through the fish-eyed lens of tear stained eyes

My dog Ferris, who was rescued from a bus stop in Monrovia by my wife Anne almost exactly 8 years ago, had a heart attack and died this morning. It happened very quickly, and I was with her, which is supposed to make me feel better, but at this moment all I can feel is nearly-unbearable sorrow, and the empty space in my life left behind by my awesome dog. 

Ferris Wheaton

Bye bye, Ferris. I love you and miss you. You were the best dog ever.

A small request: if you choose to comment, please don't post that Rainbow Bridge thing. I know you mean well, but it has always made me uncomfortable.

436 thoughts on “through the fish-eyed lens of tear stained eyes”

  11. Our lives debts are paid with the memories made. And you’ve shared more than enough with us your time with Ferris. Your loss and love does not go unnoticed, nor unrewarded.
    A toast to the past, with finest ale.

  12. A dog is a most excellent companion for man, and losing friends always hurts. You have my sympathy, and condolences, as one who understands what you feel.

  17. Losing a pet is the same as losing a member of your family, and I’m sad for your family becoming smaller by one. My thoughts are with you, Anne and the boys.

  18. My sympathies, Wil. I don’t think being there with her is supposed to make you feel any better – it never has for me either. But if her last moments were spent with you by her side, I’m sure that was a comfort to her. I am very sorry.

  23. Awwwww 🙁 Ferris will be missed by a lot of us Monkeys, not just for her being part of the Wheaton family, but for being a part of so many stories that we’ve read over the years. Lots of East Coast Monkey Love to all of you. Tonight, the pint is tipped for a canine whom we’ve come to know as an awesome pet. For Ferris!

  24. I’m sorry for your loss. I have an appointment in two days to put down my cat of fifteen years. It seems odd to me to learn of your loss as a I plan for mine. I feel ya, man–I feel ya.

  25. I’ve been there twice w/ wonderful dogs, and there is literally nothing meaningful I can say to make you feel better. Grieve, remember, then when you’re ready, rescue another wonderful dog companion. Not to replace Ferris, who is irreplaceable, but to save another unwanted creature who will never stop thanking you for it.
    Peace.

  26. I’m very sorry. That’s always sad. Your posts about Ferris were always really funny and cute and fun. You obviously loved her very much. My deepest condolences.
    Re rainbow bridge: people tell you about inter-plane portals in Norse mythology? How weird.

  27. There are moments you remember and the words someone says at times like these often stick with you. I wish I had beautiful words for the loss of such a beautiful part of your family.
    I’ve given a donation in honor of Ferris to “A Dog’s Life Rescue” (adogsliferescue.org) May another Ferris be saved by a loving family just like you did.

  28. Oh my God, Wil, my DEEPEST condolences. There is very little on earth worse than losing a pet. I’m just a reader of your stories, but everything you’ve ever written about Ferris made me love her by proxy.
    The grief you feel now will never really go away, but it will gradually be overshadowed by the memories of the love and the life you had with her.
    Big hugs from someone who gets that pets are family.

  32. So sorry for your loss. I just got a second puppy myself a couple weeks ago, I can’t imagine losing one of my boys so suddenly like that.
    Sometimes it seems like life is out to get a guy, throwing you a hit like this when you’re poised to have such an awesome week with new projects finally seeing the light of day.

  33. My sincere condolences on the loss of Ferris. I have enjoyed reading about her here. She was a good dog and obviously a great friend to you and your family. Thank you (and your wife) for rescuing her and giving her such a wonderful life.

  35. Wil, I’m so sorry. I don’t know if this will help, but there’s a Ray Bradbury story in “Quicker than the Eye” called “No News” that starts like this:
    It was a day of holocausts, cataclysms, tornadoes, earthquakes, blackouts, mass murders, eruptions, and miscellaneous dooms, at the peak of which the sun swallowed the earth and the stars vanished.
    But to put it simply, the most respected member of the Bentley family up and died.
    Dog was his name, and dog he was.
    (Incidentally, Bradbury dedicated the book to his golden retreiver.)

  36. Tear stained, you say? I had to wear sunglasses for many days after my first Golden died from lymphoma. I agree, however, with Washington Irving in his thoughts on the matter:
    “There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.”
    Ferris knew much love these past 8 years. But, I hate that these mysterious growths so often cut our dogs’ lives short. It’s why I do what I do (http://cancer.landofpuregold.com).

  38. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and yours right now. I love the story of how Anne found her and how she chose the name Ferris. I tell people that story all the time. I know how hard it is to lose a furry member of the family. We are here for you if you need to talk about it. Find some comfort that Ferris had a great life because of you and Anne.

  40. I’m so so so sorry Wil. I’m still missing a tiny kitten we lost a week ago, and our 12 year old cat we lost 4 months ago. They sure get in our hearts and leave holes of a particular shape and size when they leave. I’m very sorry to hear your lovely dog isn’t with you any more. Please be gentle with yourself.

  45. Very sorry to hear of Ferris’ passing. Based on his presence in your writings he was, in fact, an awesome dog. My thoughts and good wishes to you and your family.

  46. I admire the fact that you cared for your friend as much as you did. Im sure you gave Ferris a good life with much love.
    I know the sorrow the loss brings very well, i hope in time you heal ok. Take Care.

  47. I’m very sorry to hear about this, Wil. I’ve had many wonderful dogs in my life, and I know exactly how you’re feeling right now. I hope you understand that I am only one of many who enjoyed reading of Ferris’ antics.

  48. I generally don’t think of myself as getting attached to animals. They seem to annoy me more often than not. That said, it’s never easy to lose a pet, particularly not one that’s been around a while. Around these parts we had to put our scraggly little mutt of a dog down this past New Year’s Eve. That’s most of a year gone by at this point – yet I was eating a piece of underdone pizza earlier today, and thinking I’d give her the crust, (she was a spoiled scraggly little mutt) and was even getting ready to call her until I reminded myself that she wasn’t around anymore.
    So maybe I’m not as gruff as I think I am.

  50. OMG! First of all {{{HUGS!}}} I am so sorry for your loss. Your furry four legged baby was BEAUTIFUL! I can’t imagine the hurt your heart feels right now. This is the worst part of owning a dog! I dread the day that my beloveds (I have 7 rescues) must move on…Please know that she will ALWAYS be with you, especially since she was rescued! Rescues are fiercly loyal in this lifetime and every other.
    She knows how much she was loved and cared for and she will never forget that you made these last 8 years the best of her lifetime and to you she is forever grateful.
    Maybe sometime soon down the road, when your heart is on its way to healing, you will be able to rescue another dog from a shelter, not to replace her, but in honor of her as she knows how much love you have in your heart and she would want you to provide another furry soul with that same compassion and adoration. No house is a home without the love of a dog in it!
    My heart, thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
    MAY GOD BLESS YOU FERRIS…RIP. XOXOXOXO

Comments are closed.

Related Posts

Recent Posts