Yesterday I had to say farewell to a fabulous soul. His name was Clipper. He was an 11 year old Landseer/angel whom Paul and I took into our lives 5 years ago. Clip endured more pain in his first 6 years than I can even put into words. He once belonged to a sadistic horror of a human. He was beaten, tied up, scarred, cut, burned, starved..you name it, Clipper saw it. You would think that such a life would leave a dog scarred emotionally as well as physically. Certainly he was scarred on his nose and under his thick beautiful coat BUT, the beauty of Clipper was that he refused to hold the cruelty of the past against the humans of the present. Once he realized that we were going to love him and that he would NEVER be hurt again, he left that life behind him and he simply devoured life in a loving home. He was the picture of Newfie goodness. He accepted the love he was given and he sent it back out into the world tenfold. EVERYONE who met him, LOVED him. People would just stop by to take him for a hike in the woods. He could change your mood from dark to light in an instant. He was just a "feel good" dog.
........Today, our home feels empty, our hearts are broken, but grief is the price we pay for love. I would pay it again and again for the sheer delight of belonging to such a dog. A dog, who, without rescue, would likely have died without having the opportunity to share his love with everyone he met. That is why we do this work, for the Clippers of the world.
Hold your furkids close and NEVER forget that this work we do is so important to the voiceless ones, like Clipper. He and all of the others out there waiting for someone to care, deserve every good thing that we can give them. Thanks for including us in your rescue efforts! ~ Anne
From all of us at Newf Friends, we are so very sorry for your loss Anne and Paul. We all share your grief.Rest well sweet Clip-Clop.
Beauty without Vanity, Strength without Insolence, Courage without Ferocity, and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.
