In Rememberance

Snickers King


My best friend, Denice, has given me many great gifts over the time I have known her, but one of the sweetest has been the opportunity to enjoy her pets. This week her beloved dog, Snickers, passed away. My heart broke as I read of his passing. I'm sure she is clinging to her family right now as she grieves. My heart is very much with her.

Denice and I are both single and would have a quiet, lonely homes without our pets. Though not everyone can understand it, for her and I they are like our children. They share love with us. They comfort us. They make us laugh. They frustrate us. They are the delight that gets us through difficult days. The dependence we have our pets and theirs on us is a relationship that adds a lot of meaning to our lives.

Snickers, like many dogs, was a source of unconditional love. He shared his joy and love with everyone he met. He could lift your heart on the hardest day as he shimmied and danced, asking to be pet. He was a true gift to Denice over a lot of difficult times and I know she will miss him beyond what any words could capture. I, too, will miss his smiling face when I visit her.

Animals can sometimes love us in unconditional and open-hearted ways that humans haven't mastered. They are an immense blessing during their time with us -- which is never long enough. For those of us who have felt like outsiders, who felt scorned and rejected, a pet's love maybe the only example of acceptance we have to cling to some days. They live utterly in the now and remind us to stop, appreciate life, and allow ourselves to be loved.

Denice has written about her grief on her blog, and it wouldn't surprise me if she channels her energies into a painting. I hope you will drop by and leave her a comment and condolences. You can view her post by clicking here.