As I posted a couple days ago, my dog Molly was hit by a car in McLean, Virginia this week. She has been in intensive care as we tried every possible medical intervention to save her, but this afternoon we had to put down Molly. My two older sons, Leslie, and I held Molly as she was euthanized. I want to thank so many on this blog for reaching out in the last couple of days and I thought you should know. The whole family is devastated. Molly was the center of gravity for our family and I cannot express the terrible sadness that I feel in losing Molly.
In the last 24-hours, the Hope Center found far greater internal injuries to Molly, who was unable to eat and today was unable to stand. She could not breathe on her own and we found punctures in organs that were previously missed due to the severe bruising internally. Her red blood count was falling and she needed oxygen to breathe. Finally, the staff at Hope called us this morning and said that additional surgeries or interventions would not likely succeed and that we were prolonging Molly’s pain.
I have had four dogs, but I must admit Molly was my favorite. We were inseparable and would take long walks every day together. Molly always had to be touching a family member — often putting her head on your foot or her paw on your lap. I called her my “prom queen” because she would pester you until you acknowledged that she was the most beautiful thing in the room . . . and she was. I have never seen a more perfect dog. She was loving, loyal, and friendly to everyone. There is such a hole left by her departure and it is difficult to image how we got along three years ago before she arrived.
Thanks again everyone for your kinds words and thoughts.
Jonathan
Very bad news and please accept our condolences from Richmond. Suzanne and I have a Molly of our own and “devastated” would be our description too were we in the same situation.
“Dogs are our link to paradise. They don’t know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring–it was peace.”
~Milan Kundera
Anyone who thinks these creatures mere chattel never lived along side one.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Molly will always be in your hearts.
I’ve had to euthanize two loving pets when it was obvious that the vet could do no more. Sam and Sunny are with me still, as is Pokey.
My two 15-year-old dogs died, in 2012. The loss is still so painful; but it must be much worse, with a younger dog like Molly. She looked so sweet and happy. Please know that many people are praying for you and for your family. Sending warm thoughts your way. . .
Professor, this appeared on my facebook page yesterday, I’d like to share it with you.
Losing a loving and devoted pet is a difficult experience, this is a story someone shared..
Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we co
uld write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.
Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find. I am wherever there is love.
Love, God
David B. – Not a guy that cries too much, but thank you very, very much for sharing. Wow!
Darren, Yes, it was so loving and unselfish of JT and family to let her go when there was only pain and suffering in her “future.” Thanks for pointing that out.
We are all touched by your devotion to a beloved member of your family and it certainly says much about your family and the love you would give in doing everything possible to give Molly the gift of Life, whatever it might have been.
It is also honourable how you all, despite the pain your family would see, chose in the end the best course for Molly to let her pass to her relief of what happened.
Take whatever time you need to attend to your and your family’s needs, everything else can wait, others can take care of everything else.
So very sad. I am sorry for your family’s loss.
My sincerest and most heart-felt condolences.There is nothing in this world that has the depth and special significance of the human-companion animal bond. Molly loved and accepted you and your family unconditionally. This can hardly be said of most humans. Unlike most humans, she was always there for you. Please think about all the great times you had with her, her silly antics, and sweet personality. Write her letters expressing your thoughts about her. Take all your wonderful pictures of her and create a montage. Don’t let the accident be what you remember most. I empathize with your devastating loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss, she was a beautiful dog.
{{{{Turleys}}}}
This is so sad. I am truly sorry for your loss. I have no wife and no children so my old cat was really my only friend. He died at 20 but still a tough loss. Hopefully your family can give you some support.
I am sorry for your and your family’s loss. I know how painful it would be for my family to lose our beloved dog.
Mr. Turley, All my sympathies. What I have found in very similar circumstances is that while the loss of a family dog is tough on the parent, it’s even more difficult to see your kids so sad. That really tears @ a parent’s heart. We all would rather take the pain our kids suffer than see it hurt them. However, kids are resilient. One of the qualities they have that is better than adults.
So sorry for your familys loss, my condolences
Jonathan,
I had hoped that the outcome for Molly would be different. My condolences to the entire Turley family on their loss of a beloved friend and family member. It is a hard, hard loss.
So very sorry to hear the news Professor. All Dogs Go To Heaven… and sometimes they come back to you. Different color, different breed, but the same spirit..
.
Utmost condolences.
Gene – Thanks for providing the source, certainly was not surprising to see it was Rogers.
For some reassuring quotes about dogs (and cats too, much to my chagrin): http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/dogs
Professor – my personal condolences on the passing of your “fur-child”.
As for the SUV driver, there is a special place in Hell reserved for those who would drive away from a situation like that.
So sorry to hear about Molly, Professor.
My sincerest condolences to you and your family at the passing of Molly. I recall the great kindness shown by you and your family when I had to euthanize my beloved pet Gabriel and I am as saddened by your loss now as I was by my own then. It is tough to lose a family member no matter how many legs they walk on. And to junctionshamus’ Will Rogers quote, I will simply add some Robert Louis Stevenson. “You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.”