I had the honor of documenting Casey’s last days with her guardian Dawn, and her family. This was the hardest session I ever had to date. My major concern was that Casey was comfortable. Unable to move much, she laid in her favorite spot, except for a brief moment when Dawn’s father came home and she got a spark of excitement and a small burst of energy. She stood up and greeted him with a kiss.

Tonight will be Casey’s last night with her family. A super hard decision her family struggled with for months as Casey’s health was quickly deteriorating. Casey is a German Shepard/Chow/Rottweiler mix and would have been 16 years old in November. Casey is a fighter. When she was just a pup she fought a rare form of tissue cancer and miraculously recovered against the odds. Even in her last days, unable to walk and eat, she didn’t want to leave her loved ones. The love she had for her family was so present in her eyes. Casey’s family didn’t want to have to make this decision, they wished that Casey would have made it for them, but being the stubborn fighter Casey is, she was holding on. She was holding on to the great life and love she was given by her family, even if it meant she would suffer. But, it was just to hard to sit and watch her suffer, so tonight, Casey will be heading to the “rainbow bridge” with all her loving memories of her family and the wonderful life she had here. She will have a new energy, no ailments, no more suffering and will be able to run and play like a puppy again.

To Casey’s family, thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet Casey.  As an outsider, I saw the love in her eyes that she had for you.  It was shining so bright and in her eyes she was still that puppy you knew before and I know that’s why it was so hard to let go. I am so sorry for your loss.  Please remember all the good times and love Casey gave you.  You gave her a great life filled with love.  She was lucky to have you and you were lucky to have her.  She left you with a lot of loving memories and I know she will live in your hearts forever.

LAST NIGHT

I stood by your bed last night,
I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying,
You found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly
as you brushed away a tear,
“It’s me, I haven’t left you,
I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.”

I was close to you at breakfast,
I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times,
your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today,
Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels,
I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today,
You tend it with such care.
I want to re-assure you,
that I’m not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house,
as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you,
I smiled and said ” it’s me.”

You looked so very tired,
and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know,
that I was standing there.

It’s possible for me,
to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty,
“I never went away.”

You sat there very quietly,
then smiled, I think you knew…
In the stillness of that evening,
I was very close to you.

The day is over…
I smile and watch you yawning
and say “good-night, God bless,
I’ll see you in the morning.”

And when the time is right for you
to cross the brief divide,
I’ll rush across to greet you
and we’ll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you,
there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out…
then come home to be with me.

~Author Unknown