Farewell Atlas - You Were Everybody's Dog
In the end it all happened in a flash. One minute myself and Soup were laughing with you as everybody arrived for work. We both told you how good you looked and whispered we’d chat to the vets about maybe getting your cone off today.
15 minutes later Soup called me to tell me you were gone. I’ve known it was coming for months but the air was sucked out of me. An invisible punch to the stomach. How could you be gone?
I know you are probably busy settling in with Tina, Alba and Big Mac right now but I wanted to write to you…
The End Came Just How You Would Have Wanted It
We spent some time on Sunday walking around gently together. I could tell you were very weak but I wanted to show you that the kitchen, storage sheds, offices and all your patrolling areas had been kept in good shape while you were in the hospital. We didn’t want to let you down as we knew how seriously you took your site inspections.
I noticed that you were slower back to your bed and how shallow your breath was. I hoped it might be the first small walk of yet another one of your famous comebacks Atlas but I now know it was your very last land inspection. Looking back, I think you knew too.
It wasn’t an accident you died at 9.15am today which is our busiest time when the team meets and plans the week. I think you waited for everybody to come in and be there, didn’t you Atlas?
I’ve Never Seen A Dog With A Spirit Quite Like You
The vets and medical team were as emotional today as I’ve ever seen them when they said goodbye. They were the ones who were with you when you kept beating the odds. You were more than a patient to us all. You were our beloved friend.
So many times over the past 6 months they have warned me to expect the worst but you always came through. We were nearly starting to take your comebacks for granted.
I think your battles would have broken most other dogs mentally Mr Atlas but then again you are not most other dogs. Every single day of your new life was special to you and I know thats why you fought so hard.
6 Months That Felt Like A Lifetime
People might think it was a joke about you being our security and doing patrols for us Atlas but I know you took it very seriously.
I think you wanted to protect us all because you never had anything in your life until then. I hope you enjoyed the total freedom of the land we gave you and how you could spend the day jumping from area to area doing your checks. I’ll never be able to look at that storage shed and not think of you.
I think watching you recently I figured you out. We all just want to find our place on this planet Atlas. Our raison d’etre. We want to find somewhere where we feel we belong. As I watched you bounce around in the last few months I saw a dog who had spent 10 years alone who finally found his people. You felt like you belonged.
You Witnessed The Good In The World
Just 10 minutes before you passed away I think you felt the joy and happiness around Happy Doggo as your good friend Dolly went off to her new life. It was one of those moments where everybody was buzzing with happiness. That’s what you felt at the end. There was a real happy vibe in the air. Maybe thats why your little body finally decided to call it a day? The perfect moment to go out on a high.
While you used to battle on the streets completely alone I think you fed off the positivity of seeing your doggy friends recover. You have been so sick at times it would have been easy for you to wallow in your own pain but you always set the tone of positivity at Happy Doggo land.
I am absolutely positive that some of our other sick patients looked at you and thought “If he can do it then so can I”. That was the effect you had on humans and other dogs.
You Were Everybody’s Dog
Even though you caught us off guard at a busy time, nobody broke stride for your burial. We were all in shock and incredibly busy but everybody just went off quietly and did their bit to give you a send off.
Your kitchen ladies prepared food. Your beloved garden team prepared your grave. The medical team cleaned you up. Flowers were picked. I didn’t even know we had a table cloth or so many seats but everybody just magicked up a little celebration. I think that tells you what you meant to us Atlas. There were no dry eyes.
I know people around the world will be sad to see you go Mr Atlas. There was just something about you that always put a smile everyone’s face. A little kind gentleman who didn’t have a bad bone in his body.
In a world with such division, cruelty and bad news you were a little ray of sunshine not just in our world but on people’s phone screens. You were the type of dog that never asked for a thing and who just radiated infectious joy. Even people 10,000 miles away could pick up on that.
You showed us all how to live in the moment. You showed that no matter what weight any of us might carry in life there is always a future out there. I told you about the messages people sent me who were also sick and how you inspired them. Imagine a little street dog from Thailand having that impact on the world.
There aren’t many creatures that can say they left the world a better place than they found it by just being themselves. But you did Mr Atlas. We all loved you dearly and I think you felt that.
I’m very sad tonight Atlas but just like you I’ll put a brave face on and keep marching on. You taught me that. Meeting you was one of the best things to ever happen to us all.
Big Love
Niall
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