Losing a beloved pet, a fixture that makes your yard special

Most of us have something in our yard that is very special to us. It might be your favorite tree. It could be an old-fashioned fragrant shrub that reminds you of your childhood. Whatever it is, the loss of it might create a great sense of sadness because you know this fixture in your yard will never be replaced.

A couple of weeks ago, my family lost a fixture in our yard. It didn’t have any flowers, leaves or roots. It had four paws, and he was covered with hair. Our 12-year-old golden retriever, Colby, succumbed to cancer and crossed the rainbow bridge.

Colby was a fixture in our yard. He loved being outside, and we spent countless hours in our backyard. Most of his time was spent chasing tennis balls, as most retrievers do, although Colby was more of a “collector” than a “retriever.”