It is not just we humans that are grieving, animals do too. It is not only two-legged creatures that need to attain "closure", the other animals in the family (pack) do too.
Human funerals serve this purpose, as do wakes. They are as much a celebration of life, as they are a place for grieving the dead.
From experience while working with animals, I know animals that have become depressed when one "family" member have passed away. One dog refused to go with the family in their car since their other dog had been rushed to the hospital and never returned home. This Rottweiler was afraid to go in the car and never return home himself, he didn't understand what had happened, just the disappearance.
I know that Elephants have a funeral, and can walk miles to attend one. So bringing home Ranger from the hospital was never strange or a worry for us. Indeed, it was an imperative.
We put him in the basement and opened the plastic sheets he was wrapped in. Then, we called down the other dogs. Tjojs, my twelve year-old Rottweiler-German Shepherd-Border Collie mix sniffed and walked away. She was satisfied to know the facts, but as a strong clever dog she knew death is nothing strange. Our Collie Clyde, a six-year-old former stray dog, refused to go and sniff. He is not indifferent! He is not himself and seems to be more in denial. Shiloh, the Pit Bull-Pointer mix --three-year-old -- is the one who is grieving the most. She kept circling, sniffing, and backing away. Finally, with her nose she tried several times to close the plastic bag, as if burying Ranger... very gentle and sweet.
Shiloh adored Ranger! They slept together (often, Shiloh would sleep on top of Ranger) she always hung over him. He gruffed a little, but never refused her. They wrestled in the garden, they were always out together. Ranger always took cared of her, patient and loving. Ranger was the first "pack member" to accept Shiloh when she was brought into the family.
Shiloh doesn't sleep were they slept before he passed away. No one sleeps on the first floor any more were Ranger always slept, on his bed by the door. Our first line of defense.
This is grieving Amore!
Human funerals serve this purpose, as do wakes. They are as much a celebration of life, as they are a place for grieving the dead.
From experience while working with animals, I know animals that have become depressed when one "family" member have passed away. One dog refused to go with the family in their car since their other dog had been rushed to the hospital and never returned home. This Rottweiler was afraid to go in the car and never return home himself, he didn't understand what had happened, just the disappearance.
I know that Elephants have a funeral, and can walk miles to attend one. So bringing home Ranger from the hospital was never strange or a worry for us. Indeed, it was an imperative.
We put him in the basement and opened the plastic sheets he was wrapped in. Then, we called down the other dogs. Tjojs, my twelve year-old Rottweiler-German Shepherd-Border Collie mix sniffed and walked away. She was satisfied to know the facts, but as a strong clever dog she knew death is nothing strange. Our Collie Clyde, a six-year-old former stray dog, refused to go and sniff. He is not indifferent! He is not himself and seems to be more in denial. Shiloh, the Pit Bull-Pointer mix --three-year-old -- is the one who is grieving the most. She kept circling, sniffing, and backing away. Finally, with her nose she tried several times to close the plastic bag, as if burying Ranger... very gentle and sweet.
Shiloh adored Ranger! They slept together (often, Shiloh would sleep on top of Ranger) she always hung over him. He gruffed a little, but never refused her. They wrestled in the garden, they were always out together. Ranger always took cared of her, patient and loving. Ranger was the first "pack member" to accept Shiloh when she was brought into the family.
Shiloh doesn't sleep were they slept before he passed away. No one sleeps on the first floor any more were Ranger always slept, on his bed by the door. Our first line of defense.
This is grieving Amore!
1 comment:
Hej igen! Tårarna bara rinner när jag läser om begravningen och dina vackra ord om Ranger. Vad fint ni hade gjort med att låta hundarna komma och "ta farväl" av Ranger själva. Jag tänker så på dig och din familj! Kram Maria Svegare Berglund
p.s är inte så pass bra på att formulera min text på engelska därav blir mina inlägg på svenska, hoppas det e okej d.s
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