LETTING GO: GREEDY

Portrait of a Dog
Photo Credit: Pexels

Greedy was only 15 days when we got him. He missed his Mother and siblings; only until he saw milk. His life had a purpose. Food, play and us. He loved us immensely, as we did. Brought unlimited joy.

When he was all of nine, we noticed that he was dragging one of his legs.

The vet confirmed it to be ‘dumb rabies’.

“But he is well inoculated,” we argued.

“One in ten thousand cases do get it inspite of vaccination,” the doctor lamented.

What is dumb rabies? We didn’t know.

It is a rapid paralysis legs upward. The dog doesn’t loose his senses and doesn’t bite.

It was painful. Every passing day the paralysis would spread upwards. Until, greedy’s throat muscles wouldn’t function. He couldn’t swallow.

There was an option to watch him die slowly, paralysed, hungry, thirsty, over days. But, how could we give up hope? How could we have him put down?

That afternoon, I had a dream.

Greedy appeared in the dream and asked me to let go of him.

We met the vet and he put him down. He was clear that this was the best service to Greedy.

The next few days we prayed a lot for him; who had brightened our lives for nine years. For whom fighting a large snake wasn’t bravery, but an expression of his unconditional affection. For whom to run out to receive us in sub zero temperatures wasn’t difficult. He was in many ways just an expression of love.

After 21 days of prayer, he appeared in my wife’s dream.

He was happy. Told her that by letting him go, we had done him a great favour. He acknowledged our prayers, eyes shining, he said that he will be reborn sometimes. As a young boy.

What is letting go? How to let go?

Letting go is not about forgetting or severing a relationship. It is about letting the Universe take its course when we can’t do anything. It is an extreme test of love.

Greedy taught us that.

We wish him well, wherever he is.

78 thoughts on “LETTING GO: GREEDY”

  2. What a poignant heartwarming post. I write these words with tears in my eyes. I remember the sadness of having to put our beloved bluey to sleep after 15 years with us. Letting go is rarely easy but they live on forever in our heart. I wish you love and peace. 💙

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  3. Touching post in reverence to Greedy. I resonate with your, “Letting go is not about forgetting or severing a relationship. It is about letting the Universe take its course when we can’t do anything. It is an extreme test of love.” It’s moving that Greedy appeared in your dream, and then made his way 21 days later to your wife’s.

    Someone close to me once expressed. “We all grieve differently, and we each grieve differently each time.”

    I fully agree, and at the same time from my perspective rather than forgetting being that loved ones are no longer remembered, I frame forgetting when in grief differently. There, forgetting becomes for getting, through surrender. Forgetting is for getting… It makes more room for the good stuff… like…

    My deepest condolences.
    May your and your wife’s memories be blessings.

    Liked by 3 people

  10. What a touching story. I have read, too, that the rabies vaccine can give animals rabies. The doses aren’t altered for different weights of dogs and holistic vets believe that the rabies shots are required too often. It is sad your dog was stricken before his time. He sounds like a sweet dog. I know that even though we know humans and animals move on after death and the soul lives on to live again, the physical loss is still tangible and grief is felt. Blessings to you and your family!

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    • Thank you for such kind words and such a wonderful perspective. I agree that even though know about the immortality of the soul, yet not being able to see tangibly is not easy. Thank you very much. Your words are always a welcome read.

      Liked by 1 person

  14. ❤️ awww … I know that same pain too… my brother had a German Shepherd named Kaiser … he was like family to our whole family!! He had a brilliant personality and everything!! So smart!!! Amazing dog!!

    When he was only 8… he was diagnosed with cancer… his hind legs stopped working and he struggled to breathe… it was awful / losing a piece of family 💔😢

    He was suffering too… we had to let him go… he was sad too, you could see it in his eyes – he knew… we hugged him and kissed him and they put him down

    He has no more pain or problems – he is free

    His favorite thing in life was playing soccer ⚽️ with you … we would buy him TONS of balls and he would be delighted … and we would play and then he would puncture with his teeth lol … but he loved it!! ❤️ every time I see a soccer ball ⚽️ I think of Kaiser ❤️ we miss him dearly!! But glad he is free from pain and suffering.

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  16. The same day you posted this was the same day I had to put my 9 year old dog to sleep. I actually had planned on writing my own post about it.

    I’m so sorry for your loss, and I wish Greedy the best in his next life. I know how tough it is. I didn’t want to let go, but just like in your case, it was in her best interest. For 3 days she was lethargic and not eating, and she wasn’t showing signs of improvement, even with hospitalization. She had kidney failure and eventually her kidneys were going to give out, and so I made the tough choice of putting her to sleep.

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  17. Pingback: LETTING GO: GREEDY – voice of soul

  23. It’s heart touching story 💔💔💔
    Yes it’s very difficult to let go the loved one from the life but sometimes we forget that they also love us so much and they don’t want to be in pain in front of us that’s why, they want to be leave… ❣️

    Liked by 2 people

  24. It’s heart touching story 💔 💔 💔
    Yes it’s very difficult to let go the loved one from the life but sometimes we forget that they also love us so much and they don’t want to be in pain in front of us that’s why, they want to be leave.. ❣️

    Like

  29. Pets can make us feel loved, protected and cherished all their life. It just takes a friendly belly rub or a scratch behind its ear and a puppy blindly follows us to the end of the world.
    Having to let go of such loving companions can never be easy, but it was the right thing to end Greedy’s suffering.

    I wish you peace and strength

    Liked by 2 people

  31. I had a dog, blacky as a kid. My parents decided to take him away and give him to a vet hospital as he developed some severe rashes..they said we will not be able to take care of him at home. I cried and pleaded, but was a child and they gave blacky away. Even today, tears trickle down my eyes as I write this.
    Reading about greedy, I could feel the same emotions and brought back fond memories of blacky…😭
    💞💞

    Liked by 2 people

    • Sad about Blacky. Sometimes parents have to do that to protect their children. Dogs become so much a part of the family.
      But I’m glad you have such fond memories of him.
      Thank you so much for such heartfelt words. Made my saturday.
      with gratitude

      Like

    • Thank you so much. I am not able to find a follow button on your blog and I also can’t seem to comment because of that. Can you please create a follow button? I would love to follow such a great blog.
      I wanted to write about the marigold poem.
      ‘It is a friend in happiness,
      It is always there in sadness.”
      very profound words.

      Liked by 1 person

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