Everything Was Just Peachy
It has been a few weeks since we had to say goodbye to our little Peach at the ripe age of 13 years and 3 months.
The response from most is that it is a fantastic age for a Basset to live to, and although I agree, why does it still hurt so so much when they go? I can only think that it is because the longer they are in your life, the more part of the furniture they become, and they are just the basis of every waking moment. Then suddenly when they are not there anymore, it feels empty.
I have the other two at least to keep me in a routine and can only imagine the feeling of emptiness when you lose your only dog.
I would like to say it gets easier and you become almost hardened to it having been through it the first time, but it just doesn't. I've said before, dogs have their own personalities like people and in a pack, as in a normal family, each have their own dynamics and traits that they bring to the table.
When I looked up the meaning of the name Peach the definition was a particularly admirable or pleasing thing. Soft and kind and loving. This encapsulates my girl. She was just the most perfect dog. She never growled or snapped. She never complained. She was so happy to do whatever you asked her to do. The only negative thing about her was that she was nervous around people she didn't know and busy places. Other than that, you could pretty much rely on her for a snuggle on the sofa and plenty of doggy kisses. I miss her terribly; she won't ever be replaced. I will never forget the day we brought her home. It feels like yesterday and not at all like 13 years ago.
When I look back on the hoards of pictures and videos I have of Peach, I can see now how quickly she seemed to decline. Even in the last few weeks of her life. Dogs do seem to age so much quicker than us, but I guess that is because their life span is so much shorter than ours.
I will always remember her for the Peach she was before 2024, the lunatic howling across the downs after the other dogs. Sniffing out and retrieving a rogue tennis ball in pretty much any strange undergrowth wherever we went. Giving me her best sad eyes sat right in front of me whenever the toaster popped up. Mothering and playing with any new puppies she came across. Being just so compliant at being dressed up in any number of my doggie fancy dress outfits. Emerging from the bushes up the downs with a small live rabbit between her teeth and when I asked her to leave it, she dropped it, and it hopped off. Helping me so very carefully to round up the chickens in the garden to put them away at night.
I know that she has found Buddy-Love again and they are probably both snuggled up together in the same bed. That would be more of Peach's doing than Buddy's, she always loved to snuggle with him. I take comfort in the fact that one day in the future, I will see them both again, they will be there to greet me with a big woof and lick up the face.
People often say dogs tell you when it is time. I didn't believe this but when I look back now, I can see she was telling me over the last few months. She had started to disengage from the rest of the pack, she wasn't the same dog. I think I actually started grieving for the loss of the dog I used to have months ago before she actually passed.
Grief is a strange thing; you think you've dealt with it then it seems to appear again at the strangest of times and in different formats. You never forget, you just learn to live without them. The other two are dealing with their own grief too, it must be so much harder for them because they don't understand where she has gone. Although I have to say the fact that she passed at home in her bed and the other two could see her was so much better than when we lost Bud and we just came home without him and just his collar and lead. The two girls spent days looking for him and not understanding where he had gone.
Daisy is especially lost without her little sidekick. She was almost 4 when she came to live with us and has therefore been by Peach's side 24-7 for the last 8 years. As much as I'm trying to make a fuss of her, I also want to carry on our usual routines as much as possible. However, there's no doubt that the dynamics of the pack have changed again.
There is no easy way of dealing with the loss other than time. Time doesn't heal it just helps you to learn to carry on. We will get there I'm sure.
When I lost Bud it took me a while to be able to look at videos and photos of him and I'm not quite there yet with Peach but I will in time look back fondly and laugh at her many antics I'm sure.
Sleep tight my beautiful baby girl, I will meet you again someday soon.