The Blog

The Heeling Project | Pet Loss Bereavement

“I think I’ll miss you forever, like the stars miss the sun in the morning skies.”

 ~ Lana Del Rey

 
More letters are coming in for the Heeling Project…I am really grateful to see this project taking off. There are so many people out there with so much love in their hearts for their dogs. Grief from pet loss is often a profound experience. It is so important to have a channel of expression for this type of experience and emotion.

Writing has long been used as a technique to help process our emotions and let go. It gives us a way to reflect, grieve and move forward. It helps get us to a place where we can look back with gratitude for the experiences we had. It is healing.
 
 
This is a letter to Lucy… a sweet girl from Kamloops BC.
 
January 2000 ~ November 2013. Run free Lucy.
 

You were so energetic with a puppy-like nature even at 14 years old! So many times when we walked together and met up with other dogs you were always enthusiastically running to play with them. People always commented “what a friendly dog” and asked if you were an Irish Wolf Hound. Then I’d explain to them that you were a loveable SPCA dog part Lab/Terrier who could outrun most dogs. Yes, you always got the attention from all the dog walkers in the neighbourhood as well as all the children that used to ask me, “can I pet your dog?” and then you’d give a paw and lift up to lick their face!

After the walk I came home to an empty house without you.

It seemed so unreal and lonely; I kept visualizing you lying in your favourite corner of the kitchen all curled up and cosy in your bed. You always loved to sleep a lot and even snored sometimes after our walks.

The mornings too have been different; every day when I walked into the kitchen there you were waiting patiently for me. After your feeding you would look at me with those big sad brown eyes and wondered if I was going to give some of my breakfast to you as well; it was very difficult not to. I’d give you a few pats then a favourite song on the radio would come on and after taking hold of your front paws we would do a little jig around the kitchen. Most days though you would just stare at me; we called you “my watchdog” as you were always watching every move…wondering if we could play today or go for a hike somewhere.

Your favourite place was at the lake in the summertime…

where you could chase the turkeys and run free through the hills and forest sniffing all the way. It was fun watching you after our hike as you’d meander up into the bushes where you knew the resident rabbit was hiding out. Thank goodness you never caught it! Yes, you were never bored. Our granddaughter loved to dress you up and play house too with you….you seemed contented. After a few years of being fearful of water you finally got brave and began diving into the lake to retrieve a stick or two; but for some reason you would always return it a few feet away from us! Otherwise your favourite pastime was lying on the sundeck soaking up the sunbeams. And then at the end of the summer when we’d ask you to “get in the car we’re going home”, you looked at us and stubbornly refused to move! You really did love it out there with a passion.

Next spring we plan to scatter your ashes there where you loved to be.

Lucy, you were the most loveable and loyal dog to us. There will never be another Lucy, you will forever be in our hearts and memories.

We love you!

Follow recent posts for the Heeling Project by subscribing to my blog email above and/or by clicking Heeling Project under the categories tab section. Please contact via email if interested in participating.

Other services available:
Pet sympathy card line Heeling Cards™ in the SHOP above.
Heeling Session page for dog memorial and bereavement photography services.