Rescued To Release
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“This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you. The greatest love a person can show is to die for his friends.” John 15:12-13
My dog, Annie was a gift from God, and she was my companion through grief and next steps. I was never alone. She was my emotional support. Annie was a wonderful therapy dog who showed love and compassion to my clients. After she died, I wrote my last book – Live Different Moments – sharing how to take steps into life and live in the moments based on stories in her life. I wrote the following story about Annie and hope to have it published someday, but wanted to share it with you, my faithful blog readers. Here’s my Annie story. Enjoy.
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Annie lifted her head slightly and licked my face as if to say, “Good-bye,” and then wrapped in her favorite blanket she laid her head down on the table. It was the prayer quilt my sister made for my husband, Dave a few months before he died. Annie claimed the blanket days after her master died. Annie now breathed her last breath and was released from this world. She crossed over the rainbow bridge to run into Heaven and find her master.
Released is to be set free from the pain and suffering of this world. Annie, my beloved companion and therapy dog, was released from her struggle with diabetes, aging and infections. But her purpose was not yet complete. She was needed to release the one who rescued her.
Annie was born in the dog shelter and rescued at six months old by Pati Bardon who volunteered with ASAP Rescue (All Species Adoption Program). Pati had a warm barn on her farm in which she housed many large dogs. Annie was a small tan and white beagle puppy. Pati felt sorry for her and brought her into their home during the day. Pati had a soft heart for dogs and began to love this little beagle. She named her “Carmel Apple” because of her coloring. Pati was happiest when covered in dog hair, and she was known in our hometown as “the dog lady.” She would pick up any stray dog and rescue those chained up or abused. Pati carried bales of straw in her vehicle during the cold winter months. If she saw a dog chained outside, she would jump out of her truck and throw some straw around the dog to keep it warm.
Pati wanted “Carmel Apple” to have a forever home, so she reached out on social media sharing a picture of this sweet beagle puppy. My husband, Dave, and I had recently lost our dear beagle, Specs, who lived sixteen and a half years.
My sister, Carolyn, saw Pati’s post and called me. “I’m not sure you are ready for another dog, but there is this little beagle puppy that my friend Pati is trying to find a home.”
“I’m not sure either,” I replied. “But send me the picture and I will check with Dave.” Now, who can resist the face of a cute beagle puppy. Dave and I were smitten by this adorable puppy face.
We contacted Pati and set up a time to drive to my hometown to check out this puppy. I told my husband Dave, “If we go, we are coming home with a puppy.” It was our wedding anniversary, and we came home with the sweetest gift – a tan and white adorable puppy who licked my face the moment I sat in the chair in Pati’s home. She jumped into my lap, licked me, and chose me immediately. We named her “Annie” short for Anniversary.
Annie found her dream life. She was queen and brought life and joy into our home. She loved to run with me in the mornings and take naps in the chair with Dave. Then life changed. Dave was diagnosed with brain tumors. Annie stayed by his side through it all laying under his hospital bed protecting him until he died. After Dave’s death everything became different for Annie and me. Annie grieved her master. I grieved my husband. All we had was each other. Annie had never been left alone, and now what was I to do? My counseling office was at the Church, and I had to work. There was nobody at home, so Annie went to work with me as my therapy dog. She found her calling in life. She excelled at greeting clients, showing compassion when someone cried, and sensing the hurt and pain of others because she had experienced so much in her short three years of life. Annie thrived with all the attention and dog treats she received from my clients and church family.
Annie rescued me in my grief by giving me a purpose to get out of bed and to keep moving. She was with me most days so when I came home, I did not come home alone. I would say, “Annie, it’s just you and me and God. We are going to do this together.” I now had companionship in a different form and a different purpose.
With Annie’s help, we began to live into a different life. She was my physical connection to Dave. A part of Dave was with me – his unconditional love which was expressed in my dog. Annie was God’s love in dog form – spell dog backward and you get God. Then Annie began to age. Her health declined, and she was in pain and suffered from so many infections and advanced stage diabetes. It was time to release her. As I held her, I whispered into her ear, “Go run into the arms of your master. He is waiting for you. I love you. Thank you.” She licked my face and let go. When I carried Annie’s body into the funeral home for her to be cremated, I prayed through tears, “God, I know you have Annie now. I release her to you, Thank you for the gift of Annie.” Annie had rescued me in my grief, and it seemed impossible to go on without her. “How am I going to walk through the feelings of loss and grief without her?” I cried.
Then one morning on my run, God spoke to my heart, “It’s time to write again.” I had written of my grief after the death of my husband in the book, Living In The Different. Now I felt led to write about Annie and give purpose and meaning to her life and release my grief. Annie taught me to live in the present and focus on what is in front of me. Her life was a surrender and a dependency on me, and she taught me to follow her legacy and surrender and be dependent on God. Live Different Moments was created. I released my grief, but little did I know that the one who rescued Annie would be released by Annie through my book.
Pati had been diagnosed with metastatic melanoma and lived her last months at Wyandot Skilled Nursing Center. As she declined, her ex-husband but still dear friend, Bob came to visit almost daily and read to her. He read Scriptures and my book, Live Different Moments that my cousin, Sheryl had given to Pati. Bob told me, “I read the whole book to Pati. We laughed and we cried together. I had to stop to wipe my eyes.” Bob said he read several chapters to her at a time. The words God gave me, and the stories of Annie helped to release Pati from the pain of this world. Because Patti rescued Annie and God released Annie from the suffering of this world, Annie fulfilled her final purpose to release Pati to Heaven. I am sure Pati was greeted by Annie and all the dogs she saved, loved, and lost throughout her time on earth.
