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Wednesday we had to put our little man Chester to sleep. What a miserable, terrible day...it was
the hardest thing Jon and I have ever had to do. But, as much as we didn't want to do it, it was the right thing to do for him...he was almost 14 and had issues that made life not very enjoyable for him...and we didn't want him to be uncomfortable or scared any more. The girls were so upset, but Cassidy's pure, simple faith touches me even now...she asked thru her tears if she would see him in heaven, and I told her that I believe that with my whole heart. She dried her tears and has been totally at peace with the situation. She petted him and told him that she loved him and would miss him, but she would see him when she got to heaven. So, I told the girls the story of the Rainbow Bridge...
"Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author unknown... "
We had him cremated, and I'm just waiting for the call to go pick him up. He'll hang out in my room where we can see him, and remember all the funny things from the past. He was so tiny when we got him, he could fit in the palms of my hands (Jon's one hand). He loved to chew up the heels of all my dress shoes. He did not love oven mitts, we thought it was hysterical to chase him around with oven mitts on. He loved to play fetch with a ball - he would outlast anyone. As long as someone would throw his ball, he would run, get it and bring it back. He also loved those stupid gum balls off the trees - I hate those things. He would sneak them into the house and chew on them. He liked to chase them too. He was so funny after a bath - after I would dry him off, he would race around the house like a wild man, with his butt almost passing underneath him. He would also run around the house like that if you cheered for him and got him excited.
On Wednesday, when the vet weighed him, he weighed 7 lbs. Which, for Chester, is svelte. He weighed close to 10 lbs the last time he went to the vet, sometime last year. He had slowed down with his eating a lot in the past few months. So, when the tech said 7 lbs, Jon and I were like, wow, he's really slimmed down. The tech was like, uh no, he's what we consider on the chunky side. (I think Maks will probably slim down now that he won't have 2 food bowls to dine from twice a day....)
He was the best dog in the world, and I am going to miss him so much.
