I don’t cry often-once every ten years perhaps. But I am crying today as I write this blog-easily the toughest I have ever written.
Many of you will have met Spirit, the Wonder Dog or know of her. She has been a part of Tricia’s and my life for 14 years and four months. And she has been a critical part of my work (and of the Secretan team) all of that time-see the video at the bottom of the page here. I have written about her in several of my books and once, when I spoke at the annual conference of the American Animal Hospital Association, they built a personalized kennel for her and she paraded proudly onto the stage in front of 3,000 people, then jumped up into my arms and licked my head while the MC thanked me for my speech! You can see her in this position at the top of every page (except the homepage) on our website. Spirit is a Vizsla and Vizsla’s have a life expectancy of 10-14 years so she has given the world full measure.
But Spirit has not been her old self recently and this week our vet told us that she did not expect Spirit to make it through the week. And so we released her today.
My hands freeze as I write those words, my throat chokes, and my body shakes. But in my heart I know that more than fourteen years of unconditional-I mean unconditional-love was certainly worth every bitter moment of pain and heartbreak that Tricia and I are now enduring. Spirit loved everyone-no exceptions. And everyone loved her. For Tricia, she was an unequaled companion when I traveled.
We will miss her more than we can say, but now I will start working on the book I have wanted to write for so long: “What I Learned from Spirit”. She has been an amazing teacher-so many lessons and so many that I may have learned, but still cannot live into as well as she did. As I have said so often over the years, “I want to be the person my dog thinks I am”. Thank you Spirit – you helped me be the person I am today and I will continue use your loving lessons to teach others.
I’m really sorry to hear about the passing of your loyal canine companion, Lance. I get a true sense of how much Spirit meant to you and Tricia from your touching post, and I’ll be keeping the three of you in my thoughts and prayers.
Lance, I am so sorry to hear about Spirit. Losing a loved pet is truly one of the most difficult things a person can experience. The bond between human and pet is unique and special. They are always happy to see you – doesn’t matter if you were gone 5 days or 5 minutes, they’re overjoyed to see you again. IÃve lost several beloved pets over the years and it never gets any easier, but I always find comfort in knowing I did everything I could to give them the best life possible. It takes an immense amount of courage to be selfless and release them from their suffering. To do anything else would be selfish.
You may have seen this before but it’s worth a read again at this sad time.
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…
Lance:
Please accept the sincere symapthies from all of us at the American Animal Hospital Association; we understand and share your loss. We remember your talk – and Spirit’s contribution to its success – at our yearly conference. It was a wonderful moment for our attendees and we were grateful that Spirit accompanied you and that you shared the stage with her.
With best wishes for continuing wonderful memories of Spirit…..
John Albers
Executive Director
Lance and Tricia,
I’m so sorry to hear of Spirit’s passing. You gave her a wonderful life, and she enriched yours and that of so many others, myself included. My heart is with both of you, and with Spirit… I love her dearly, and will always remember her with great joy. One of my fondest memories of her is her dialy, meditative Zen walk, circling ’round and ’round the large plant by the back window… a wise Soul, that Spirit. I can envision her now in Heaven doing the same at this very moment – she is so deeply at peace.
My sincere condolences,
Deborah
Dear Lance and Tricia
I am so sorry to hear about Spirit. She was so loved by the two of you and had such a wonderful life. My heart is so heavy, as I know how much she meant to you both and everyone who had the wonderful chance of knowing her. I will pray and ask my Dad to take her on long walks and make sure he plays with her when it is Spirits dinner time.
I send you both a big hug and I am very sorry.
Love Tammy
Hi Lance, I work with Herman Miller Canada, and am in the process of working on some of the details for your trip here in the next month. I went to your website to find some information to include in our invitation and found your note about your dog Spirit.
My condolences to you and Tricia. My brother has a Vizsla and I know how loving and loyal they are. I know your happy memories of Spirit will comfort you, and my thoughts are with you.
Katya
Spirit will forever be in our hearts. There will never be another Spirit and please know that I am thinking of you. It was definitely her time but it is never easy to say goodbye.
Much love to you and Tricia
As long as you keep Spirit in your thoughts and heart, she will always be a part of your lives.
My sincere sympathy over the physical loss of your beloved friend Spirit . You are left with many wonderful and cherished memories that no one can take away from you and you can replay these happy moments at any time. It is natural to feel a deep sense of loss and sadness and during this difficult period you will be in my prayers and thoughts.
Sincerely sent….My heart goes out to you
Namaste
Heather Alexis
Dear Trish and Lance,
Tears are unabashedly running down my face as I read of the news of Sirit’s passing. An in the next moment, I revel in the line about “being the person my dog thinks I am”. Oh the greeting when you came to the door. She was and continues to be a loving spirit who will be with us forever if only in Spirit. Love to you both.
As we all shed such tears over her passing, just remember how she would lick them from our eyes. We have been blessed by her Spirit and she will live forever in our hearts!
With sadness and Love…
Dear Lance and Tricia,
My thoughts and prayers are with you as you mourn Spirit’s passing. I’ve only met Spirit in spirit yet I do know the unmatched power of our relationships with our furred family members. I send my love to you and Spirit also and know that memories of love will keep you bonded forever.
With love and condolences,
Shonnie
Dear Lance and Tricia,
I’m very sorry to hear that you lost such a cherished member of your family. My heartfelt thoughts are with you both.
Sincerest regards,
Jordan
I know your pain, we had to release our newfoundlander Jack on June 28th. I still expect to have him come to the door when I arrive home, or if we are away we will think we have to get back to let him out.
I’m reading your blog on Spirit from Australia not knowing anything about you and your family nor Spirit but I’m crying as well….
As my mother says, “A dog gives you a $50 greeting every time you come home!” How wonderful memories of our dogs are to us…while I feel your loss, I am fortunate to look forward to lunchtime and seeing my Black Lab give me a $50 greeting!
Lance,
It was a nice surprise to connect with you again in Orangeville last week, and sad to hear about Spirit. I can relate to you about not being able to cry too often and how losing the life of a loved one can be a great gift in getting us back in touch with full feeling of heart. My brother Jim, who is in his third torturous year of cancer and full of grace inspired me to write a story from a place of grief. I thought I might share it with you and others.
A Story of Heart
Once there was a bear that had a great big smile that shone from ear to ear. His eyes would dance in the sun when he smiled and people would come from all around to spend time with the bear – he made them feel so good.
“How can you be so happy all the time, bear?”, asked a man one day.
“I shed a tear every day”, said the bear “that is what keeps me happy.”
“What does a tear do?”, asked the man.
“A tear reminds me to be grateful for every moment. I shed a tear for all the times I have forgotten to be grateful – and then I am happy. My heart makes me smile again.”
“Thank you” said the man “I will try that too.”
The man went away and sat in the desert to practise what he had learned from the bear.
He sat and sat trying to squeeze out a tear, but nothing happened. Days went by and the man sat in frustration waiting for the tears and nothing happened. He tried sitting in all kinds of different positions, lying on his side, balancing on his head, sitting with his hands in the air, but no tears came. Finally in resignation he took a deep, deep breath and sighed – and breathed some more. Soon his shoulders shook and a great big sob leaped from his lungs and his heart ached. One tear, two tears, three tears – the tears came and came, one after the other. Soon there was a small pond in front of the man that eventually turned into a lake.
The man cried tears for a month, he could not see, and finally when all the tears had come and gone, the man could see.
In front of him was a beautiful oasis. A small sea had formed with fish, birds, trees and animals, all swimming,soaring and swaying with vitality and life. The land was once again rich and lush, and this made the man smile. He grinned from ear to ear and his eyes danced in the sun!
Soon people came from afar to visit the grinning man in the desert. After many days of hot, intense travel they came upon the oasis and the grinning man.
When they finally got there, they were so tired and grateful they shed tears of delight, and the man did too. They all grinned from ear to ear and their eyes danced in the sun.
My heart is with you Lance and Trish.
I hope to connect again soon.
Love
(Leslie) Ellen Brakel
Lance and Trish,
I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Spirit. I have heard the stories so many times, I feel like she was my own dog and I grieve along with you. Thank you for sharing the stories and insights. I look forward to the new book so her “spirit” will continue to live on!
Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers…
Peace and Love,
Bob Mosher
Dear Dad and Trish,
My heart breaks over your sad loss of Spirit. She was well named, The Wonder Dog. She will always be in my heart, not only for who and what she was always, but for helping me through some hard times. She was truly a comfort by snuggling up just at the right time. I am truly grateful for knowing her and sharing special times with her. Thank you for enabling Spirit to be in our lives. Farewell, Spirit, but not good-bye. We will think of you every day with tears for a while, but then with great big smiles. Thank you for your love.
Sandi
Lance and Trish,
I care for you and I hurt with you.
May time amplify the good memories and minimize the pain of the loss.
With love,
Brian and Barb Ferguson
Hi Lance & Trish,
I sense your feeling of separation from Spirit and I send you love and a warm virtual hug today.
Something that I know from my years as a hospice volunteer – reconnecting with the positive emotions felt with – and the telling of stories of the gifts our lost ones have brought us can be some of the best ways to move through the feelings of loss towards oneness again.
May you always choose to feel her wonderful spirit warming your feet – and may her stories and lessons benefit the world as I sense they will.
Love and encouragement – always,
Anne, Allan and Harmony (our own wonder dog in training)
Hello Trish and Lance,
Please know we are thinking of you both and know you have loads of fond memories to carry you through this most difficult time.
Love,
Jane and Bob Kosti
Dear Trish and Lance,
So sorry to hear about Spirit. I never met her in person but feel like over the years – I know her essence and what she meant to both of you and you to her. With love and hugs, Carol 🙂
Lance –
Lu Ann and I join our voices of sorry in the loss of Spirit – but also raise our voices in celebrating the example of pure love so ably demonstrated by our canine family members.
Spirit has blessed not just you and Trish, but all of the world as you have shared Spirit with us in your work.
Namaste!
David and Lu Ann Long
Dearest Lance and Tricia,
Please accept my heartfelt condolences for your loss of Spirit (in body but not in spirit). This is a dog that was destined for greatness with love begetting love. Her inspiration to you has been an inspiration to many. I look forward to your book and hopefully a long overdue hug sooner as opposed to later.
Much love,
David
Dear Lance and Trish,
I just received a notice asking if I would like to be informed of new blog posting from you..and as I came to your blog to respond yes..I came across this post about the passing of your beloved canine son, SPIRIT.
There truly are no accidents, as I was experiencing a quiet day today in memory of my beloved cat son Sammy or “Prince Charming” . Sammy passed away one year ago today after a full and memorable 15 1/2 years on this planet.. as my constant companion. Every day I spend just a few moments in gratitude of all the demonsrations of unconditional love and acceptance I received from him. Too many lessons to mention but I feel my heart filled with gratitude for the warm memories and loving gifts. May your hearts heal over time over the loss of Spirit.
Namaste!
Elizabeth Harrington
I just found out about your loss of Spirit; and amazing she was and is to all of us who had the great fortune of interacting with her. I feel sad for how much you will both miss her; and glad for all the wonderful and inspiring memories and moments you have had together. Thank you of sharing her ‘spirit’ with us all so generously!
Lots of love to all
Helen
Lance & Trish,
Deepest condolences…
No less a Soul was she than we. I remember being by her while visiting, and watching her meditative walk, wondering, what greatness lies within the quiet heart? Learning of Spirit’s passing is very sad, but knowing she is still here in Spirit is a wonder. I hope your most joyous remembrances with her help uplift you through this cycle. We can dream-visit our passed loved ones by just asking them for permission for a get-together, as we drift to sleep. Don’t be surprised if you hear a bark!
Just as animals have a Soul, they can also reincarnate. Perhaps she is destined to return in a human form! I wouldn’t doubt it for a moment. In this sad occasion, reading Journey of Soul by Dr. Michael Newton can help resolve doubts about afterlife…even of pets.
Our Love
Dave & Paula
Bless you both.
With Love,
Dave
I share with you the message on the memorial plaque of our beloved “Banjo.”
“The value of a life is not measured by accomplishments, but by the hearts it touches.”
Spirit’s life continues to bless the world! May you be comforted by the love she generated.
Hello Lance & Tricia,
Spirit, the wonder dog, connects us yet again and how typical is that for a creature with such a name and place in the world. She is/will be missed and her dedicated presence and intentional service go far beyond the canine quality.
Love to you both,
Leonore
Hi Lance and Tricia,
Thanks for sharing the love you shared with your dog spirit. The cycle of life and karma continues to spin in all our lives and letting go of a loved one can be a painful experience. Kathy and I love our 2 dogs Kalli and Kodiak. We are also blessed with the arrival of our little girl Kaya Grace. When one door closes another opens. I look forward to seeing pictures of the next dog that will share your love and remind us daily of the spontaneos joy of giving love and licking faces.. here is a link to a picture that may spark a smile with our dog Kodiak and little girl Kaya :
https://picasaweb.google.com/kathybassclifford/KayaGraceClifford/photo#5129481252611527938
Namaste,
John Vajra Clifford and Kathy Bass Clifford
Lance & Tricia, I know how you are feeling. I had to put my beloved Westie,Odey to sleep to release his pain and send to to a place without any more pain, after nearly 16 years. Its only been two and a half weeks and my pain will not go away. I seen his spirit in the house last week and I will treasure what I seen until I meet him at Rainbow Bridge. I miss him so much and the house is just not the same anymore without him here physically. My heart will mend one day but my memories of Odey will never fade.
God please look after all our beloved companions that are with you now.
My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Perth Western Australia, Australia
The greatest honor that an owner can give their beloved dog is to set them free. It shows
exactly what Spirit knew and knows that you truly loved her.
Spirit will be watching our for you: she will be having a riot with others of our loves. There is
always and forever a place in your heart that is Spirit.
Run Free, dear Girl.
genii
Hello Tricia and Lance,
We were so sorry to hear about your loss of Spirit.
Hugs, Linda and Tom
Dear Lance and Tricia,
This note is clearly long overdue.
What a wonderful gift Spirit was to the world. The peace, laughter, and strength that her presence contributed were incredible.
I remember much about Spirit:
The story you wrote about Spirit very fondly, and have often imagined her jumping up on the stage to show her affection.
John P. reporting that Spirit liked to sleep under the covers when he took care of her.
A meeting at your home where she stood by each person in the room, offering her gentle greeting.
Tricia’s story of her circling around a tree in your yard.
The joy that both of you always exuded because of her.
I am so glad that Spirit brought so many blessings to your lives and to those of others.
She was a very lucky dog to have been loved so much by you both.
I send love, peace and grace.
Catherine
I just came along this website and I just read your article. I can only agree with you when I see the words you have written. I have a Vizsla dog too, Rusty. He has been with our family since 1995 and will be 13 this April. Rusty has been surviving everyday with an Immune Deficiency’s Disorder and has survived 4 tumors. His will to live is very very strong. This response is a little late, but what the heck. My biggest obstacle is that I have lived a way at college for the past three years, and have only seen Rusty a limited amount. I love Rusty, he is a family member through and through. I know the day will come, but he has helped me get through the “growing up” years of my life. Spirit sounds a lot like Rusty. Even in his old age, he still finds the strength to climb up on our beds and couches to snuggle, just to be close. He realizes that I am not around as much, so when I do come home he follows me around everywhere, gazing out the door if I walk outside, fearing that I am leaving again. He has become more affectionate with his older age, finding any chance to lay with anyone. He often whines if I am on my laptop and tries to stick his nose under it to pry it off so he can lay on me, ha ha. You are right though, we must remember all of the cherished times we’ve spent with our companions, from when they were puppies to when they grow older. I love my Rusty dog.