Daniela Pfaltz

A farewell letter from Naya to Oscar.

Dear beloved Oscar,

The first time we met you were only 12 weeks old and we picked you up from your family to become part of ours. I was not really amused to be honest as until that moment I had Mummy’s love and full attention all for myself. But in her eyes I could see how happy it made her to bring you home. She explained to me that you will be my best playmate and that she has enough love in her heart for both of us.

As time was passing, we became inseparable. You would sleep next to me in my fluffy bed, you would run after me wherever I go, you would play with me all day. It was a wonderful time and I saw her laughing so many times.

We showed you the forest near to our village and the river I was swimming in. You liked water so much, but swimming wasn’t your thing. You loved to play with balls, and we had many toys kept in a special green box until now.

But then came that day she took you away in the car and came back without you. Her eyes were wet, and she was so deeply sad. She would lay on the sofa or in her bed crying for hours. I tried to comfort her by lying next to her and putting my head on her arm. She gave me a little cuddle, but I could feel that her heart was broken. I wished I could make her smile.

Days later she would take the car again without me, rarely she is leaving me behind. And to my biggest surprise she came back with you! You were very weak, and you needed daily monitoring of your heartbeat, but you were so immensely happy being back with us. 

Mummy told me you need special medical treatment and that we could not go for the long forest walks anymore. You would be allowed to sleep in her bed and so would I. She got up every night to check on you. She knew by then that there is only a limited time left until we will have to let you go forever. From that moment on we were never left alone for more than a few hours per week. All the free time she could find were dedicated to us and we enjoyed a very intense time with a lot of fun and joy and happiness.

The day we had to say good-bye to you forever was filled with love and we are still talking about you even 18 months later. Mummy’s voice is kind and gentle when she is whispering in my ears: “You are more than my dogs, you are my babies.”