When the phone rings, in the middle of the night, we hold our breath and brace that sinking feeling of inevitable bad news. One night, as I reached to answer the phone whose ring cut through the silence nothing could prepare me for what was waiting. Mum’s voice whispered that our little Maltese terrier had passed and in that instant my heart broke in two.
The words my sister wrote on his passing always have me believe that he was more than just a pet, he was family. “In our hearts you hold a place no one could ever fill, if tears could build a stairway and heartbreak makes a lane, we’d walk the path to heaven and bring you back again.” Many furry friends have etched their way into our hearts, leaving heartbreak when they pass. Many celebrities have written love letters to pets and used their heartbreak as a way to immortalise that love for their lost companions. Here are three of the most moving love letters to pets written by celebrities. Pass the tissues.
Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Revolution. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.
Love letters to pets #1: Malcolm Turnbull’s eulogy to his little terrier Mellie;
Mellie, our little terrier, died yesterday. She was nearly eleven and had been very sick for the last few months. Dogs know a lot more than they let on, Mellie could always sense if we were a bit down or worried and she would make sure to hang around. She could tell when she was needed and her calm was always reassuring. Are dogs wise? Or do we just imagine it, transferring to them virtues and qualities we would wish for ourselves?
Yesterday she slipped out the dog door. When she hadn’t come back after a little while I looked out for her. Often when I did that I would see her snuffling around in the garden, looking under bushes, rustling around in the undergrowth having little doggy adventures of her own. But this time, the last time, I could see her lying there, in one of her favourite places, quite still. Mellie was dead.
Why do we love dogs so much? Is it because they are loyal and loving? Is it because they love us for what we are, without judgement? How can it be that in a world of so much human tragedy, so much momentous and terrible change, we shed tears over the death of a little white dog? Is it because, as Byron said, our dogs have all the virtues of man, without his vices?
Dear little Mellie, you were such a brave, fond and loyal friend. All your pack will miss you and never be quite the same without you.
Love letters to pets #2: Sarah Silverman’s letter to her beloved little Duck;
Duck “Doug” Silverman came into my life about 14 years ago. Since then we have slept most every night together (and many lazy afternoons.) He was a happy dog, though serene. And stoic. And he loved love. Over the past few years he became blind, deaf, and arthritic. But with a great vet, good meds, and a first rate seeing-eye person named me, he truly seemed comfortable.
Recently, however, he stopped eating or drinking. He was skin and bones and so weak. I couldn’t figure out this hunger strike. And then, over the weekend, I knew. It was time to let him go.
