Too many sad goodbyes.

Seems like it's been a tough couple of months for many people in my world, as far as having to say goodbye to a pet. I've had several contacts come to me and ask them to please paint a picture of a pet they recently said goodbye to, and I know how hard that is. 
In the last few months, my own family had to say goodbye to our wonderful 17 year old cat Gracie, and also to our 11 year old Westie dog Sugar.  

We are an incomplete family now, down to one little dog for a pet, and all of us are left with broken hearts. Rosie the wonderpup is not her usual self... she is listless and mopey without her best friend Sugar, and the cat to follow around and investigate. Much less hopping to get places, more slow walking. But she, like my wife, son and me, carries on the best way she can, enjoying having all the bones and couches to herself. Staring off in to space perhaps a bit more than usual. I wonder often if she thinks about her friends....

---

And so it goes. Another wonderful pet lover brought me the challenge of painting not only her beloved golden retriever, but herself as well in the picture, to share one of the last embraces they shared. The original pictures were heartbreaking, as they depicted exactly the feeling pet lovers have as the last goodbye looms closer... that needs to just hug and wish this never had to happen.