In Memory of Tinky—Letting Go In Faith

by Roarie Chatham

I had to put my beloved dog Tinky “to sleep” two days ago. She started having severe seizures while snuggled up between my husband and me on our bed. We rushed her to the emergency room and there was nothing that could be done for her. Although the medicine they gave her quieted her down, she was still seizuring in spite of it. I had to make a decision. I’ve had to make this decision before. I told the vet to put her down.

Tinky had saved my son’s life. She came to us one day, following my son home after their mutual encounter with a bull in a pasture. My son, thinking there weren’t any animals in the pasture, and not seeing this bull, decided to cut through it to get home rather than going around it. About midway, the bull appeared out of nowhere, charging my son. And Tinky appeared just as quickly out of nowhere and started her clowning antics, distracting that bull long enough so my son could run for his life and dive over the fence to safety. Tinky loved to run, and we use to say she “ran like the wind.”

Tinky followed Joe home that day and “adopted” us. She wouldn’t leave. I later found out she had been a “throw away” pup. Someone in a nearby neighborhood had actually seen someone throw her out of their van in the neighborhood and drive off, leaving this poor little creature to fend for herself. The day she followed my son home, she was a mess. Half starved, full of cuts and scrapes, we took her in and nursed her back to health. To say she was a joy isn’t enough. She was a vital spirit that filled our home and our lives with love.

So why did I do it? Why didn’t I pull out all the stops to try and save her? Tinky lay there in front of me in horrible pain. Even sedated, her little body was still having seizures. I could see her pain. I knew there was only one right choice and yet what kept going through my mind was how could I kill the very one who saved my son’s life? How could I do this to her? Anything medical that could be done was only going to prolong her agony. I had to reach out to God, and do this in faith. It was time and I told the vet, do it.

I stayed there with her while the vet gave her the injection. We prayed and I told her, go into the light little one. Remember all the times we talked about Jesus? Well, He is waiting for you to come with Him now. It is time to cross over Rainbow Bridge and go play with Shalom, and Shadow, and Pepper. I am going to miss you like crazy, but it’s okay for you to leave now.

Tinky died peacefully, knowing I was right there with her and her puppy angels were right there to help her cross over.

God blesses us with animal friends in dogs that love us unconditionally. Our puppies love us even more intimately sometimes, I think, than our human family. They see us get undressed, they don’t care if we are naked or not. They eat, sleep, work and play with us. They are for us at our best and at our worst. And when it is their time to go home, there is an empty place inside that only time will heal. Day by day, I will be one day closer to seeing her again. But for now, I mourn her passing.

With all my heart, Tink, I miss you. With all my love, I let you go. Father, thank You for helping me to be strong enough to do what was right. Thank You that I know Tinky is in Heaven, with You. I know lots of people don’t believe that animals go to Heaven when they die. But we both know better. Anything so full of Your Spirit of Love never dies. Anything so full of Your love, can’t go anywhere else but Heaven. So, Tink, I just want to say this to you, I love you little girl. And I hurt so bad because I miss you so much. But it will get better as I know with each passing day, I will be one day closer to seeing you again. Mark 16:15 And Jesus said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Thank you, little creature, for bringing God’s love into our home. We will never forget you.