Today I started something that needs to be accomplished before we leave - scattering the remains of all the dogs that have been euthanized in our care. We had a columbarium in the dining room, a cabinet containing boxes and pots holding the ashes. I don't have an exact count on the number of containers, but when we emptied the cabinet they filled six boxes that have been stacked in the dining room.
I had decided to take them on hikes with me and scatter the remains along the trails and the river bank where we've hiked. It seemed like a fitting place. I went out on hike with Bailey today and had intended to make a start by taking one package with me. However, with my right arm in a sling and holding Bailey's leash in my left, I wasn't sure I could carry anything else. Also, some of these dogs never went hiking with me.
The one that I randomly picked to start with was a German Shepherd named Klaus. I have only vague memories of Klaus and it seems that he predated my blog, but I did a search and found one mention of him, on his last day. It was from a post titled
"The canine chorus" from May 19, 2013, in which I was d
iscussing the group howl phenomenon: "The most poignant howl I remember was when an old foster, Klaus, died. Everyone knew he was gone or going and as I got him lifted into the van for the final trip to the vet, the howl started up. It was a most beautiful and fitting send off."
Anyway, I never walked Klaus at Pleasant Grove, but he probably did use our pasture, so I decided to scatter this remains out there this afternoon. I did several others as well, including Lady, Arby, Vito (who moved with us into this house 25 years ago), our cat Shooz, and the cremains from one other vessel that I couldn't identify. It was just a start and I'll need to keep at it over the coming weeks.
I did get out for a hike with Bailey and then she accompanied me on my scatter walks out to the pasture once we got home. In many ways Bailey is the embodiment of all the dogs that have gone before her. I learned something from them all and she is the recipient of all that experience, for better or for worse.
We spotted these two young guys in the woods.
Candace joined us on the pasture walks this afternoon too.
This is just one of three sections of our columbarium.
I count 16 containers here, so there may be 40 or more total.
Arby
Lady
Vito