Bon Voyage, Casco... Rest easy, old friend.

This morning I received an email from the Maine island cousins telling me that their very sick dog may finally be done with her fight for life...  They wrote:

Hi Elizabeth,

Have been meaning to write you to let you know Casco is checking out. She is here with us, comfy on the couch at the end of a week of not eating...her liver started to refuse food and she had to go with it. We are hoping she will journey off via sleep so cancelled a vet appointment today as we felt it would be stressful and hopefully nature can take its course. She has wakeful moments, like "I cannot leave this world...who will guard the yard..And you?" As ever though, we are following her lead here, hoping not to see her in any pain, or we will have to head the mainland route. We have all said goodbye, even Linda our [local to me] neighbor by phone, and let her know it is ok to go, even though we will miss her, we will stiver on...but Hanna said she wonders if Cass might also be waiting for you to give the ok, just via brain waves...so I thought—good idea, I had been meaning to let you know anyway. So, please send her some send offs if you can...it would be so much more her if she can go from here.

And so I sat down and wrote the following...

Hi, all... Thank you for letting me know.  Casco has certainly fought a long and brave fight, having lived so many years with fullness despite her various adversities.  She has been such a personality.  As her spirit winds its way heavenward, Casco may find the perfect comrade to whisper her guardian secrets to, to send your way, as Ptolli sent us Amanda, completely unexpected but exactly what we needed.

And so we will pray for endless sleep and rest, which she so deserves, and light a candle for her tonight at church, that she might see a beautiful light in her dreams, and follow it... And when she awakes it will be in a meadow of tall green grass under a huge shade tree with squirrels racing through its branches, by a brook... And when she goes to drag herself forward, it is suddenly no trouble at all, as she is light and strong and with four perfect legs she was always meant to have... Oh the riotous barking then!  And here comes Ceile with her tail wagging so hard and fast, as it touches both sides of her body, to show her all the best spots, to give Casco a quick lick on her face and assure her that Abby will look after "our girls" and it's okay to rest and be happy.

Godspeed, dear Casco.  You are a very brave dog, you have worked so very hard, and it is indeed okay to rest and let go now.  You are very loved and that love will go on and on.

Love, Elizabeth

John and I have escorted four dogs into the-life-to-come... I wish allowing any of them to pass in their own time at home had been an option.  And I really hope Casco can slip away in her sleep soon.