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It’s so quiet in the house.

That’s what I noticed most after our dog Buddy passed only a week ago. Even when I try to fill that void with sound, it still seems strangely quiet.

Buddy came to us about three years ago after the passing of my in-laws who loved and adored Buddy. Whenever we visited my in-laws, Buddy would be overjoyed not to see us, but to see our dog, Bella. She was a few months older and close to Buddy’s size. They were instant friends and since they were also close in age, they played well and often when they were together.

When Buddy came to permanently stay with us, we wanted to make sure he felt loved. This was the year when covid hit and both my husband and I did not travel and had to work from home. During that time and the years that followed, Bella and Buddy never left our side. They would come with us for dinner, on vacations, and even for boat rides on the lake.

Many times, instead of finding each of them in their own dog beds, we would frequently find both dogs in the same bed sleeping. They were like frick and frack, inseparable and the best of friends. Then a few years later, tragedy struck, and we lost Bella. The grief we felt was unbearable and consumed us. Even Buddy seemed lost.

But, in the end, it was Buddy that helped us heal as we had to go on with our lives. Our routine did not alter as we still needed to take Buddy for his morning and evening walks. Although he was way past his puppy stage, he would still bring us his squeaky toys to play tug of war with and would come wagging his tail eagerly when he wanted a snack. In the evening, when it was time for bed, he would wait by the staircase until my husband would pick him up, walk up the steps and place Buddy in our bed in his usual spot.

When the time came and Buddy passed away, we were grief stricken once again but this time it was different. As the day progressed, the routines we were used to, were no more, and it seemed there was nothing to fill that time. I suggested to my husband that we leave the house, perhaps go into town, see people and walk around. The following day, we did just that and it did help us forget about our loss for a little while. Each day, when either of us felt sad, we would come to each other to lean on and find comfort. I found myself getting up from my desk in my home office more frequently to check in on my husband and vice versa. His smile and presence have been a source of strength, and I hope I have been that for him.

Going through this, I’m reminded of how much a person or a pet can do for another person. The love, happiness, and strength they can provide you and the joy of giving that back. I am so blessed to have such an amazing husband and have been so lucky to have had not one but two wonderful dogs that will always remain in my memories and even more so will always remain where they have touched me the most, my heart.