Godspeed My sweet Barney

Tonight I’m sending my sweet Barney my 18 1/2 year old golden to the Rainbow Bridge. He was doing ok until the last few weeks he has really gone down hill and having a tough time. I do this with so my heaviness in my heart but not one regret about the the life he has had since I met him four and half years ago.

When he came here 4 1/2 years after my friend Carol from our rescue (The golden rescue I had started but was not very active at the time because of my own old dogs) called and said this old dog had a lot of issues and would I take him.

When I met him he was wacked. All over the place. I had never seen skin so bad. The stink was wicked. I couldn’t even get him in the car.

I brought him home and he came in and he sat on the dog bed and looked at me and I told him he would never have to worry about anything again. That he was safe and he was home. He looked at me and sighed and he never looked back. He totally embraced life here and all our adventures. He loved vising all the friends and relatives and he showed that pleasure by peeing in their house. ” Barney was here!”

I’ve had a lot of foster dogs and all of them went on to great homes. I have probably fostered about 200 goldens. I have no doubt I could have found a great home for Barney who after 6 months had awesome skin, his fur had grown in and he went from being freaked out and pooping in my car to loving the car, loving road trips, loving his food, loving his life.

He became my foster for life and eventually I adopted him. He had already adopted me. We made official.

I saved him. He saved me.

Last December I took him to Sarasota for Christmas and I totally thought it would be his last road trip but it wasn’t. We have had multiple trips back and forth and a trip to Orlando.

Today I won’t even attempt to put him in the car. It’s too much.

Today we will sit quietly and just be. I kept my promise to him that he would be loved and safe and that every day would matter and when the day came I would know it was the day.

Today is the day my sweet boy. Thank you so much for all you have given me.

I think that’s my lesson. Do wonderful things when you are able. Don’t put things off. Eat with gusto. Enjoy life everyday. Mud is a good thing. If you have to urinate in the middle of the night so be it at least your alive.

These photos directly above it the day he came and he walked in. So tired. So confused.

His body leaves here today. His spirit stays. The love stays.

Both of us say thank you so much to everyone who has loved him.

Godspeed my sweet Barney Godspeed

14 comments on “Godspeed My sweet Barney”

The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap says:

April 12, 2016 at 11:15 pm

Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear that sweet Barney has moved on. It’s never easy. But bless your sweet heart for taking on this handsome and absolutely precious boy into your home and heart. It’s a very special person/family who rescue and take care of senior dogs. 18+ years is amazing for a big dog. That’s a testament to the loving good care you gave him. RIP sweet Barney. ❤

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cyndilenz says:

April 13, 2016 at 1:18 am

Thank you so much! I was very lucky to have him in my life.

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theshrubqueen says:

April 13, 2016 at 1:34 am

Cyndi, I don’t really like this, but am sure I would have loved Barney. It saddens me that our dogs are such ephemeral and important parts of our lives.

I hope you are OK and Barney went over the bridge easily and is in a better place among friends, I have several greyhounds over there..

Amy

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cyndilenz says:

April 13, 2016 at 1:46 am

He was amazing. He really did. We had a good day. I was trying to make it to next week and just was not going to happen. We spent the day eating potroast and hanging out. I am very blessed to have a friend who a veterinarian that came to the house so when came it was very peaceful here and peaceful for him. I love that he was such a wonderful part of my life. when he came he was so sick I never expected him to even pull through never mind live another 4 1/2 years. Every day was a gift.

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- theshrubqueen says:
  
  April 13, 2016 at 1:51 am
  
  That was a great send off. A day of pot roast,with you, what more could a dog ask for?
  
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- cyndilenz says:
  
  April 13, 2016 at 1:54 am
  
  i know. it just made him so happy.
  
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- theshrubqueen says:
  
  April 13, 2016 at 2:18 am
  
  Dogs are so wonderfully simple in some ways.
  
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sunshinesteve says:

April 13, 2016 at 9:13 am

Dear Cyndi……

My heart is with you. Never an easy decision but the right one to do. Having seen both of our Arabian mares cross the Rainbow Bridge in the last two years was so very difficult but we had promised both that we would not let them suffer. (To bad humans don’t truly understand the need you having that available for two legged critters!)

I raised Goldens in Arizona for a number of years and believe them to be one of the best breeds. They truly are part human. Barney will continue to love you from across the Bridge. In the tough days ahead remember all the love he has shared with you… and you with hime… and know that as time passes the pain will ease up.

You have been blessed to have such a wonderful companion.

Steve

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cyndilenz says:

April 13, 2016 at 11:24 am

I so was blessed. I’m a little lost this morning. It was time. He could not walk. He kept falling over. I was hoping to hold out until next week or even today but it wasn’t possible. When he went he was in total peace. Thats the best we can do for the pets we are in charge of. We take care of them and when its time to send them on we have to do so with love and compassion.

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