Special offer

Higgins gone but Never to be Forgotten.

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with RE/MAX Kelowna

We unfortunately had to put our much loved dog down, here is what Tracy wrote about him. It has been hard losing him especially for Tracy as he was her baby.

Higgins
? - Feb 28/13 - Dec.14/19

How do you say goodbye to someone that you loved with your whole heart and soul. How do you say goodbye to your little shadow, your best buddy, one of the little loves of your life.
How do you say goodbye to your constant companion that loves you as much as they love life, I don’t know.
I don’t when Higgins was born but I do know the day he was born to us that day was Feb. 28, 2013.


One of my favorite poems is “The Dash” there are 2 dates the beginning and the end but what is the most important is the dash that dash is how your life was lived. I don’t know how Higgins first dash was lived but by the shape you were in when you came to us it wasn’t a good dash.
I can only hope you felt so loved beyond words because you were. You were one of the family and my little baby and bed hog.
You brought me so much happiness with all your crazy little antics! You were such a happy, kind and loving dog! Your tail was always wagging where ever you went. You loved to greet everyone you met then carry on your merry way. You were such a quiet dog never really barking or bothering anyone. If you had to go out, you would just go stand by the door and wait for us to notice you. Thank you for not peeing on the floor waiting for us to notice!
The only time you were demanding was to go for your morning walk, you loved that walk and could hardly wait to get to your park, you had to see who had been there. You loved to smell every blade of grass and let every other dog know that you had been there. Kick that dirt up there!
Oh how you loved your treats, your treat closet and loved to take me, dad or any poor sucker you could find to follow you there.
You were such a kind and wonderful soul you lovingly excepted every foster dog I brought into your home and willingly shared me with them, you knew they needed a mom too, until they could find one of their own. I think you knew that they came from the same horrible situation you came from.You fell in love with a little blind kitten and made us adopt him for you! You were such a great dad to him. Unfortunately he passed away only a year after coming into our lives.

You loved to be with us no matter what we were doing or where we were going except to the vet! We will always have a good laugh at the fact, no matter how sick or in pain you were in the minute we walked through the vet doors you were miraculously cured!!
You were so loved by everyone that met you they would all comment on what a nice dog you are and so soft!
We drove on all our vacation so you could come along as there was no way in hell I was leaving you behind.
Unfortunately your health was failing and you couldn’t stay any longer. No matter how much I wished you could.
You left us on a sunny warm day in California where you came to us from.
My little Cali boy went home to die but not to stay! You are coming back to Canada with us just not the way I thought, I was so worried this may be your last trip and prayed it wouldn't be.
I can only hope I made your dash a wonderful one!
I’m going to miss you more than you will ever know, I’m going to miss your kisses, your sweet happy face, your sweet loving demeanor, your wagging tail and it was always wagging, your bed hogging and all your crazy antics.
How do I say goodbye? I won’t I’ll only say one day we will be together again and I look so forward to that day!

Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Steve,  We have learned through our own dog loss - that there is no good way to say good-bye.  Just see you later, and let your memories keep you company.  Very sorry for your loss.

Jan 04, 2020 07:37 PM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Bob Crane,

Thank you for your kind comment. You are so correct there is no good way to say goodbye. We do have so many great memories he was such a special guy.

Jan 05, 2020 07:01 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi John Pusa,

Thank you for your kind comment.

Jan 05, 2020 07:02 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Sheila Anderson,

Thank you for your kind comment. I am sorry for your loss. In time we will get another rescue, my wife Tracy volunteers with a dog rescue she will go back to fostering again once we are back home. 

Jan 05, 2020 07:05 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Steve. I have four rescues. The one I lost in July was a foster failure and I think about him daily. I adopted DD in October to honor him. She is 13 (a year older than Billy was when he died) and she lost her Mom and her Dad went into assisted living. No pup ever replaces another but giving one who wouldn't make it otherwise really matters.

Jan 05, 2020 07:15 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Michael Jacobs,

Thank you for your kind comment. He certainly was a master of getting treats  he would and could work anyone into getting him one. But he did it in such a way it was not demanding but cute, he would come to you look at you and get you to follow him and once you did he ran to the treat closet. He never barked or pawed you for one just looked at you and wagged his tail.

He certainly did enhance all those who met him and especially our dashes, he was such a wonderful dog. 

Jan 05, 2020 07:17 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Steve, OOOHHH, so sorry to hear, and was SO cute!   It is definitely emotional when that time comes.  They are our babies! 

Jan 25, 2020 08:18 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Joan Cox Hi Joan,
Thank you for your kind words. Yes he sure cute and was definitely our baby. Especially for my wife as she was always there for him.

Jan 26, 2020 09:44 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Steve:

I'm so sorry to hear. It's always so difficult to do this, even when you know it's the right thing to do to end their suffering. And so very hard to say goodby!

What a wonderful, heartfelt tribute to Higgins!

Jeff

Feb 09, 2020 10:57 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Jeff Dowler, CRS 

Thank you for your comments and kind words. Yes, it is/was very hard to say goodbye to him. He was such a special dog, so so kind to all animals and humans he came across considering his life before us was horrible. 

Feb 09, 2020 06:21 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I am sorry for your loss.

Thanks for sharing your fond memories and thoughts.

Feb 10, 2020 07:37 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Roy Kelley 

Thank you for your comment and kind words. He was such a great dog and is really missed.  

Feb 10, 2020 06:25 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Steve Higgins so sorry for your loss.... I hope your memories of past events with Higgins will help with the grieving for you and your family...

Feb 19, 2020 07:18 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Steve Higgins every thime I think about getting another dog these thoughts cross my mind. I don't know think I want to face another loss.

Feb 19, 2020 12:33 PM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Barbara Todaro 

Thank you for your comment and kind words. He was a big part of our family everything was planned around him due to his health and age.

Feb 20, 2020 11:48 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Bob "RealMan" Timm 

Thank you for your comment. I would love another dog but I feel the same way as you. I know in time we will as Tracy loves all animals especially dogs. Everyone that knows her calls her the dog whisper. She fosters and volunteers with a dog rescue that's how Higgins came into our lives. 

Feb 20, 2020 11:57 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Pets uplift us, entertain us, love us unconditionally and yes, grab our hearts and squeeze when they pass. What a beautiful tribute by Tracy for Higgins!

Mar 25, 2020 07:19 AM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can! 

Thank you for stopping by and reading Tracy's post. They certainly do all that you said. He was such a special dog, so happy, so loving even when he was sick and went to the vet they would all comment on what a nice dog he was. Losing him has been so heart breaking for both of us but even more for Tracy as she was home with him all day he was her sidekick they did everything together.

Mar 25, 2020 05:41 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Steve, I am so sorry to read your post and yes we have been there a few times in our lives...it still hurts... on a side note my  dad's birthday was February 28th ...just a few years earlier...1930 to be exact, Endre

Apr 03, 2020 10:34 PM
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Hi Endre Barath, Jr. 

Thank you. I remember reading your post about losing one of your fur babies. Yes it certainly is hard and not something you get over easily if ever. Sorry for the loss of your father. 

Apr 04, 2020 06:55 PM