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Goodbye Seibu

After about 14 years on Earth, Seibu, our Dalmation departed for the next life on this past Sunday. Her suffering is at an end.

When we were living in Hong Kong, a Japanese department store called Seibu was running an ad on TV showing dalmation puppies running through the aisles. We remarked that “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a dalmation?” Upon our return from Hong Kong and within weeks after our son was born, a stray dalmation adopted us! She didn’t want to leave and we knew immediately upon seeing her that it was Seibu! She was a gift from the universe! House broken and all. No owner, no tags, nobody claimed her.

Fast forward 12 years later… Although we knew it was coming this year, the end was a difficult and sad experience. She was my son’s first and only dog. He was there at the vet with me for the end. He is keeping her collar as a keepsake. What touched me though was just before we left and without my knowing, he got the camera and took a few last shots of her for the memories.

Now the house feels empty. No more walks every morning at 6:30 (who needed an alarm when a dog reminds you?).

I reflect on the life and years that have passed. Over the past 12 years, a lot has happened. Different homes, different locations, and yet the family was always the family, including Seibu. The first one in the room to attend to the crying baby was Seibu. The one who greeted us upon our return, the one who patiently waited for us, the one who was constantly underfoot, in-case some scraps fell, the one who had to be chased for miles because she loved to run was Seibu. In the end, she couldn’t walk out of the house to the front yard to do her business. Now, one of the family is missing.

Looking back, dogs give unselfishly of themselves. They don’t care about anything but giving you attention. They read your moods and reflect it with knowing sympathy in their eyes. If only we could be as giving. Thank you Seibu. We won’t forget you.