautiful verses sent to me by some of my wonderful friends.
Thank you my beautiful Zanna for the joy you brought to my life xx
She is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
You are her life, her love, her leader
She will be yours faithful and true till the last beat of her heart.
You owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion
I LOVED YOU BEST
So this is where we part, My Friend,
and you'll run on, around the bend,
gone from sight, but not from mind,
new pleasures there you'll surely find.
I will go on, I'll find the strength,
life measures quality, not its length.
One long embrace before you leave,
share one last look, before I grieve.
There are others, that much is true,
but they be they, and they aren't you.
And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,
will remember well all you've taught.
Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,
the fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.
And as you journey to your final rest,
take with you this...I loved you best.
The Rainbow Bridge
inspired by a Norse legend
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.
For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.
The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.
Heartfelt thanks to Nola for these last two poems - they mean so much to me - I wept buckets when I read them but nonetheless they've provided great solace.
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| Zanna as I first saw being held by her previous owner |
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| Her puzzled face |
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| She was always Queen of the Deck - this is before we built on the new deck |
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| Down the river with Josh |
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| Her white sock was often commented on - sometimes people thought she had a bandage on |
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| Such a pretty smiley face |
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| Remember the night (Christmas Eve) she took off in the thunderstorm and we found her miles away - and then she was so exhausted she slept for nearly a while day |
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| Queen of the new deck |
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| Posing when I got my new camera a couple of Christmases ago |
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| Loafing around |
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| Both grandsons loved her but Curtis has always had more time for her - he's going to miss her badly |
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| Tuckered out |
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| Clive also will really miss her - when he stayed with us for a few months she and he spent a lot of time together |
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| Zanna the reindeer |
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| Sniffing around in the bush |
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| Out in the bush with Bloss |
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| With Curtis again |
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| A rare one this - she wasn't allowed on the furniture but I think the boys encouraged her to overcome her normal good judgement this night |
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| You're such a pretty girl Zanna |
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| Pensive |
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| Hmmm nice smells! always on the lookout for something to chase - who remembers the possum story? |
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| At the park with Josh |
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| Another park trip |
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| With Josh this time |
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| And finally probably my favourite picture of her RIP my wonderful Zannagirl |
