Losing a beloved pet is never easy. For us, it’s been a heartbreaking few weeks. We had to say goodbye to two of our cherished companions, Molly and Raffy, within just a week of each other. Our hearts are heavy as we share this experience, but we hope that by doing so, we can offer comfort to others who have gone through—or will go through—this painful part of the pet journey.
Molly’s Final Days: A Peaceful Goodbye
Molly, our Miniature Schnauzer, had been the heart of our home for so many years. But recently, she started to show signs of illness—refusing to eat, drinking very little, and becoming lethargic. After a series of vet visits and tests, we received devastating news. Molly was diagnosed with Histiocytic Sarcoma, a very aggressive form of cancer. We had hoped for more time, but when she lost the use of her back legs, we knew it was time to make the hardest decision we could ever face.
We reached out to Springfield Farm Pet Cremation, a local service that had come highly recommended. Despite the overwhelming grief I was feeling, they were kind, understanding, and so compassionate. They arranged for Charlie from Halo Vets to visit us at home. Charlie was calm, patient, and incredibly gentle with Molly. He made sure she wasn’t in pain and was comfortable before administering the sedative that would let her peacefully drift off in her own bed, surrounded by the people who loved her.
We had a few moments with Molly after she passed, just sitting with her and saying our goodbyes. When James from Springfield Farmwith
A couple of days later, James returned with Molly’s ashes and a beautiful candle, along with a cremation certificate. We also had the option to keep a paw print, and I chose a necklace with some of Molly’s ashes inside, a way to keep her close to me always.
Raffy’s Decline: Losing Two in Such a Short Time
We knew Raffy, our elderly Westie, would struggle without Molly, but we never anticipated it happening so soon. Less than a week after losing Molly, Raffy’s health began to rapidly decline. She had been living with advanced arthritis for a while, and the loss of Molly seemed to have taken a massive toll on her. Just like Molly, she lost the use of her back legs.
We took her to Animals Trust Veterinary Hospital in Bolton, where the vet confirmed that the discs in Raffy’s spine had deteriorated. At her age, surgery wasn’t a viable option, and we agreed with the vet’s recommendation that it would be too cruel to subject her to any further procedures.
Wanting to give Raffy some final time in the comfort of her own home, we brought her back, allowing her to rest by the fire, her favorite place. Again, we called Charlie from Halo Vets and James from Springfield Farm, who, even though it was a Saturday evening, responded with the same compassion and professionalism that had helped us with Molly.
Charlie arrived at 6:00 PM, and Raffy passed peacefully in her own bed, where she had been most content. About half an hour later, James arrived to take her into his care. She was wrapped in her favorite blanket, just like Molly had been, and we said our final goodbyes.
A Peaceful Goodbye: How We Made the Toughest Decision
Saying goodbye to our pets is never easy, and we know it’s one of the hardest decisions any pet owner can face. However, after our experiences with Molly and Raffy, we now feel that there’s no other way we would have wanted it. Both of them were allowed to pass peacefully in their own home, in their own beds, surrounded by love. It was a peaceful, dignified end—nothing traumatic or fearful about it.
We can’t express enough gratitude to Charlie and James for the care and kindness they showed us during these difficult times. They were incredibly understanding, professional, and patient. If you’re ever in the awful situation of having to say goodbye to a beloved pet, we highly recommend both of them.
We’re sharing this story not just because we need to grieve, but because we know there are many others going through the same thing, or will in the future. It’s a painful journey, but knowing that our pets were loved and cared for until the very end brings us comfort.
Finding Comfort in the Aftermath
Rest in peace, Molly and Raffy. You will forever be in our hearts. 🐾💙
