Last night, my 2yr old daughter Khiarna, was introduced, ever-so-gently, to death!The loved family dog passed away :(
She was 16yrs old. Andrew's family have had her since she was just a wee little pup, and she was a very big part of their family, and ours for that matter.
After Andrew and his Dad had said their goodbyes, we decided it might be a good idea to take Khiarna to say goodbye, and to try and explain what had happened, and that she wouldn't see Sheba again.
We tried to explain it very gently to her, seeing as she is only 2, the chances of her understanding what was going on, or what we were talking about, is very slim.
We told her that she would have to say goodbye to Sheba, because she had gone to sleep, and she wasn't going to wake up, and that she would no longer be able to see her. It broke my heart, watching as Khiarna stroked her more gently than she had ever before. Then she kept repeating over and over, "Sheba's eyes, Sheba's eyes" and trying to hit her to wake her up. We told Khiarna she was going to go to the sky, and she would be in the clouds, and whenever she wanted to see Sheba she could look into the clouds, because she would be there watching her.
She said her goodbye, and told Sheba that she loved her. And then kept yelling at our new little puppy, saying "That doggy did it"!! :( We had to try and explain that Tasha hadn't done anything, Sheba was just very old and tired, and needed to have a big rest.
Once I'd taken Khiarna inside to get ready for bed, I thought of a new way to explain it to her.
Lately, Khiarna has been obsessed with death. Always throwing herself on the floor saying "Nar-Nar's dead" or if she sees someone asleep, she'll say they're dead. And the other day when watching a movie, she saw a guy dying on the tv and turned to me with a troubled look on her face and said "Mummy, he's dying"!
So part of me thought that maybe she would understand if I told her Sheba was dead, and she wouldn't be able to see her anymore.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. Upon telling Khiarna that Sheba was dead, she threw herself to the floor and started saying over and over "Nar-Nar's dead Mummy!"
Today, Khiarna has been outside, and hasn't even noticed that Sheba isn't there anymore. But, I wish I could say that it will last, but I know it won't. When we had to get rid of our other 2 dogs, Khiarna didn't seem to notice that they were no longer around until a few months after they were gone, then she was obsessed, and kept calling them and looking for them. So, give it a few more months, and Khiarna will notice that dear old Sheba is no longer around, and when she realises it, it's going to break her heart.
Khiarna loved Sheba to pieces, and would drag her around the yard all day. Try riding her back, cuddling her, feeding her all her food, she would even feed her rocks, leaves and flowers; and even stranger, Sheba would eat them! Anything Khiarna gave that dog, she would willingly eat, as if it were a treat. Khiarna would put the lead on her and walk her around the back yard, brush her hair, try and bath her with a bucket of water. She absolutely adored that dog! As far as she was concerned, Sheba was her dog, and she could do whatever she wanted with her :( the bond they had was incredible, especially for such an old dog, and one who hadn't grown up with Khiarna. But, Sheba was the only dog that has been the for the whole of Khiarna's life so far, and the only one she's had such a strong bond with. And now, all I can do is wait for the realisation that all of that is gone, and try to pick up the pieces.
As much as that dog would annoy me, follow me everywhere, and just get on my nerves, she will be greatly missed. And mainly for the bond she had with my daughter, and the friendship they shared. Sheba was Khiarna's best friend.
It's true what they say - dog really is man's best friend. And a child's best friend even more-so.
R.I.P Sheba....You will be dearly missed.
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