We lost our dog Tibby we had for twelve years in January. He had a large tumor in his sinuses that was pushing on his eye and making it difficult for home to breath. Our vet was very compassionate and helped us make the very hard decision to have him put to sleep. We were with him and petted him as he peacefully passed.
That night as my wife and I were up late in our grief we both heard a single soft bark. We were both convinced it was Tibby’s distinctive bark. Late the next night my wife heard two barks that seemed to come from outside. She turned on the porch light and saw nothing nor were there any tracks in the new fallen snow. The following weekend my wife traveled to meet with friends for a post holiday get together. At the hotel when she opened her suitcase there was a single dog treat laying on top of her clothes. We could think of no possible way the treat could have gotten into her suitcase. We are convinced that these strange occurrences were in some way Tibby telling us he was OK.
A few weeks later we adopted a rescue puppy, a lab mix, like Tibby, and again our lives are full of happy barks and the special bond one has with a dog. Prayers for your peace.
Many years ago Arthur the ancient Doberman passed away as I slept on the floor holding him.
My dad came in and took Arthur away without waking me up and buried him up on the ridge above my house.
The next night, we had about 2 inches of snow and when I went out the front door at dawn, outside the yard gate was a set of dog paw prints leading down from that ridge.
I could see where they stopped and the maker walked around for a bit.
Then they continued down my lane and cut across the neighbors yard heading due west.
I ran out and followed the tracks but at the base of the hill up to the road, they stopped and simply disappeared.
None on the hill or road at all.
I believe that Arthur had come to say goodbye before he went “ into the west”.
Now I wish I’d gone up the lane to see where they began because dad couldn’t remember the exact spot he’d buried my boy.