From the heart of Montreal all the way to Oslo!

Today's subject is a bit of a toughie but one which all pet owners will empathize with: the loss of a beloved family pet. Oslo, our very own "office manager" and real life champion boxer had been a real trooper for many months this past summer, having fought to stay on at his post while at the same time giving his family some extra-precious fun times and good memories. Sadly, at the very end of the summer, he needed to be set free to go off and lie in warm sun during eternal summery days, where he can bark as loud as he wants and chase anything that moves.

One can rationalize the loss of an amazing dog (or other pet) all one wants, but they become such an integral part of a family's life that the loss is taken exactly as if another family member had passed on. Don't expect people who never had pets to truly get it, but if they do say "Come on, it was just an animal!" then you should feel free to tell them to zip it. 

One cannot expect a non-musician to understand the almost crazy love of a guitar player for his favorite old guitars. Even if they have 22 of them, and can afford to buy top-of-the-line instruments at any time, there is an affection for their fave old "friend" that simply cannot be questioned. Ditto a car lover's adoration of his old 1950's pick-up truck that he spent many years renovating and bringing back to full use, for example. But pets are living breathing creatures with personalities, voices, foibles and wide-ranging emotional pull that work their way into our homes and hearts in ways that are totally irresistible. 

If there is one thing that I do believe about having a pet, it is that one has to face, from day one, the inevitability that in all likelihood, we will outlive that animal. So from the second that we decide to bring one home, we have unofficially signed the agreement that one sad day we will have to do right by that animal, and face its tragic loss. It's part of the deal. 

But as to why we take it so badly when the time comes, I do have one hypothesis. Yes, of course, it's totally natural in any case to mourn the loss of a faithful old friend who brought as much sunshine into the home (as Oslo undoubtedly did), and there will be a huge hole in our lives that the pet used to occupy. But in some ways, I think that it also has something to do with the fact that not only are the pets our babies, but that they remain babies!

So, unlike children, who grow up and are increasingly able to look after themselves and head out on their own, our pets by and large remain our babies: they need feeding, washing, walking and poop-scooping for their entire lives. In many ways, in our eyes at least, they never grow up and we always have a baby to look after at home. This parental role is a very strong bond for us humans, and for as long as we are still running after them and cleaning up after them, we are the Mom or the Dad. 

I in no way want to compare the loss of a pet with that of human life, but what I am saying is that the loss of  a pet is emotionally very similar to a child being sick or injured, especially given our protective role over the "kids". In many ways, the dog or cat is just another one of the kids, who doesn't grow up and who will always need us just as we in turn need them. It's a very symbiotic relationship and the unspoken but demonstrable love of an animal for its human family is the huge reward with which we are blessed. 

In Oslo's case, he had a full life that was equally full of love with his family all around him, and against all the odds he even became a Canadian champion as part of his adventure! In recent times he had also joined in on the hunt for "Them evil hawgs" (American Hoggers, A&E) as can be seen in the picture above with his pal Jerry. Furthermore, he has become something of an internet celebrity and canine sensation via his presence on all of the Evergreen Umbrella social media sites, where he has stamped his paw on the brand itself. 

It was a dog's life, and he sure made the most of it. He is going to be missed terribly by the Ciurlis, but whenever they need to be reminded of him all they will have to do is pay a visit to any EU site, where he will be living on each and every day for as long as we do. He's a celebrity and he demands that spotlight! - EU