Fourteen years ago, Anne and I went to Pasadena Humane Society to see some of the construction our fundraising supported. While we were there, we chatted with Kevin, who was our adoption coordinator for our dog, Seamus.
Seamus had been part of our pack for about a year, and we were talking with Kevin about how much we loved him, what an incredible dog he was, and how happy and grateful we were to have met and adopted him.
I remember saying, “I don’t think I will ever have another dog who isn’t a pittie. He is so sweet, and affectionate, and so gentle, and …” I stopped because I saw a volunteer walking a puppy toward us. She was tiny and underweight, but she had the biggest smile. I knelt down to meet her, and she did a somersault into my lap, wagging her tail so fast I couldn’t see it.
“Well, they are just like this!” I concluded. Then I loved on that puppy until Anne gently told me it was time to let her walk into the shelter.
I was completely in love with her, that fast. She reached into my heart and never left. The next day, it was Anne’s birthday. We went down to the beach for a long walk, as is tradition. We were approaching the Manhattan Beach pier when I said, “I just need to confirm with you that we are not adding another dog to our pack, because I can’t stop thinking about that puppy.”
Anne told me that she didn’t pet her, because she knew that she’d fall in love, too, if she did. I don’t recall what we said to each other, but Anne called PHS and asked them to put us on a waiting list to adopt her.
A few days later, Marlowe came home with us, and she was my baby girl for over a decade. Even when she was an old lady, she was my little girl.
Just over a month ago, we found out Marlowe had lymphoma. It was so aggressive, it moved so quickly, we couldn’t stop it. We did everything we could for her, but we had to say goodbye to her last month.
I miss her so much, my heart hurts. It’s been a month, and I still look for her everywhere in the house. I’ll be okay, and then something will remind me of her and I am sobbing in a heap on the floor.
This is the first time in my life I have experienced this kind of grief, this kind of loss. When we lost Seamus, at least Marlowe was here for both of us while we grieved (and we were here for her, when she grieved). Now there’s just a big empty house and my broken heart.
I will miss her forever, my sweet little girl.
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Oh Wil, I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. Marlowe clearly meant the world to you and Anne, may her memory be a blessing. Sending virtual hugs.
I’m sorry, Wil. I sobbed reading that because it’s such a shared experience. of grief.
My heart goes out to you.
I have an online acquaintance, American, who lives in Costa Rica. She will sometimes post about dogs who have been abandoned, suffering, and ask for help, whatever we can afford for the Vet clinic she works with. Several months ago she took in a very grateful fella she named Rudy, who had the sweetest snaggletooth, as he was terminal. She just wanted him to have a beautiful place to pass. Videos nearly every day, we all got attached to him, Then the day came, “Rudy passed away today out in the garden on this blanket…”
Please love again when you’re ready. These beautiful souls really need us.
My heart breaks for you and Anne.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I still occasionally think I see my Nellie out of the corner of my eye, only to remember she’s been gone for ten years and it’s only a white t-shirt I’ve left crumpled on the bed.
I lost Chula last year and it still hits me hard if I see something that reminds me of her or something adjacent. Dogs have such an impact on us, and I know you loved both Seamus and Marlowe so much, they were both sweet cute dogs.
I’m so very sorry. What a sweet face and a great life she had.
I guess I’ve been following you online a long dang time, because I remember when you wrote about adopting her. I’m so heartbroken for you guys. Remember lots of folks online loved her from afar. I hope that’s a blessing.
It was the same for us with Sam the Black Dog. We got him from an Amish dairy farmer when we lived in PA . He flew to CA, landing in Vegas as being driven up the 99 to our new digs in Modesto. Died of sarcoid, really fast moving, 8 weeks before his 13th birthday in 2018. Still hurts though pain is muted. Haven’t gotten a dog since. Though we do have a cat. ☹️
I’m so sorry for your loss. Pets become family and it is truly difficult when we have to say goodbye. I’m sending love and healing to you, Anne and your family.
Oh such sad news. I feel for you and your family. It never gets easier.
Wil, I’ve never met you or your family, but I’m familiar with that pain, and it is the absolute worst. My heart goes out to you. I wish you all peace in the coming days, especially when the waves of grief hit; they will pass, but as you know, it’s a rough ride. Keep breathing, and hang in there.
Oh so sorry Wil. It’s the biggest hurt and when you can, bring another love bug into your heart!
You and Anne gave Marlowe a wonderful home and the best life that she could have wished for. Just looking at pictures of her, it’s clear that you made her as happy as she made you for so many years. A part of her will always be with you. Even though it hurts right now, I hope that her memory will bring you comfort again in the future.
So very sorry for your loss. I have worked in dog rescue for decades and have said goodbye so many times but it never gets any easier. She will be with you forever.
Feel with you. Still miss my Cat which died 26 years ago and was my best friend growing up.
I am so very sorry. Losing a fur family member is a loss like no other. Please accept my deepest condolences. Sending love to you and your family.
I’m so sorry, Wil (and Anne). Thank you for sharing her with us…especially on Marlowe Mondays.
Thank you for sharing your heart with us about Marlowe. I am sorry for your loss.
Tibetans believe that dogs become men in their next life. I hope you, Seamus, and Marlowe will meet again.
They are definitely family members
Our furry babies stay with us forever. You and Anne have my deepest condolences. It’s the most heartbreaking part of having them but the love we get to share makes it all worth while. Much Love to you both.
Our hearts are with you and Anne, Wil. Every one of our furry and feathered friends that lived with us in this world have left holes in our hearts when they left us. So much so, that we refused to rescue any more for a long, long time. We just couldn’t go through it again. Then I left my husband alone and he let a battered and bruised little old girl into his life. Now she is part of us and we’ll have to go through it again; but the love she gives while she’s here may just be worth the pain. So sorry about Marlowe.
I grieve with thee. I saw the subject line & was afraid it was sweet Marlowe. I know Tinkerbell and Katie met her at the Rainbow Bridge with love.
I lost my girl about the same time… a little over a month ago. Also to cancer. And I, too, now have an empty house. Sometimes, a dog is just the one. Thank you for sharing with us.
I’m so terribly sorry to hear about Marlowe. I felt like I knew her a bit from the Marlowe Monday posts. No matter how many times I have lost a pet, it is never easier and we never have them long enough. Hugs to you and Anne.
I literally gasped out “oh not, not Marlowe!” Thank you for the countless Marlowe Mondays and the pics for attention. I’m sure you know sometimes those are the lightest parts of a day. I’m grieving with you, in tears at my desk. May her memory forever be a blessing.
So sorry for your loss, they were both lucky to have you, that is a loss I’ve experienced before both cats and dogs, I still think about them no matter how much time has passed ❤️
My heart goes out to you and your family. Her beautiful light shone through every photo you shared, and I teared up reading of her passing. The pain of losing our furry pack members is the cost of getting to experience so much love and joy: it’s so hard, but worth every tear!
Thank you Mr. Wheaton for reminding all of us to get up and snuggle with our fur babies right NOW. <3
I’m sorry to hear that. :–(
Eventually you’ll be happy to remember the time you spent with Marlowe, more than being sad.
I’m sorry you are going through this. I can empathize. I had to say goodbye to my 20 yr old miniature poodle in February. Just today, when I came through the front door, I had to stop myself from calling out to her. Sometimes, I swear I see her out of the corner of my eye.
So sorry for your loss – Marlowe was such a good girl.
Today is the first anniversary of losing our sweet pittie so I feel ya there. It is so amazing how they can steal our hearts so fast. We had almost 13 years with our baby.
I’m sorry sorry for your loss, that’s tough, that bond is so special. I can totally relate.
So very sorry to read about Marlowe. They take a piece of our heart with them when they leave us.
I feel your loss.I am so sorry. Some animals have that effect. Their impact is so big. You will remember her smile forever which will make you smile and feel the love again.
I am so so so sorry.
They are never with us long enough.
Sending so much love.
So sorry for your loss. Sometimes we fall in love with other peoples’ pets just from their photos, and this was true for me with your little girl. I do not look forward to the day we lose my dad’s boxer/pit mix little boy who is about 9. I will grieve him hard, as I’ve been grieving my dad this last year and a half.
Dogs fill holes in our hearts that we didn’t know were there. My deepest condolences to you and Anne.
Sending gentle hugs to you, Anne, and Watson. Losing part of your family is hard, and be gentle with yourself as you grieve <3.
Some animals come into our lives and imprint themselves onto our hearts. Its a beautiful experience and so devastating when they leave us. I’m so happy that you had Marlowe and that she had you. Thank you for sharing her with us.
I always enjoyed Marlowe Mondays. You will love and miss her forever, for sure, but also have the comfort in knowing you gave her the best doggy life while she was with you.
Hugs from my home to yours.
Aww – I’m so sad for you. I can relate to the empty feeling. We had a St Bernard / Lab mix who was our giant floof for 8.5 years. She died suddenly without any warning. Bad bad feelings. We found another puppy about 6 weeks after. While I still miss Freyja, the house is not as empty with our new Gwenivere.
<> losing doggos is the worst. I miss all of mine daily that have crossed the rainbow bridge.
I understand this so deeply. Sorry about your sweet lil girl.
My sincere condolences on such a sad loss!
I know how you feel. Seriously. I flew up to Tacoma to adopt a little dachshund puppy named Sierra because I fell in love with her picture. Last Monday I had to say good-bye to Sierra because she wasn’t really “there” anymore and she had stopped eating and drinking. Sierra’s 16th birthday was on Friday, April 4 and she had been with me since she was six weeks old. During the pandemic I adopted another girl, so Sierra wouldn’t be alone so much. Because of Marlowe I adopted a pittie named Zoe. She is now ten years old and misses Sierra so much.
Long distance hugs to. you and Anne. ❤️
I’m so so sorry
Wil I’m so very sorry to hear about the passing of your little girl. I know, in my own way, how that is. You have my deepest heartfelt sympathy!!
Hearts were made to be broken. I am glad you can feel that deeply Will.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I’m sharing it with you if that helps. I’m so glad she had you to take care of