Dante was taken from me on August 9, 2003. Verizon sent a repairman to my house to fix the fault in my phone-line. Not only did said man fail to repair my phone, but he also failed to shut my gate when he departed. My precious Saluki puppy spent the last hours of his life in my arms under the covers in my bed while we had a morning nap. When I let him out to relieve himself, he slipped out the open gate and headed on our usual walking path. Ten minutes later I realized the other dogs had come back inside, but he had not. My whole body ached and I tore down my drive, out the open gate, and into my van.
I was too late. I saw a car, and in front of it, there was something... it was he, my beloved Dante. He was only ten months old. I cannot believe he is gone. Is it really true? I cannot simply walk into the next room and there he will be, sitting on the sofa? Never again will I feel goose bumps rise over my skin at the awe-inspiring sight of Dante at full stretch, out running the other dogs ate the park. No more shall I feel his silken muzzle against my cheek as I drift into sleep, my protector and friend by my side. 'Tis only in my dreams where we will meet. But how can this be? Is it my fault? Is it the phone company's fault? Was this just meant to happen? How! Why? What now? I just want my baby back. I want to erase the sight of him, near death and in shock, then dying in my arms on that country road in the rain. I was supposed to be heading to my birthday party with my family a few towns away. Instead I laid my beautiful, precious friend to rest.
I don't know what I want from this post. But I had to get this out somewhere. My heart is aching.

If I could turn back the clock
Flip back the calender pages
Could I change how it happened?
Was it planned through the ages?

Your short life is snuffed
Blackness is all that is left
All the light in my life
Departed with your death

Jenna

This was taken the night before he died.

Jenna,
You don't have to want anything from the post. Sometimes, it helps just to post, just to get it out there. Just to be able to grieve "out loud" and uninterupted.

Thank you for posting the pic. Dante is beautiful. I bet his ears were so soft.

On several occasions, repair persons left our gate open. Fortunately, Freyja never went outside the gate when it happened. But it would infuriate me. Then we had some malicious neighbors who kept intentionally opening the gate. At that point, we put locks on them...

I think you should write / call Verizon and issue a complaint. I won't say its the repairperson's fault, but... I mean, in reality, death is not anybody's fault, it is just something that happens. ON THE OTHER HAND, service people who enter our territories should exercise the utmost responsibility with the things in our territory -- our property, our boundaries, our companions... I *KNOW* there is nothing that Verizon could do to even begin to make up for your loss, but maybe some additional training of their employees will stave off the inevitable for someone else...

I know how dreadfully you hurt right now. I wish I could say something to ease that pain. I am thinking of you. I am thinking of Dante running gleefully with thousands of playmates at the bridge.

Love,
Jennifer

Dear Jenna Dante is indeed a beautiful dog he looks so regal with those big big eyes curled up on your settee.

It is not your fault that Dante has passed these things happen all too often for some unfathomable reason, and I don’t believe that if you turned back the clock that Dante would be with you today, it is my belief that when your time comes there is nothing you can do about it.

Take heart that Dante is now in a safe place and look for the little signs he will surely send you, and when they happen believe them and love Dante for loving you so much in return.

Take care
Love Sue

Thankyou for your kind words and nice replies.
My heart is breaking.

We understand Jenna. The pain you feel if because someone you loved is gone. That is completely understandable. We have a very similar pain - each and every one of us.

The gate being left open should be reported but try to do it without any anger. People do things without thinking - there was no malice in that action of leaving the gate open. Unfortunately, that won't help bring Dante back - but then nothing will. I am really sorry you lost him. He was a beautiful friend.

Dante is waiting somewhere warm and safe, lying in the sun, chasing cats and rabbits, spending evening cuddling up with all of our other babies - waiting for you to come walking up the path and take him home again. Remember that.

And if I get there first I'll make sure those beautiful ears get a wonderful hour long scratch and I give Dante a full out race across the meadow - with the sun on our faces and our wings unfurled to lift us into the skies.

What a shiny, beautiful dog and what sad, terrible story. Don't beat yourself up or place blame. It's just one of those things. We can't forsee them, we can't stop them. I'm starting to realize that in life we have control over NOTHING, not even our own actions! I really think all things happen because they're meant to be. That doesn't make it any easier to accept, but it just might help you come to grips with reality and maybe even come to acceptance. Dante is probably running with Scott right now on a beach somewhere that they can never be hurt again. You will always love Dante, let this tragedy go.



I love you Scott.
May you never starve again.