June 7, 2012
Dear Oscar,
Rest in peace my sweet Oscar,
I will love you for the rest of forever.
You were always there for me
Every day sleeping under my desk
Every evening cuddling on the couch
Every night taking up all the space in the bed
Always, for almost 16 years
You saw the dolphins from our little boat that day
You saved me from getting hit by a big truck
You travelled the continent with me
You even found me a husband
Anytime something bad happened, you were always there
I couldn’t just lie in bed all day being sad
Because you needed me
You needed to go out
You needed in
You needed to be fed
You needed to be walked
You needed to be loved
And most of all, you needed a cookie
I promised you I would take care of you for the rest of your life
I hope I did the right thing by helping you to die peacefully
I was afraid one day, one day soon, you would be gasping for air
One day the coughing wouldn’t stop
And you would be upset and scared
I hope I did the right thing
I hope you had a good life
I can’t bear the fact that you are gone
I just want one more hug
I needed you too
I have you name tag
I will keep it always
Rest in peace my sweet Oscar,
I will love you for the rest of forever.
Oscar’s last bath – Corning, California
Oscar’s last walk on the beach – Crescent City California
Video of Oscar’s last bath and Oscar’s last walk on the beach
For more about Oscar read:
Oscar is 15 years old!
Oh Anne 🙁 this breaks my heart 🙁 I am so sorry.
So sorry to hear that, Anne 🙁
Very sorry to hear about Oscar Anne. 🙁 I am glad he got to enjoy most of your great adventure with you.
Dear sweet Anne,
What a wonderful tribute to your faithful little friend. He is resting in peace now, and in time you will feel at peace too. What an amazing life’s journey he’s had with you, and you with him. Your love for him will always be there, and he left this world knowing how much he was loved and cared for.
Take good care my friend, I’m here if you need to talk!
Hugs,
Rachel
Oh Anne. I’m so very sorry for your loss. Oscar looked and sounded like a wonderful friend and he was a real cutie. This was a beautiful tribute to him. We had to make that decision with our first Cavalier, Bugsy and we were heart broken but I know now that it was the write thing to do. The last thing we want is for them to suffer. Oscar knows that you loved him and did what’s best for him. Sending you lots of hugs.
Im sorry for your loss…we had to put down our cat this spring who was in her 22nd year…I know how you are feeling and with time the sorrow will pass.
Oh Anne, I’m so sad and sorry to hear about the loss of your dear Oscar. I have a big lump in my throat as I’m a big dog lover and I know what joy a dog brings to your life. I’m sure he knows you did the right thing and that he had a wonderful life. It’s a beautiful tribute to your faithful friend. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. God bless, Sharon
Anne,
My heart is heavy as I read your tribute. Only those that have had wonderful 4 legged family members can truly understand.
I hope that you can understand that the last, best thing we do for these family members is allow them to go to their reward with dignity. The loss of my English Setter, Freckles, remains close to my thoughts even though it was last November. It is always a difficult decision.
Keep all the wonderful memories and realize that Oscar is running with all the energy of his youth now and do not be surprised if you feel a brush on your leg once in a while when you need cheering up.
Thank you for allowing us to share your grief and happiness.
Anne
I was sorry to read about Oscar. I know he will always live in your heart.
Paul
I’m sorry about Oscar, Anne. Hopefully he went in peace and didn’t suffer too much. My dog is 16 also and not too healthy so I don’t look forward to that day.
Wish you the best.
Anne, I’m so sorry for the lost of you buddy. Hugs to you..
Anne, That’s so sad. It broke my heart when i read it. Oscar rest in peace.
chris
So sorry to hear about Oscar. What a fitting tribute that you have left him. I hope that your great memories of him help you in the upcoming days and months.
When quality of life is no longer there, you know you have done the right thing. Losing a beautiful friend is so very hard, but we can know that they are now living as they once were-beautifully! So very sorry to learn of Oscar, Anne. Cherish his memory for the time you were blessed with his companionship and thank you for that beautiful tribute and for sharing this time with us.
So sorry to hear this Anne! My mom lost her old dachshund a few weeks ago, a great little dog, and it’s never easy. But dogs are worth it, friends like no others!
I love you Oscar I hope there is a big pot of chicken soup for you to dig up in heaven.
Hugs and kisses to all of you. I wish I was there.
Lots of love Crystal
O damn… So sorry to hear that Anne…. 🙁
O that is so hard, I really feel for you and sorry you had to say goodbye to Oscar.
Oh Anne. This one I was not looking forward to, but knew it was coming. So sorry. It’s hard to lose a great friend. Shedding a tear for you and Oscar today. We wish we could hug you…
With love,
P. Dog and pack: R.,M.and A. from Sequim, WA.
I, like you have lost many a good friend, and none of them have been forgotten. Rejoice in the time you had with them, and with the knowlegdge that God had blessed you so very much by putting you together for a moment.
If you can’t love a pet, a non human friend, you can’t love.
It’s such a sad day when a decision like this has to be made. We went through exactly this a few years ago with our Spaniel. But it became painful to watch him struggle, and it would have been wrong to leave him to endure more suffering. I share your distress and your loss, Anne. Oscar has had one heck of a ride these past 9 months or so – what an adventure for him. You had him a long, long time. Rejoice in what you have enjoyed together.
So sorry to hear about your dear friend.
So sorry to hear of the loss of your dear buddy, Oscar. I think the picture of you two walking along the beach is so beautiful with the warm beautiful sun on his face! Hugs and prayers to you as you continue this journey with beautiful and loving memories of him.
You made me cried on this poem Anne! I can’t bear either loosing my dog.. I am so sorry about Oscar, I think it’s better for him to rest peacefully rather than to suffer longer.
Anne, I’m so sorry to hear about Oscar. I believe he was glad to have you there to help him be at peace and I hope you can find comfort knowing that you kept all your promises and everything you’ve done, you did out of love.
It was an interesting post. Rejoice in the time you had with them, and with the knowlegdge that God had blessed you so very much by putting you together for a moment. Thanks that you’ve shared.
Anne, let me add my condolences to the growing list. A few months ago I had to make the decision to let go of my 14 year old Lab, Kahlua. She had been getting more frail almost by the day and had trouble getting up and down stairs. One day she put her chin on my knee and looked into my eyes and told me it was time. Still, it was a difficult thing for me to do. I’m consoled by the fact that we still have 2 of her “pups” though they are now 12 and won’t be with us much longer. But I, too, would give anything for one last hug.
RIP Oscar…you were well and truly loved.
Anne, so sorry about Oscar. Sometimes these things creep up on us over time and sometimes they just confront us, but it is never easy losing a faithful friend.
Last time we went through this with one of our cats we were confronted. Other occasions before we knew when time was limited. I am sure you did the right thing for Oscar, but he will always be in your heart. Take care.
I didn’t see this last week,Anne. You did the right thing and put Oscar’s need ahead of your own. So hard to do, but YES it’s the right thing!
I feel for you Anne. We have Whippets and Border Terrier’s now and every night when I come home I am greeted by 5 wet noses and wagging tales. A happy look that asks how my day has been. I honestly don’t know what I would do with out that.
You did the right thing for Oscar but it does not make it any less hard.
Take care!
Both of our hearts are absolutely broken for you, Anne. I am so very sorry for your loss here. Please know that you and Oscar are in our thoughts and prayers. You guys are the most wonderful people and he could not have had a better life in any way. I wish there was something we could do for you to ease your pain there.
Anne, that big heavy place in your heart will ease, trust me, and you’ll always remember the good times. I couldn’t hardly speak for days after I put Cueball down… and you know how bad I am at good-byes. I know nothing anyone says right now will dull the pain, but every new beginning starts with an ending and a transition, it has to be so. Take good care, K
I know what it is like losing a long time pal… and nothing you can hear may easy your sadness and pain. my thoughts are with you in these hard times.
Kindest regards.
Sorry for your loss. I lost my dog in 2009. I know the pain of losing a loyal companion. I am sure he had a great 15 years of joy.
Anne, my tears are running down my face as I read this. There will never be right or wrong decisions in life. Just decisions. It does not matter where you said good bye to your sweet Oscar. Wherever you were was his home. The look in his eyes when he looked at you. He was always home. No matter where that was. Home was you!!
Xoxo dear friend.
R
I’m sorry to hear that my dear Anne.. I know hoe you love Oscar with all of your heart. But you must accept the fact that it’s better to be that way rather than Oscar will suffer more. I know you will recover soon.
What a nice tribute to your 15 year long friend. Thanks for sharing with us.
I am really sorry, Anne…no self-blame, just love!
Hi Cristi, thanks for your words, it means a lot to me. I hope you are doing well. I am up island in Nanaimo but I hope to drop by to say hello when I come to Victoria some time.
Yes, please, come by PGTS when possible.
Anne,
Your post moved me profoundly. Your love of Oscar is palpable and I can understand how difficult this time is for you. I have two Westies who are part of me. It is always best to put the one you love first at times like these. That is true love and compassion. May healing be yours in time.
Thank you so much Sherry, it has meant a lot to me to get comments like this from people who understand what I am going through. Putting the one you love first can be a really hard thing to do.
I’m sitting here with tears running down my face. Thinking about your dog and my little Chihuahua Prissy. She had congestive heart failure and the vet gave her 6 months to live. She lived for almost 6 years until she could no longer walk across the floor without coughing. She couldn’t get any air at the end and her gums were turning blue. My thoughts are with you right now and I hope that all your wonderful memories will give you comfort.
Dana (Hugs)
Hi Dana, thank you very much for your nice words. It is hardest thing I have ever had to do. I’m sorry about your loss too. I met lots of Chihuahuas on my trip – they are very popular in Texas. You are so lucky that she lived for 6 years, although you must have been worried the whole time. Now it is important for us both to think of the happy times we had with our best friends.
I understand your pain; and yes, you did the right thing. Neither of you needed to suffer.
Thank you Roger.
“Dear Oscar, I hope I did the right thing -Anne McKinnell Photography” really makes myself think a somewhat extra.
I really admired every individual part of this blog post.
Thanks for your effort -Rocco
Hi Rocco, thank you very much. It was a therapeutic post for me. I still miss him every day. It’s amazing how deeply dogs can touch our lives.
Anne,
I’ve got tears in my eyes reading your story. My two little cats are never far from my side, I can truly identify with what you had in Oscar. I’m sorry for your lose. You did the right thing. Time to enjoy memories of the wonderful times you spent.