Roxie, our tiny Bichon Frisé, died recently and despite losing pets before, this death feels entirely different
Perhaps the only victors of the Covid-19 pandemic have been dogs – it seems they are being walked more, and, if our house was anything to go by, rarely on their own any more
And, perhaps the stat I could most identify with, 38 per cent said they were surprised by how deeply they were affected by their dog’s death. Roxie sat by my feet most days, only leaving for the front door when she sensed another family member was approaching. In 10 years, no one ever walked through the front door without being greeted by a 12lb ball of white fluff. If the new arrival was a stranger, she moved quickly to approve or disapprove of their presence. No one ever failed the test.
She desperately wanted to be considered a full member of the family. And she succeeded. On her final night, despite a suggestion she’d be better off staying in the local vet’s clinic overnight, we brought her home. She sat on the couch and quietly took turns to snuggle into each family member. And then she slept between myself and my wife in the bed – the first time she was ever allowed in the bed.