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So Long Ollie Bud

September 24th, 2010

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

C.S. Lewis (The Four Loves)

Our good friends had to say goodbye to their little dog Ollie yesterday. It’s such a sad thing to have to make that decision when your pet becomes ill. It’s definitely one of the worst parts about having a pet. Ollie had his moments when his Jack Russell blood came through, he could be obstinate and annoying, but he was also energetic, loyal, and entertaining. No doubt after some time to grieve this loss, good memories of Ollie will fill the painful void left now that he’s gone. As C.S. Lewis writes above in his book about love, pain and loss; you can’t have joy without sorrow. When we open ourselves up to love by bringing people and pets into our lives we not only open ourselves up to great happiness and joy but also to the deepest sadness and pain as well. Here’s a tribute to our friend’s little dog Ollie, Lucy’s dearest friend.






So long Ollie, we’ll miss you sitting in front of the TV grumbling while we try to watch a movie, we’ll miss your excitement every time we came over to visit, we’ll miss you chasing the bean bags when we played corn hole, and of course we’ll miss you’re optimism that someone was always going to drop something delicious on the floor for you to eat!

Have you ever had to say goodbye to a pet?

17 Comments to “So Long Ollie Bud”
  1. Shaun paciorek on September 24, 2010 at 6:14 am

    Thank you. I would say more but I’ll start crying again, oops too late.

    Reply to Shaun paciorek's comment

  2. Amy on September 24, 2010 at 8:27 am

    Many times…….and each time it broke my heart…..but I cannot imagine a life without my animals…..I will keep your friends in my thoughts and prayers today…..

    Reply to Amy's comment

  3. MAYBELLINE on September 24, 2010 at 9:06 am

    THIS is a brutal topic to post isn’t it? Aren’t we fortunate to have these pets that bring such joy?

    Reply to MAYBELLINE's comment

  4. Stace on September 24, 2010 at 9:23 am

    I very recently had to put down my cat… God, I didn’t think I could cry like that. Simon had been the runty last kitten left in the box at the feed store almost 17 years ago when we met. His tail was broken from birth and stuck out to his left his whole life.

    Give your friends a hug – Ollie looks like he was a helluva great little buddy!

    Reply to Stace's comment

  5. Debbie on September 24, 2010 at 10:19 am

    Such a a thoughtful post and while I type through my tears I know that your friends will soon remember all the good times with Ollie. We had our beloved dog put down years ago now and we still think of him often; laughing at his spunky personality and still attempting to figure out some of this quirks. Pets brign such joy and unconditional love; they are a true gift. Thinking of your friends at this difficult time.
    ps- he was gorgeous! xoxo

    Reply to Debbie's comment

  6. lee on September 24, 2010 at 11:41 am

    Sadly, too many times and each time it broke my heart but I’m praying I outlive all my cats. I don’t think I can die in peace wondering what’s going to happen to them once I’m gone. Give your friends a big hug for me.

    Reply to lee's comment

  7. Sandy on September 24, 2010 at 11:47 am

    He is so adorable. I love the picture of him with the squash. And yes we went through the same thing almost 2 years ago with our Simba. It was a hard decision and I still miss him today. I will keep your friends in my prayers.

    Reply to Sandy's comment

  8. Billie on September 24, 2010 at 11:48 am

    I too put down my faithful companion Timmie this month. She was with me for 12 years. I cried like crazy but was very fortunate to be able to spend the time I did with her. Harmony(my other cat) and I are missing her. In November, we will welcome her little replacement and start the process over again of falling in love with another wee one.

    Billie

    Reply to Billie's comment

  9. Amy @ Homestead Revival on September 24, 2010 at 12:56 pm

    Susy, my heart is heavy for you today. Ollie looked like a fun character! Like you said, saying good bye to them is so hard.

    Reply to Amy @ Homestead Revival's comment

  10. Alyse on September 24, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    I had to say good bye to a dear mutt five years ago. Wiley grew up with me, literally. From age 2 to 20 he brought me joy that was unimaginable. We had to have him put to sleep. It’s not as painful as before but that pain will always linger. :*(

    I still have amazing memories of him, though, and I’m thankful for that.

    Reply to Alyse's comment

  11. Conny on September 24, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    I love your tribute to Ollie! Yes, in time the photos will make them smile again instead of cry. He grumbled while you all were watching tv? He didn’t like the programming? So funny.

    Reply to Conny's comment

  12. melissa on September 24, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    Yes I have, and each time it’s more heartbreaking than the last, but I wouldn’t trade any of the good memories away to avoid the pain. And I keep going back for more. :)

    Reply to melissa's comment

  13. anita on September 24, 2010 at 4:55 pm

    Yes, I have . . . more times than I like to think about, but I hope I never have to live without pets. We’ve lost five cats this year—Earl was killed in early spring, we lost Jane and Serena to coyotes, and just this week we parted with Widget, who was nearly 16 and just worn out, and Pixie, only 3 months old but born with a twisted spine (he could walk, but not well, and the older he grew the worse it became). Every time I think that I can’t bear another hurt like this . . . but we have added Ysabeau—at 6 months, is never still and has enough spunk for three cats—and Dinah, given to us by my daughter-in-law (they moved and couldn’t take the cats) in addition to the others. Life goes on . . .

    Reply to anita's comment

  14. missy on September 24, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    Thanks, friend. We miss him so much already. It’s so quiet here without him. If our life is a play, he’s been in every scene—maybe in the background, maybe in the foreground, but every scene—good and bad for 8 years. He was a loyal Ollie Stink. We loved him. Thanks again for the tribute. I was so glad that he got to see the Luce again before he died.

    Reply to missy's comment

  15. deedee on September 25, 2010 at 12:53 am

    he looks (and sounds) so much like one of our daycare dogs. this breaks my heart:( it is sooooooooooooo hard to lose a pet:(

    Reply to deedee's comment

  16. Sheryl at Providence Acres Farm on September 26, 2010 at 10:14 am

    Yes. Last summer we had to say goodbuy to Barney, our shitzu/bichon beloved friend for 15 years. It was very hard!

    Reply to Sheryl at Providence Acres Farm's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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