The death of a beloved dog leaves a hole in your heart. If you’re an animal lover, you’ll understand the great heartache a person feels. If you aren’t an animal lover, you’ll think we’re nuts and maybe even dismiss just how devastating losing a pet is. I’m a dog person, and on February 21, 2022, I lost my dog. She was just shy of her thirteenth birthday.  

Years ago, one of the local animal shelters highlighted animals in every Sunday paper. And that’s where I first saw this adorable Labrador puppy named Shelley. I waited a week to contact them, thinking someone would snap her up. When I finally called, she was still at the shelter. I went by and paid the small fee and a week later I had a three- or four-month-old puppy – the Vets best guess.

The Death of a Beloved Dog and Memories

I potty trained her and she caught on much quicker than I ever thought she would. This was an unexpected, good surprise. At first, Shelley was afraid to go out the front door. She would go in the back yard with no problem, but the front terrified her. I don’t know if she associated the big street with getting caught by the dog catcher, but it was my dad who got her over her front yard phobia. He started walking her and slowly she kept going farther and farther until they walked several miles each day. Everyone in the neighborhood knew dad and Shelley.

I remember the first time she actually barked, not the little puppy yaps, but a full on bark at something in her yard. I remember the first time she became aware of the squirrels and took off after one. She loved chasing squirrels.

She was always happy to see me. Loved to sit in my lap even though she weighed 85 pounds. She thought my bed was her bed and woke me up every morning making a whine-sigh sound.

The Laughter and the Scares

My friend Mary gave me a keepsake box to put something of Shelley inside it. I’ve chosen three of her old tags, a dryer sheet, and a nail. The nail is very special. I dropped it and turned away to do something. When I went back to retrieve the nail, it was gone. I looked all over for it and when I couldn’t find it, I called the Vet. I feared Shelley had swallowed it. Her doctor got us in and took an X-ray. She hadn’t swallowed the nail, but she had swallowed a staple. The staple wasn’t a concern. Months later, I moved a piece of furniture and there was the $100 nail. I think it belongs in her box. Her favorite thing to steal was a dryer sheet and I always knew she had one by the prancing she did.

God Records All Our Sorrows

Shelley filled my house with joy. She gave me unconditional love, something to care for, and something to love in return. She made me laugh and as she aged and got sick she made me cry. I shed many tears over the last year and especially the last five weeks. This morning, I woke to the sound of silence and the tears just started. Then, I remembered Psalm 56:8. “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book” (NLT). My tears didn’t stop, but I felt comfort in knowing that the Lord has all my sorrows recorded and inside the bottle labeled Lisa’s tears are the tears for my sweet Shelley. His heart hurts for me and He remembers.

Many people believe dogs go to heaven. I don’t know if they’re right, but I hope so. I do know God tells us there will be animals on the new earth, and so I hope that in His infinite love for us, He has planned those animals to be the pets we have loved so dearly. Someone told me after I lost my first dog, Ginger, that she couldn’t believe God wouldn’t let dogs live again since they so closely reflected the unconditional love He has for His people. This is a great unknown, but it sure would ease the sorrow if I knew someday I’d see my sweet girls again.

The Death of a Beloved Dog Makes You Weep

It’s not possible to describe the sadness, and I’m not sure when the tears will stop. But I know the house is empty and much too quiet. Perhaps Arab poet, Kahlil Gibran sums up best the sorrow over the loss of my dog. “When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”

For now, I’m holding on to God’s promise – “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 – NIV). I’ve looked in my broken heart and the tears are for Shelley who brought me immeasurable delight and for sweet Ginger who went before her.

God has a few more tears added to my bottle.

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