Morgan Fleming is with Patrick Fleming
This morning we thought, it’s so hot! Let’s go to the lake! We took our sweet Arya to the lake and had the best day playing ball and swimming around! About 30 minutes later on the drive home, we noticed her making weird noises and she threw up and pooped in the car. We called our vet on the drive and they suggested we take her in. By this point our girl couldn’t even stand… They told us she was in critical condition so we took her to the ER. By the time we got there, she was brain dead… Today was absolutely awful. We lost our fun, loving, and crazy girl to what we can only assume was a lake toxin such as blue green algae. Arya, no dog will ever replace you in our hearts. We already miss you more than you could know. I hope you’re running around like a wild girl with all the other border collies in doggo heaven ♥
A Eulogy for Arya
I have comforted, or at least tried to comfort, those of us who have lost loved ones. There are times when no words can describe the loss suffered, and no words can explain the loss of one who is so loved and missed, on so many levels. The emotions experienced when a treasured companion, a domesticated animal such as a dog or cat, a horse or gerbil, are lost to accident or illness, or simply the normal course of nature, can be as real and painful as the loss of any loved one, and vividly evinces the fact that we are all creatures, all animals, existing in obedience to God’s plan for all life on earth.
The last photograph of Morgan Fleming and her sweet Arya affirms her humanity and her love for other creatures with which we share, often intimately, God’s creation. Life is so precious because it always ends, and because each and every species and variety of life, while living, is in some way responsible for and supporting of some other living creature.
Arya gave those who loved her a lesson in what is best about being human, that we, above all other life, can feel the dance of life in everything living, and have the gift of valuing life beyond utility, beginning with the touch of a mother on her infant’s face and what seems in response a smile creasing that face. And here, this very morning in the loving gaze and caress of Arya’s nuzzle on Morgan’s face; and now, in a husband’s pain in sharing the broken heart of his wife and wiping tears from both their faces.
I have been asked before do our “pets” go to heaven? Without going into the potential pejorative usage of that term “pet,” I reply: Those domesticated animals who serve and love us so well are truly our brothers and sisters in God’s creation. Those animals who live among us and with us share both our presence and our spirit; they guide us, teach us, comfort us, and yes, love us, deeply and true. If only we would live the lessons they offer us, loyalty, kindness, compassion and companionship, unconditional love, we might one day be thought of as better animals than we now are. Everything God creates has a purpose, and a dog knows better theirs than we ours, and if it’s true: “All Dogs Go to Heaven” I hope I’m good enough to go there too. God Bless you Morgan and Patrick and Arya, and all who love you. + + +