It is with a sad heart that I write this post today. Yesterday, I held my 11 year old Labrador Retriever, Maggie as she drifted off to sleep for the last time. After suffering a brief illness that was going to get progressively worse, I could not watch her suffer any longer. It was a difficult decision to make, but I put her welfare ahead my own desire to keep her a little longer. She was my good friend and the loving mother to Kohl, my 8 year old black lab.
Born on July 23, 1998 Maggie arrived at my home about 8 weeks later, as a gift from my brother-in-law. She was a beautiful puppy, happy and playful.
I already had a Golden Retriever, named Duchess who was eight at the time, and they soon became good friends. Maggie was the smartest dog I’ve ever had. Ask her for something one time, and she’d go and find it. When she was 3 years old, I breed her with a Chocolate Lab from Brookshire, TX. As the weeks passed, Maggie gained weight and the vet confirmed she was expecting. I was so excited and my nieces were too. They would be there to witness the birth of her litter.
I put a baby pool in the kitchen and filled it soft sheets and blankets in hopes Maggie would use it to have the puppies in. Duchess even chimed in on the activites and wanted to be right with Maggie as the time drew close.
On June 15, 2001 Maggie went into labor in the early evening. I called my nieces and they hurried over to spend the night. Maggie gave birth to the first puppy at 8:39pm. Little did I know this process would last through the next morning and she would go one to have 12 puppies. She had 5 boys and 7 girls, all of them black labs (even though she was yellow and the father was a chocolate – as surprise to me at the time.) One little girl did not start breathing like the others did, and we thought we had lost her. I continued to massage her, cleaned her mouth out again, and she finally took her first breath. All twelve puppies survived. Now the challenge was going to be feeding them. I rotated the puppies over the next few weeks 8 times a day to make sure everyone nursed. Maggie only had ten working nipples, and I did not want to see the smaller and weaker ones pushed aside.
As the weeks went by the puppies grew, played and grew some more.
They frequently called out to their Mom to return whenever they were hunger. As they got older, Maggie visited less often as a good Mom should, so they starting eating the trays of food I put down.
Soon they were on solid food and Maggie breathed a sigh of relief. It was sad to see them go, one by one to loving homes, but as fate would have one male was left behind.
After several failed attempts to find him the right home, Kohl, became part of our family.
He has never known a day without his Mom. Today was the first day for him on his own. I’ve walked him twice and find myself petting him more frequently to comfort him. We are going to spend the day together missing her and remembering all of the good times we’ve had together.
I love you too Kohl.
I love you Maggie. I will never forget you. I will be spreading your ashes in the garden where you grew up so that you’ll always be with us in spirit. You were my trusted companion and my friend. I will miss you deeply.
Previous post: Wordless Wednesday: Midnight Water Lily
Next post: Macro Monday 10/12: Mandevilla sanderei
Why I run my blog on Wordpress Thesis Theme?
Thesis theme gives my blog a clean, easy to read layout in a powerful SEO friendly design. Thesis makes it simple to create a one of kind killer blog or website. Learn more and get your own copy of Thesis today. Free lifetime updates and world class support. Thesis Rocks!
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
What a sad but beautiful story. Maggie sounds precious. I’m sorry for your loss. I know you’ll miss her terribly, but you have wonderful memories of her.
What a great tribute to your best friends and babies and I must say I got very teary eyed. I was raised with a black lab that kept us supplied with babies growing up. We have pictures of when we’d dress her up and play with her. You couldn’t ask for a better tempered dog and pal! I love Labs. I also grew to love Dachshunds and we’ve had 2 – the last passed away last summer, old age and both are buried up on the to end of our property. We miss having a dog terribly but with all of the fleas, being surrounded by woods it just wasn’t fair to them and nothing would get rid of the pests.
My sincere condolences to you. I lost my buddy Bobby last year to a vehicular accident I buried him under his favorite tree. I only had him a short time but the lost was great for me. Give Kohl an extra hug for me.
Hello Jackie,
I am sorry for your loss. It is so hard to lose such a wonderful companion. You have been through so much together. I can honestly say that I know exactly how you feel.
You gave her a wonderful life.
So so sad Jackie. You have my sympathy. She was a beautiful girl and will be with you always.
Jackie, you have my heartfelt empathy and condolences on your loss. Our beloved Yorkie Nala was only 8-1/2 when we had to let her go after a brief illness. Our entire family was with her and as difficult as it was, I would make the same choice if faced with it again. I know Kohl will help you on your grief journey and I hope our words will also bring comfort and healing.
I’m sorry for your loss, Jackie. Maggie sounds like a sweet and loving companion for many years.
Hi Jackie,
I am still teary, too. I want to express my sympathy, too. Our pets are part of our families, and when we lose them, we are losing a family member.
We had a yellow lab, Katie, who died in October of 2002 when she was 14. In December, the people who we had gotten her from called to see if we’d take another lab, who was with a family and it wasn’t working out. I did not want another dog yet, but Larry convinced me to go meet her, and Heidi came home with us. She still has issues, but she wants to be with me when I go outside.
I’m glad you have Kohl to grieve with.
Hugs, Sue
What a wonderful tribute! Wishing you much comfort and peace in the loss of your special freind! What gorgeous array ofpictures of all the beautiful dogs..you captured a wonderful touching journey here on your post for all of us to see. May you be comforted by the powerful light of Maggie’s beautiflu spirit always!
So sorry for you, Jackie, but it sounds like Maggie had a very happy and fulfilled life. Twelve puppies! Super Mum. Hugs to Kohl. Yan
I’m sorry I missed this post. It is a beautiful tribute to your dear Maggie. I know you will miss her. But happy memories of her you have in abundance.
Oh my! What a very sad post and yet a beautiful tribute to Maggie! This reminded me so much of Marley and Me when he dies at the end who was a lab that color. We just watched it last night and we bawled our eyes out. I’m sure you are just heartbroken. They become a very close member of the family and are completely missed. Dogs know no bounds. They love you no matter what. Hugs to you during your loss.
I’m sorry to hear about your beautiful Maggie. Our pets become family to us and it’s so difficult to lose one.
What a sweet story! I know you miss her. Our Curley had to leave us in 2008. We now have Buffy, whose mother was a black part-lab and Buffy is blonde, the opposite of Maggie’s experience. Kohl is a cutie, too, bless his heart.
Thank you everyone for your kind words and sympathy. Last night Kohl finally slept through the whole night without any whimpering. We’ve been walking twice a day, and he appears to be calming down now. He even took the lead last night while walking, which is something he never did with his Mom. Maggie always lead the way and Kohl followed. I guess now Kohl is ready to step out and explore the world on his own. The Circle of Life continues.
With tearful eyes, I want to express my sorrow for your loss. Maggie was a beautiful mother and must have been the most wonderful companion to her human. You are lucky to have her living on in the lively Kohl. He has her eyes, you can see her looking out at you through them. Human children can be like that too. Beautifully and soulfully written, Jackie. A big hug and squeeze for you and a good ear scratch for Kohl.
Frances
Awww, she seems like such a sweetie! Sorry for your loss, she looks like she is well-loved. I’m amazed that she had all black pups! I had a chocolate lab – my first dog. She had eleven puppies the one time we bred her and 3 were chocolate, 4 were yellow and 4 were black. I was away at college when we passed, but it was sad nonetheless. It’s true – our pets are our family members and it is always hard to lose a family member.
My heartfelt condolence to you. Im sure Maggie had lived a wonderful beautiful life with you and she was a great mum of 12. Its truly a lovely tribute that warms the heart.
Jackie – My heart aches for you. Maggie and all your dogs who have gone before will always be with you in spirit. Making the decision to let her go I know is one of the hardest things to do. I’m sure she is with Brandy and Dutchess right now in Heaven smiling, playing and enjoying a good rawhide.
My Maggie is a black Lab and will be 12 next january.I bought her as a puppy right after I retired and shes been my constant companion since then.I picked her because of the small white streak on her chest,and because she was the queen of her litter,when she barked her 9 brothers and sisters ran.
She is a lot like her mother,and the sweetest dog I have ever seen,and when the day comes I am going to miss her.
Odd isnt it.As a human we think we are the center of the universe,but then we discover dogs.
i typed in google. i miss my labrador, found this site. im from the uk and am in my first night without her, she died of a broken heart, her sole mate Ben died 4 weeks ago, he was no shock as his legs were bad,(I made the decision) but she was still like a pup, only 10 and very lively, for no reason she just give up on life, refused to walk or eat, i brought her last night to be looked at, and out of the blue i got the call, ….i miss her so much, am 32 and its the first time in 20 years i have been without a dog, what do i do tonight, walk alone?
…………..thats what i done, am going to have to get a new lab, but i have had 2 heart aches, its a hard thing …wana talk? ….steve……….stephenrickerby@hotmail.com
Hey I also just googled loosing a lab and came across your site. I just lost my yellow lab Starbuck. I got her in middle school, She died at the age of 12 and was doing very well up until a couple weeks ago. I had been planning on going home in two weeks as I’m in graduate school and it greatly saddens me that I didn’t get the chance to really say goodbye. She was my little buddy.
Dear Jackie:
God decided he was bored and decided he wanted to play with my Palas on January 2, 2009. Not one single day passes without me thinking of her. Today I felt like I needed to pet her andy maybe cry a little on her thought . For what is worth, all of my sympath are with you and being Palas now an experienced guest upstairs, I shall ask her to keep an eye on Maggie until the two of you meet again. I know she will, and I know you will.
Thank you for sharing your story and the beautiful pics of Maggie. I too have a lab named Maggie. She is the best friend/companion I could have asked for. If anything were to happen to her, my whole family would grieve for several days…miss school the whole nine yards. It would be a very quiet day for all. I’m glad to hear you kept one of “her” pups..in a sense she is not gone.
Condolences. Thank you for sharing your Labrador pics. I, too, have a Labrador named Maggie. She is due Dec. 24th. Your blog reminded me how much I miss and loved my previous labs – they are truly great friends and God’s creatures. I put Laben down, my lovely black lab, after her battle with cancer – she was 13 years old. I thought I could never find a dog good enough to replace her until I found Maggie. If you take your time, you will find one to warm your heart.
Condolences. even my room mate and I are getting our black lab tomo and we have also decided to keep his name KOHL. we promise you that we will take extra good care of him
I lost my Black Labrador on November 1,2009. My dog was 11 years of age when cancer took him from me. His name was Thurman, and he was a beautiful, extra smart, and loving friend to me, and my family. Now, I do not cry very often, but the loss of Thurman hit me in my soul. The pain of the loss has subsided, but I will never forget him, and how much he loved me, and how truly I loved him. Thurman was Labrador in every sense of the word. He loved to hunt, play, and entertain us….a true clown….but he knew it. Anyhow, I can admit that I shed a few tears when I think of him, but I will eventually get another dog, and Yesssssssssssss……it will be another Labrador Retriever. The best dog God ever made……Period.
Is there anything better than the total love of a trusted companion? I still grieve for my two labs that i had before and during raising my family. I planted a fruit tree where I buried lioness my female lab, I remodeled my backyard and did all kinds of extra work to keep the tree right where it is . My two oldest boys are in college and i still think about the dogs often. I was with lioness as she took her last breath. I got another lab, a chocolate last year….well my son talked me into letting him get a lab. after he got jilted from a year long romance. He spent a lot of time with montey as a pup and it shows, he is a great choclate. My son had to go off to college. Guess who has montey now? Well im addicted again….i love this breed and im again running, going to the beach and doing all the things I did in my early 20′s with my new companion. You just cant help but love these dogs…they are all unique in their own special way. Be happy you gave your dog the best life she could have possibly had.