I have recently been reading
Bruce Cameron’s books (and watching the DVDs) about a dog that has led numerous
lives. I have found the books a fascinating read.
I am a dog lover, and reading the
books made me wonder about the dogs that I have owned over the years. I
wondered if reincarnation is possible with our pets when it suddenly dawned on
me that yes, it is entirely feasible to think that our pets can find their way
back to us through many lifetimes. Why not? If humans can return, why not our
pets?
Years ago, I owned a beautiful
black German Shepherd dog. She was a fearsome looking creature when fully grown,
but in reality, she was very docile and wouldn’t hurt a fly. I trusted her
implicitly. She was faithful to me throughout her life and never left my side.
I loved her with a passion.
When I took her out for her daily
walk, people, who did not know me would cross the road rather than walk past
us. My dog, Connie, kept me safe at all times. At that time, my husband worked
nights, but I knew we would never have intruders. One look at Connie and they
would soon run.
After she died, I missed her so
much I could not face having another dog in the house. The emptiness without
her beside me was unbearable. I grieved for years. But slowly as time passed
the pain eventually became a dull ache, it felt strange to me walking without
my doggie companion. Most of all, I missed loving a dog. So, I decided the time
was right to choose another dog.
I had a Beaded Collie
Cross/Golden Retriever bitch. I called her Sophie. Somehow, I also acquired her brother, who I
called Boyden. Sophie was always full of life and forever running up and down
and around the house and garden. From the word go, Boyden, chose to stay beside
me. Like Connie where I went Boyden came with me. Even when I went shopping, he chose to come
along, the same as she did. There was one person who visited us who I disliked
intensely. Connie sensed this from the person’s first visit, and she would
growl when she heard his car come over the bridge that led down the lane to our
house. She would moan in her throat whenever this person came into the house. Connie
did not trust this person one inch. Neither did I, and she picked up on it from
the start. When this person visited after I had Boyden, the same thing
happened. Both dogs sensed the deception
in this person and the untrustworthiness of them. I was amazed at how Connie
would recognise the engine noise of our friend’s cars when they came down the
lane. She always alerted me when they were coming. Connie was amazing as was Boyden.
Sophie was far more independent.
Of course, when we took them out walking, they enjoyed a run together around
the woods and fields, but he always kept me in his sights. Unless he and Sophie
saw something (like a squirrel) to chase, then they’d be off. Not that they
ever caught one or came near to it. They would stand at the foot of the tree
where the squirrel had disappeared, wondering why they couldn’t climb it!
I adored both dogs and could not
imagine a life without either of them. The years flew by, and I noticed Boyden
began to tire within a short space of time when we were out and about, and he would
ask to go back to the car. My boy was aging fast. I hoped that he would pick up
again but no, he didn’t he went downhill and by this time he was deaf and
practically blind. Although he always knew where I was, and Sophie helped him
along. Sophie was fine; she was a lot slimmer than him; he, Boyden was a
heavier build. He wasn’t overweight just heavier, but he experienced difficulty
walking and getting on his chair became painful for him. I knew he wouldn’t
last the year out, and my heart was breaking. The thought of losing him was
unbearable, and I knew Sophie would miss him just as much as I would. I dreaded
being without him. But I would never let him suffer.
The day arrived when I had to
kiss my boy goodbye. I thanked him for sharing his life with me. I knew he
would always be with me, but that did not help ease my pain. Then my best
friend was gone. I was happy that he was no longer suffering, but the ache for
him and Connie has never left me. I would often sit and compare how similar
Boyden was to Connie; Not in looks but in almost everything that they did. I wondered how two dogs of different breeds
and sex could have the same traits. But I never once thought of dogs and
reincarnation. That is until I read Bruce Cameron’s books, then two and two became four, and I realised
that of course, Connie had returned to me as Boyden. It was blindingly obvious.
He was so like her that I could not believe I had never realised that Connie
had returned.
Boyden
Poor Sophie suffered for months after Boyden had gone. She
would stand for ages looking up the garden for him. She would cry as she
sniffed for his scent around the house. Of his scent gradually dissipated but
still, she mourned. I never got over losing him so I couldn’t expect her to. He
was her brother after all, and they had been the best of friends.
After I lost Sophie, I could not even entertain the idea of
having another dog. I knew that there was no way I would ever love another dog.
Often of an evening, we would hear the sound of them
pattering about in the kitchen. We would look at each other (hubby and I) in
disbelief. How could we hear them after they had died? But we did. Walking upstairs when I went to bed, I would
often feel them rush past me. I knew it was them as it was what they always
did. They would lie beside the bed when I read every night. It was so lonely
without them, but I comforted myself that now they were pain-free and together
forever — my boy and girl.
‘No more dogs,’ I
said. Huh! I now have George, who is certainly not reincarnated from any dog I
ever had. George is George. Loyal, caring, affectionate, and a little demon! He’s
five the day after Boxing Day this year. I wonder where the years have gone.
George
If anyone should ask me, do, I believe in reincarnation for
pets? The reply would be yes. Do I believe that people who have passed over can
return if they choose to? Yes, I do.
Next blog - Coming
soon - Reincarnation
