A Final Word About Pappy

Alayne and I wanted to thank everyone for the very moving comments posted on the blog and emailed to us about dear old Pappy.  It was a lonely weekend, with Pappy's big bed lying empty in the living room most of the time.  But it is so heartwarming to know so many people cared about our elderly Shepherd and offered their condolences.

I wanted to share some thoughts from two people who knew Pappy.  The first came in an email from a longtime friend and supporter of the sanctuary, Christian C. in Great Falls, Montana:

Oh Steve, my heart is breaking for you and Alayne.  Pappy was such a wonderful dog and I know how much you loved him (how much you love everyone there!).  He was such a sweetheart and I know it just won't be the same when I visit this summer.  I always tell everyone ... the heck with Disneyland, THIS is the happiest place on earth.  Know that to be true, and that every one of the animals there knows it.

The second is from Laura W. from Helena, who has been a wonderful, long-term volunteer at the ranch.  She posted this on the blog today:

I remember the very first time I came out to volunteer and there was Pappy to greet me and follow us around while I was shown what needed to be done.  He also was there to say goodbye and perhaps to say thanks for stopping by!  He will be greatly missed.  Dogs live in the moment and he had the greatest moments of all with you guys.

Thank you all for helping us through this.

Comments

[Adele]

I'm so sorry about Pappy. I lost my yorkie, Miss Maddie - who was a rescue - in November, and that was on top of two other dogs since 2000 (if you take in the older, sicker one's, it's what can happen). Nothing really makes the pain go away except the other animals in your life, who I know bring you joy. Just this minute "Renaldo The Red" - who looks like a nice date for your Daisy - is sitting in his bed, in my office, and he has brought me so much joy. Got him just two months to the day after Miss Maddie's passing because I was not myself without a dog. Now I feel normal again.

Again, I'm really very sorry. You guys are doing good work there.

[Nancy]

I almost cried reading about Pappy because I have an almost-blind and deaf 12 year old German Shepherd that looks very much like him. A little foretaste of the grief to come.

BUT - I just had a thought that cheered me up - there is now an opening there for another dog! And Pappy would want another dog to have the same lucky break he got.

You mentioned once a paralyzed black dog? Did you decide it was kinder to euthanize him?

God bless you both.

Nancy

[Morgan Skilling]

Thank YOU for sharing even these most heartbreaking moments with us. I made the mistake of checking your blog first thing in the a.m. and saw that Pappy had passed and cried in my office cubicle. My own special Shepherd was with me at work that day, making your story even more personally poignant to me at that moment. The knowledge that he and our other animals will someday pass (and in a few cases, sooner rather than later) cuts me deeply each time I think of it. But there is no way I would trade even one day of time with any of them to avoid that inevitable grief. Their spirits and unconditional love inspire me every day to be a better person than I was the day before. Bless you Pappy for finding the strength within yourself to keep going until you found the second chance at life you did at Rolling Dog.

[Maribeth Watwood]

After a recent sadness of our own, you sent me the kindest email. In that empathetic message you talked about how you knew Pappy wouldn't live forever, and how you knew his death would be so hard to accept. I'm so sorry that day has come, and want you to know that we have you, Alayne, and everyone whom Pappy 'sheparded' in our thoughts. Maribeth