I held his paw and slept by his side for 14 days in hospital. But it turned out, all the love in the world wasn’t enough to save him. Thus begins the final post on Life of Dozer.
My dearest Dozer,
You came into my life in my arms, holding you protectively. And after almost 14 years together, I held you in my arms protectively again as I said goodbye.
I was sobbing so hard, I forgot everything I wanted to say to you in our final moments together.
So I started writing this letter to you, to say all those things.
I wanted to reminisce about our wonderful times – the thousands of visits to the dog beach, all the wonderful food we sampled together, the cuddles, the neck-scratching-sessions, our road trips.
I wanted to thank you for spreading the joy that is you with readers all around the world, for happily coming along with me to meet readers at events, book signings, fund raisers, lunches, dinners, not to mention TV shows, photo shoots, and my gosh, we can’t forget our stint on Play School!
But as I sit here, typing away with tears streaming down my face, I realise that’s not what I want to say to you.
What I want to say is thank you.
Thank you for giving me your whole heart.
Thank you for giving me your unconditional loyalty.
Thank you for loving me just as I am, for all my flaws, for never caring what I weigh, what I wear, what I look like.
Thank you for always being there, my one constant through the good and bad times.
Thank you for making me smile, even on the hardest of days.
And thank you for trying so hard to stay with me as long as you could, fighting to heal until your very last day. I will never forget how deep you had to dig to find the strength for your rehab walk on our final morning together.
I know that one day, I will be able to look at photos of you again without sobbing. And I know all this pain I am feeling is because I loved you so fiercely and completely, and I wouldn’t trade it for a second I got to spend with you.
But right now, four days after saying goodbye, it feels like the heartbreak will never heal, like I will never smile again.
Rest in peace, my darling Dozer. I will never forget you, and I will never stop loving you.
Love,
Your mum xoxo
Thank you SASH
To the vets and nurses at the Small Animal Specialist Hospital (SASH),
Thank you for the extraordinary care, skill, and kindness you showed Dozer. Every moment, from the medical expertise to the gentle reassurance and cheering him on, meant more to me than I can say. Knowing he was in such capable, compassionate hands gave me comfort during the hardest days. I will always be deeply grateful for everything you did for my beautiful boy. – Nagi x
Dozer was such a lucky puppy to have you as his mom. Thank you for sharing his life to us!
I am so sorry for your loss.
Be proud that you gave him such a wonderful life.
Oh Nagi,
My heart absolutely cries with you. You have blessed us so very much with countless recipes, but you have also blessed us with funny, heart warming stories of gorgeous Dozer. Their unconditional love and adoration for us is like nothing else. Never judging, always loyal and so so loving. Now I have my own
large goofy, fluff ball, I understand more than ever the heartbreak of not having them anymore –
that sense of loss and loneliness without them by your side. I just want you to know as I read your email, I sobbed with you. All the way from Bournemouth on the south coast in the UK. Most of us have never met you, yet you feel like a friend. My heart is very much with you. Take comfort in the fact that Dozer could not have had a better Mum or a better life. You were the best companion he could ever have dreamed of. We are all thinking of you and sending you love xxx
I’m sobbing. I am so sorry for your loss and my heart goes out to you.
❤️
Thank you Nagi for sharing so much of you and Dozer. I felt like he was my dog too. So many tears right now for you and him. We never want to say goodbye. We always wish they had another 5, 10 more years. That they would pass when we do. That we would have a good 20-30 years with them. That would be only harder to say goodbye. It’s hard enough passing at any age. Our time is coming too. We have an almost 13 year old, almost 9 and 7. 3 dogs we’ve had for almost 9 years. It’s a lot of memories and a lot of love. But we know that day is coming too. What a beautiful and blessed life Dozer had with you. They bring so much to us and steal our hearts. Lots of love and hugs from south Texas. And from our furry friends Angel, Miracle and Kiwi.
Thank you for sharing Dozer with all of us over the years. Loosing a furry child is the hardest thing ever. Know that my thoughts are with you. Sending you big hugs from Canada.
So so sorry for your loss of Dozer He knows he had the best Mama !!
❤️❤️❤️Sending you love and hugs Nagi, I bawled my eyes out when I heard the news. So sorry for your loss xx
Nagi,
Rest assured that Dozer will be waiting for you on the other side!
Dear Nagi.
I am a great follower of you recipes. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I to lost a beautiful Belgium Dog 7 years ago and still today I grieve her and recall all our days together. It is so hard and memory’s of things you both did together will be relieved and remembered every day. Just remember all you beautiful days you both shared together xx
I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope the pain you’re feeling will be eased by the beautiful memories you made with Dozer.💔🐾
I am so sorry for your loss and sadness. Dozer was, for you, the best dog ever. I know another best dog ever will come into your life at just the right time. RIP, Dozer. Good boy.
Oh Nagi, my heart is breaking for you and knowing personally how painful everyday can be, I pray for strength for each moment.
I am so sorry for your loss. This is such sad news. Rest in peace Dozer xxxx
So very sorry.♥️♥️
Nagi. Please know that Dozer passed over the rainbow bridge, is not in pain anymore,is playing with the other pals he sees, and will be waiting for you when your time comes. Unconditional love is the most difficult to lose, but he is still with you and will be in your heart forever. I have been in your shoes. It will get better. Much love and healing, Lucy
I’m very sorry.
So sad. Sending love
I was one of many rooting for Dozer to spend one more day at home with you. I am so sorry for your loss, we never ever forget the ones we loved.
Dear Nagi,
Your heart will always be a little bit broken. That’s the price of loving him so much but he left you his whole heart which will beat with yours always and help you heal. They touch us in so many ways and ask for nothing yet give all. To have had that love with Dozer is a precious and wonderful thing. I wish you healing and comfort
Hi Nagi, please except my condolences on your family’s loss. I’ve been following you and Dozier for quite a while now. To the point where even though we’ve never met I feel that the bond we create with our beloved pets connects us all in some way. I lost two of my best friends in a five month span last year ( Jake and Dexter ) Jake passed first and then Dexter which aside from all he had gone through with his health issues I feel ultimately losing Jake was what broke his heart and will to go on. It’s been said that “ Time heals all wounds “. Although that may be true for physical wounds it certainly doesn’t apply for emotional and psychological wounds. If anything time only softens the pain. There are some that somehow never seem to grow that attached to their pets ( Which I will never understand ). Even after 30 years I can look at a picture of my first dogs or hold their ashes and still start to tear up. I always found it hard to get her the strength to adopt another dog because of the thought of going through the loss again is overwhelming. Yet the silence, the emptiness and warmth they bring to our home is unmatched. By bringing another pet into one’s home is not to replace who we recently lost because they are never replaceable. Instead we do it to fill a need that is missing from our lives and theirs. Life does go on and many believe that if and when you do take in another pet. That pet was sent to you by your previous one to help fill the void and heartbreak.