September 2, 2012, 9:14 AM
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I want to say a big thank you to all of you for consoling me about my loss of Olivia. I guess the reason that I felt the need to write about her passing is because I needed to be consoled. I don't often - or really ever - write about my private life because I firmly believe -- as I think everyone did until Karl Marx came along - that we should separate our professional lives from our personal ones. My family exists separately from my work and if I have my way, my work and my family will always remain separate from one another. But since I raised the subject, I will write a few words about her. They won't do her justice. But they will have to suffice for now.
Olivia was an amazing dog. She was smart and sensitive. She was obedient and affectionate. And I never trained her. I used to say that Olivia's leash was in her head, that there was an invisible leash connecting her to me at all times. I carried a leash with us so that I could put it on to make people happy. But she never needed one. The only time she didn't come when I called her was when she was busy hunting. And then she came as soon as she was finished.
Olivia shared almost every moment of my life with me since I brought her home from a shelter in Tel Aviv on Friday December 13, 1996. She was just six weeks old. I can't think of a single major or minor event that occurred in my life since that day that she wasn't there for, or at least there directly before and after. And since she died on August 23, she's been missing every moment.
Before my children were born, I used to think that Olivia filled the role of a child in my life. But once they were born I realized I had been mistaken. Olivia's role in my life was very different from the role of a child. She was my partner.
Olivia was there for me and with me, with all of her heart. She did whatever she could to make my life better. She comforted me when I was upset. She guarded me at all times. She got me up and out when I didn't think I had the strength to get out of bed.
Most of the time, she just kept me company. She woke up with me in the morning. She lay at my feet as I worked. She sat by my seat at the table when I ate. She sat next to me when I watched TV. She slept next to my bed. We hiked all over Israel and the US. We took road trips all over Israel and the US and parts of Canada.
She loved everyone who I loved. She tolerated everyone I tolerated. And she despised anyone she thought was bad to me and wouldn't let them get near me.
She loved every aspect of life except being away from me. She never lost her appetite. She never lost her love of adventure even when she could barely walk and was stone deaf. She went swimming two weeks before she died.
Olivia taught me a lot about love.
It's often said that taking care of a dog is hard work. But I never felt that taking care of Olivia was hard work, even in the end when I had to carry her up and down the stairs and clean up after her and hold her up when she was eating. Being with her made me understand that it is never a burden to take care of those we love. It is a joy to do so. It isn't just a duty. It is a privilege, a gift.
Some of you have kindly offered to give me a new dog. I appreciate it very much. And I am certain that sooner rather than later, I'll adopt a new puppy. But Olivia will never be replaced. She was my dog. She belonged to me alone. My next dog will belong to my family. And so I need to wait until my family is ready to welcome a dog into our fold.
A friend told me long ago that all dogs go to heaven. I don't know if he was right about all dogs. But Olivia certainly went to heaven. I received several emails in the last week telling me that Olivia is waiting to be reunited with me when my time comes. And although I certainly don't intend to hasten our reunion, I am comforted by the thought that my guardian angel dog on earth is now my guardian angel dog in heaven.
So again, thank you so very much for all of your good wishes. It means a lot to me.
God bless all of you.
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she seemed like a great dog, thanks for sharing this story, heartwarming.
Going through the same thing with my Boston Terrier Endicott. He died August 21. My wife and I were with him 24 hours a day. We were lucky enough to take him to work with us, go for walks on the Common during lunch, and walks around town at night. He was quite a celebrity on the commuter rail. He wasn't afraid of anything, and dealt with epilepsy, allergies, a sensitive stomach, nearly poking his eye out, ear infections, and more bravely. He didn't have an angry bone in his body and never knew how to deal with dogs who were aggressive with him. He was friendly with everyone, and he never showed any symptoms of the cancer that led to the end of his life. He was my little buddy and 11 years with him seems all too short.
Thanks for sharing your personal thoughts and feelings about your pet.
Proverbs 12:9 says righteous people care for the needs of their animals.
God bless you for taking good care of Olivia when she was alive.
You mentioned she taught you a lot about love and that is very good.
It is God's way to treat pets with love and they respond in a positive way to that.
We also should love one another and care for one another in the proper way living by the ten commandments. The first four show us how to love God and the last six show us how to love our neighbour.
Dear Caroline, many people sent you kind words because of the death of your pet that you loved so much.
My feeling is that so many sent you kind, gentle and sensitive words of comfort and support because we all care about you and love you very much.
Thanks for sharing that.
For future reference, please always keep your dog on a leash when you are in public. I know, your dog is different, it would never hurt or chase anyone. But I don't know how many times I've heard that same report from somebody whose dog is actually chewing on my leg. I shouldn't have to figure out if your dog is well behaved or a nut case like its owner. It should be on a leash.
"A friend told me long ago that all dogs go to heaven." - The Russian theologian and philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev, a deeply religious man, once said: "I don't need afterlife if my cat Vassily won't be in it." Food for thought. If there's a heaven, one's beloved pets must go there too, otherwise what's the point.
OMG… is this Facebook :-) ? Sorry. Hope you find a loving guardian angel that makes you forget the loss of your pet.
Please fight your way out of this agony, Caroline. We need your cool intelligence.
If anything Caroline we have to thank you for this moving tribute to a unique companion. I remember a speech you gave where you spoke of Olivia's special qualities and how fortunate you were. I too believe there is a special place in heaven for our beloved pets and Olivia is probably leading the pack laughing all the way. It was our pleasure to offer you the comfort you so badly needed. G-d bless you and your family and may He keep you safe.
Thank you so much for sharing. I just knew that with that with that brilliant mind there is a rich heart.
I have buried over 30 rescued animals on my property, and they have taught me more than I can fathom. G0d allows us to borrow them, and G0d takes them when G0d sees fit. Every moment with them is a priceless gift, as they are just more of what we love and loves us back.
Ricardo
Thank you for sharing Olivia's story with us Caroline. God truly blessed you with a special ministering spirit in Olivia.
I felt privileged to read this personal insight Caroline. I felt your loss and can imagine the gap that is left by Olivia. Not everyone is so blessed to enjoy that rich companionship that you have experienced. Someone once said "It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all". God richly bless you and heal your heart.
Best wishes (and a hug) Caroline and family. x
Dear Caroline,
I have a Border Collie whose behavior toward me is as you have experienced with Olivia, which leads me to believe that we here on earth get a brief glimpse of the unconditional love of G-d through our connection with these faithful animals. Thank you for sharing a part of your personal life with us because it connects us with you all the more intimately in the realization that we are all friends and extended family members experiencing the same love, joy, hopes and fears, it serves to bring us all together!
Thank you for sharing what Olivia meant to you.
Thank you Caroline for sharing what comes about to all animal lovers,sooner or later. Appreciate,the 'human' face of your beloved Olivia.Thanks much, again!!/ja
You were most fortunate, Caroline, to have such a wonderful dog for so long! My wife and I are two retired people in Wisconsoin - no children around - and when Suzie, our Golden Retriever died in September, 2010, my wife was absolutely devastated. And still is. We have another Golden, Suzie's younger full sister from another litter - but she is not Suzie. We got Kayla originally because we knew how Suzie's loss would affect us and this was an attempt, fruitless, as it turned out, to mitigate that loss.
We are Catholic and Catholics don't generally believe animals have immortal souls. That troubled me and I contacted a Jesuit professor of mine who confirmed that position. I still wasn't happy, so I contacted a parish priest I know who effectively consoled us with words to the effect that since God embodies love, and our Suzie was consummately loving, that in some mysterious way she will be in heaven awaiting us. That helped!
Caroline, that was a wonderful tribute to Olivia.
Benjamin
I feel your pain as I lost my best pal two years ago and even though I received another wonderful pet three months after his demise, no one will ever replace him in my heart. I look forward to sharing my next life with him. G-d look over your Olivia and also my darling.
How special to read this piece and see these photos. Thank you so much for sharing in this way. So very special for so many reasons. G-d bless you, Caroline Glick.
Thank you, Caroline for your eloquence, and my sincere condolences to you. I have four pups at home with me, and lost one several years ago, who died in my arms in the hospital. One of my pups right now, Chipper, will be 11 in December, and he's been diagnosed with a heart tumor. He is to me what Olivia was to you. No matter how many pups you may have in your life, there will always be one who sings to your heart. Like nomadic100, I, too, am Catholic, but have never doubted that a loving God who entrusts us with the care of one of his creatures, would not take it to heaven where it waits for us to be reunited one day. Believe in that Caroline, and trust your heart that Olivia will never leave you.
"Being with her made me understand that it is never a burden to take care of those we love. It is a joy to do so. It isn't just a duty. It is a privilege, a gift." So heartbreakingly true, Caroline!
Thank you for sharing Olivia with all of us; and just as I have no doubt that love binds us beyond this world and into the next, so do I believe that another dog is out there waiting for you and your family, and while he/she will never take Olivia's place, the lessons of love are an ongoing story that doesn't end with our (or our loved one's) final breath, but continues into eternity.
"...it is never a burden to take care of those we love. It is a joy to do so. It isn't just a duty. It is a privilege, a gift."
Indeed. God bless you and your dear friend.
Caroline, I am so sorry about your loss of Olivia. She sounds amazing. You will love another dog, in time, but s/he will have her/his own place in your heart, and Olivia will always have hers. I am told that when we go to the Rainbow Bridge to be reunited with our beloved pets, it will seem to them as if we've been separated for only a moment. (One person told me it would seem about as long as it takes to open a can of cat food.) I know for a fact that dogs and cats (and whoever else) go to heaven, because it wouldn't be heaven if they were not there. Thank you for telling us a bit about Olivia.
Caroline,
Your story is so very typical of the profound and singular love between a dog and her human partner. I join the chorus of dog lovers who wish you a thousand moments of joy as you remember your dear Olivia.
A wounderful heart felt tribute. One thing to remember is that while Olivia was on earth she knew love and was part of a family, starting off in a shelter her life could have gone the other way but becouse of you it did not. In my lifetime I have gone through simular situation several times, makes you question who-saved-who.
Dear Caroline, You who have given so much consolation to all of us who take hope in your clear, strong, and penetrating insights into so many things we need to know about deserve all the consolation I can muster. Of course, we never get over the loss of one we love and you are now going through the inevitable loss we will suffer with our cat Zane, unless he outlives us which is totally possible in this crazy world. I want to share with you the two things that helped us the most when we lost Kit-Kat years back, the RainbowBridge website, which may be too sweet for you as a hard-nosed reporter, and the homeopathic remedy Ignatius Amara, I believe it is called, which helps with grief to a point I found hard to believe. You almost feel too good and worry you should be grieving more. Please forgive me for rambling. It isn't often that I have anything approaching the usefulness of what you write to share with you. Olivie was a lucky dog. We will all meet again.
she lived and loved for 112 human years.
give yourself the love and nurturing she gave you to send love to her heart.
just as you wish to be free from the pain and suffering of your loss, wish that all be free from their pain and suffering.
thank Hashem for the gift of her love and that she is at peace, free from pain and suffering.
Wonderful..., tears and more tears... She looked so much like my Solo, and he was my best and ONLY real friend for 12 years.I did not have the heart to take an other doggie yet, I will do it one day, but like you, I will always miss him
Caroline's emotive, poignant and eloquent column verifies that people who don't love dogs have never really met a dog.
Olivia had a very good life with you, Caroline. And in your private moments maybe you read some of your writings to her. She was a lucky dog. Blessings to you and yours,