I put out bird food all year long. I love to watch all the birds flock around the feeder, just like people, some are bullies, some shy. Then I have the predictive squirrel I will call “Alice”. She gets up on the feeder and no matter if the wind is blowing, she twirls with it and grabs her snacks. Alice is a glutton and I have to stand out the back door and yell at her.

She then invites her family to come along and just eat till they are belly full. She will stretch out in the shade and just rest. I bet she is tired.

Then there is the momma Robin, still feeding a young one that flies on it’s own. She swiftly runs along the ground and grabs a worm, perhaps a bug and puts it into the mouth of her youngster. There used to be two of them that followed her around. One has either perished, or decided it was time to be on his own. I would like to think the latter is true.

Do animals grieve? Well of course they do. I have watched a Momma cow stand out in a field, bawling for her calf that did not survive the night. I have watched a cat looking for her newborns that were killed by a varmit. But the one time I really watched an animal grieve was when my dog, Thor was beside me, crying real tears, as I was crying. This dog sensed the absence of Walter. He would look out the window for him.

The day they brought Walter’s belongings to us, Thor jumped up excitedly and ran to the window, his tail was going so fast that I thought it would fly away. The truck pulled in the driveway and the gentleman that had his gear came in the front door. Thor ran to him without thinking and started to jump up and then, he backed away. THIS was not Daddy, he smelled a bit like Daddy, but what was he doing with Daddy’s things? The dog looked to me for answers and just came and sat with me. The man left. He took the truck that had belonged to my husband and drove it away. Thor was watching the whole time. I went back to my bed and crawled into my nest. My hideaway. Thor came running and jumped up next to me with one of Walter’s dirty shirts. He made a bed with it and did his circle of 3 and laid on it, looking up at me.

Have you ever cried so hard you could not breathe? I started doing this again, I could not stop. Thor crawled next to me and my husky was crying real TEARS. He and I laid there for about an hour, wrapping our souls around each other and I think he knew Daddy was gone at that point. He would lick my hands, then my face. His large paws would reach out to me and he snuggled under my chin.

Thor was a beautiful animal. All white with piercing blue eyes. Walter adored him, and it was mutual. Thor became sick with Addison’s Disease about two months later. He moved in with Kris while I was trying to manage myself and my emotions. We lost Thor this past Easter of 2022. He died at the vet’s office. Kristopher was a wonderful caregiver and drove him about 90 miles as he was dying in his lap to the one emergency vet that was open that night.

Walter welcomed him, I know this with all my heart. Now he is with Walter, all of our family, and Bubba, Walter’s first husky that became his best friend. I know he is safe with them. We have his ashes and some of his hair and a pawprint.

See, we not only have deep grief for the people we lose, but out animals as well.