Goodnight Lilly
Today is a day of big feelings.
Where this blog is meant to be light hearted and fun and full of fashion I have an overwhelming feeling to share something very real today.
Today we say goodbye to our beloved Labrador, Lilly.
Lilly is 14 now, and has dementia, is partially blind, partially deaf and in a lot of pain in her back legs and can no longer go on walks. Lilly has been this way for a while now, and perhaps we have loved Lilly a little longer than we should have, because we don’t want to say goodbye, but we can’t deny it any longer, she is ready to go.
Lilly was one of the smallest of her litter, possibly the runt. We drove an hour to meet her and the farm that she had been born on had been keeping the puppies in a tiny stable, where they were drinking out of an upside down bin lid. My immediate reaction was, how many of theses can we take home? The puppies had hid behind a bin when I entered the stable, but one brave little pup came out from behind the bin and bumped me with her nose. That was our Lilly, tiny and fearless.
Lilly had ear mites, an eye infection and needed a good bath and lots of TLC we brought her home and she was a very timid dog. Luckily, we already had Harry and the two of them shared this amazing bond, I do believe they loved each other deeply.
Lilly has brought us so much joy. From running through picnics, to dive bombing in the river, having her around kept us on our toes. When she was very young she was so naughty, often stealing things from around the house and taking them up into the garden. Her and Harry formed a dynamic duo – with her often following him into trouble!
This is the dog who sat with me and refused to leave my side when I started my labour, the dog who will come and find you and put her head on your knee when you are sad, which is why is has been awful watching her decline and become less of the fun, bouncy and springy pup we once knew.
Lilly has been an absolute pleasure to have in our home, and after Harry passed it gave her a new lease of life for a little while. My heart feels heavy today, I hate that she is so confused and doesn’t always recognise us, or that now she jumps when we touch her, because she’s not aware that we are here. So for now, I will remember Lilly as my devilish little farm puppy, who had a big heart, floppy ears and liked to swim
Thankyou Lilly for choosing us. Now go run over that rainbow bridge to your brother…