I have never done well with the death of a pet. Spot (dog), Bandit (dog), Venom & Thanos (rats), and now Charlie (mouse), are some of the rough spots I've tread in my life regarding animals. When I was young I used to want to be a veterinarian, until I realized I couldn't be around animals in pain.
In the past couple of years, my passion for animals has fired up like it has never been before. We turned vegetarian mid-August/11, then vegan a couple of weeks later. I've found myself obsessed with moths, like I used to be when I was a child. Sonnen (our hamster) has invoked a wonder within us for small animals. Charlie and his unfortunate story grabbed at our hearts in such a way that we had to take him home with us, which we did on September 29. I won't recall the struggles he had before and after we met him, as they have been documented on this blog, but it is safe to say, once again, that life was never fair to Charlie.
We took him in to see Dr Nielsen this morning. By this time his scratching had resumed awful proportions, and his right ear was bleeding again. She took him and ended his discomfort.
We took him out to Milltown Cross (the Line Rd to be exact) where my Mom lives, and where I buried my best friend a little over 13 yrs ago, and put him in the ground near that amazing dog.
We are sad now; we lost an amazing living being in Charlie. He reshaped my whole paradigm regarding small animals (especially mice), and neither of us will be the same for having had the chance to spend some of our lives together.
There is not enough support systems for people who grieve over the loss of a pet, and I hope this changes; maybe I will help change it. There should be more for people in these times. Death makes life feel hollow.
I said a brief eulogy for Charlie at the gravesite; recognizing the fact that God had given him the breath of life, as He did to man, and that now it had been taken away; that God has compassion on all He has made; and that Charlie might be received back to his Maker, to live a life eternal that he did not get to live here in the temporal. I actually firmly believe that animals will inhabit the coming Kingdom; how that will work out logistically, I don't know, but I am convinced God has it worked out.
Until then, I leave Charlie in the hands of God, and St Francis of course. Take good care of him guys, until we meet again.
Goodbye Charlie, we love you, and will never forget you