Cindy left us on Easter Sunday after sixteen years. We got her in 2006 when she was a puppy of eight or nine weeks. She was born at Brady’s Lake, a small community in central Tasmania. A workmate of mine knew the people who owned Cindy’s mum and that she had recently had a litter of puppies. Cindy’s mother was a corgi/staffy cross and dad was a black Labrador. She was the only cream coloured puppy in the litter, all the others were black
She adored David and loved their car rides to the local dog park at Port Huon. David used to let her run around off leash for a few minutes, then she would usually demand that he throw her ball for her. When she’d had enough of that she’d go and jump into the river to cool off, usually losing the tennis ball. Cindy went through a lot of tennis balls because she generally chomped on them and broke them after a couple of minutes of play. She didn’t care though. If they could be thrown, she’d chase them. We had a Holden station wagon when we first had Cindy and she would come running back from the water and take a flying leap onto the open back of it. Later, when we bought another car, she continued to do that same thing altering her run up to suit the smaller car. She could jump high too. I loved to watch Cindy jump.
After David passed away, I’d exercise Cindy by throwing the ball in the back garden. She only stopped playing ball when arthritis started to trouble her.
Cindy surprised us again in 2013 when we found Polly. She immediately took to her and became Polly’s best friend. I often felt that Polly liked Cindy more than she liked me but that was OK. Apart from a spell of a few months around 2018 when they fell out over something Cindy and Polly remained best friends. It was always funny to watch them playing together because of the difference in sizes. Cindy was always gentle with Polly though.
I think that Cindy missed David a lot after he went to hospital. She never liked it when he went out even if I was at home. I’m sure she imagined that he was at the park chucking balls around without her. In her later years she used to get very anxious if I had to leave her at home, especially after the 2019 bushfires. I think that time away from home unsettled her and she never really got over it. Moving house was a big change for her too. She liked the beach but to my surprise she was never interested in swimming in the sea.
I like to think that Cindy is with David now running in the park and chasing balls. Here are some favourite photos.
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We have had so many dogs and I hate how soon they get old and pass on. I know it’s just the way of things, but it’s still awful and painful. I still cry when I think of all the dogs and their passing. We have lost so many and I share your pain. You are still young enough to get another one and I hope you do. 16 is a long life, a full life. You loved her and she had a good life, the best life a dog can have of being loved and cared for all of her days. That’s the best we can give them and I think they recognize it.
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Thanks Marilyn. It’s too soon to say if I’ll get another. We have Toby and Teddy living here and if we get another dog, we will have to get a special licence to keep more than two dogs. I never registered Cindy here so the council didn’t know we had three but I like to do the right thing.
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🤗🤗
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I’m so sorry. It’s so hard to lose these good friends, family members, really.
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Thank you, yes, pets are family members too.
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My sincere condolences. I have lost 5 cats in the space of a year. Saying goodbye is always so hard
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Losing five cats so close together would be awful. The hardest thing about owning pets is saying goodbye to them.
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Such sad news, Vanda. I’m so sorry for your loss.
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Thanks Tracy.
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I’m so glad you have such wonderful photos of Cindy. I know how much you loved and adored her. I’m sorry for your loss. She will remain close to your heart and thoughts, no doubt. Be gentle with yourself.
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Cindy was the most photographed dog I owned because she was born at the beginning of the digital age. It was easy to take photos of her and I tried to do it regularly so I’d have some to remember her by.
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That was smart of you.
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My deepest condolences. We recently lost our Pepsi dog, and are still raw with that pain. It helps to think she/they are in a place that is warm and welcoming, the park or river walk, playing or waiting.
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I know all fellow pet owners understand how it feels. I was lucky as larger dogs like Cindy don’t usually live to sixteen. I knew we were on bonus time for a couple or more years. I’m sorry for the loss of your Pepsi.
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So sorry for your loss… we lost our one of our dogs back in January and the pain is still there. I know your grief and the pain you are going through.. Thinking of you and sending you hugs xx
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Thanks for your kind thoughts. Grief for lost pets is very real.
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Oh, it is… even now I could breakdown when I think about her. Animals give such unconditional love and a dog is not just a dog (as some people refer to them as), they are family, they’re your baby. ❤
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Could not agree more.
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