It was two years ago today that my beloved Golden Retriever passed away from cancer.
I still think of her frequently. While she was only a part of my life for a short 6 years (we adopted her as an adult), those years were extremely special to me and losing her left a permanent mark on my life.
It’s not by coincidence that I’ve also been a vegetarian for exactly two years today.
WARNING: You may not wish to read beyond this point.
Frozen ground meant that it was impossible to bury Murphy, and asking the city to pick her up and “dispose” of her in a mass-grave was sickening to me—a callous, cowardly escape for convenience sake. I couldn’t. Not for a pet who had given so much: a cherished member of my family. With no other option, I arranged to have her frozen until the ground thawed. I’ve never been able to eat meat since.
If there was any temptation to revert to my old diet in the spring, it was quashed when warmer weather arrived and I had to bury her frozen remains at the pet cemetery.
Once a year I’m forced to relive this day, all the heartache it invoked, and the choice I had to make. It’s difficult, but still well worth the joy she brought to my life for 6 years.
Her stubborn antics and soft, gentle touch with the children made for an indelible personality—one that is still an element of our family conversation on a monthly basis. While her presence is still greatly missed, thankfully we are now able to focus more on the joy she brought to our lives, while feeling less pain at her loss.
Her story is here.
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