Dear all,
Orli Kruger, My guide dog, crossed the rainbow bridge yesterday afternoon, Thursday 2 February 2023, at 17:00.
She was born in August 2007, was brought up by her human family, attended the SA Guide Dogs school for clever doggies and graduated in April 2009.
I met her on April 6th, 2009 in Johannesburg, South Africa, at SA Guide Dogs, and we trained up to the end of April of the same year.
She was my companion, my eyes, my light, my friend, my mentor and many other things for ten years, up to June 2019. She then retired but, still lived with me to October 2022.
She spent her last few months with her other human family in the beautiful cape but, alas, old age and health complications finally caught up with her and her quality of life was no longer good so, the decision was made to let her cross the bridge to a land of no pain.
I would like to say thank you to those who played a positive roll in Orli’s life during all these years.
Do not be sad. Remember the good times and the love and companionship that Orli brought into our lives.
She was intelligent, confident, and charismatic, and I admired her for her positive attitude and infectious personality. She won over so many people who were against guide dogs, especially within the Muslim community. Yes, it is sad but, in practice, many Muslims are very much against guide dogs, or anything really that would give a blind (or any person with a disability) any level of real and meaningful independence. However, I am not too concerned as the Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said, “A good deed done to an animal is like a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as cruelty to a human being.” So, they will get their reward on the day of judgement.
She was always gentle, kind and forgiving, even to those who HATED her and who always made a point of cursing her and abusing her in their not so subtle ways.
Breed
Orli was a Golden Retriever and her breed originated in Scotland in the late 19th century. The breed was created by crossing a Tweed Water Spaniel with various retrievers, including the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Irish Setter, and the Bloodhound. The result was a dog with a strong retrieving ability and a friendly, good-natured personality, which made it popular among hunters and sportsmen.
The Golden Retriever’s good looks, loyalty, and affectionate nature quickly made it a popular pet as well. The breed was first recognized by the Kennel Club (UK) in 1903, and it has since become one of the most popular breeds in the world. Today, Golden Retrievers are commonly kept as family pets and are valued for their love and affection towards their owners, as well as their obedience and trainability. They are also often used as service dogs, working dogs, and therapy dogs due to their intelligence, trainability, and gentle nature.
Name
The name Orli was chosen by her puppy-walker who also did an excellent job with teaching her so well.
Orli is a unisex name of Hebrew origin and its meaning is “my light.” It is also a diminutive form of the name Orly, which means “light of my life”. The name is believed to have originated from the Hebrew word “or,” which means “light.” In Jewish culture, the name Orli is sometimes used as a shortened form of the name “Orliyah,” which means “my light is the Lord.”
The name Orli can also have different meanings in different cultures. For example, in some cultures, it may be a variant of the name Ariel, which means “lion of God”. In other cultures, it may be a variant of the name Orlagh, which is a Gaelic name meaning “golden princess”.
Thank You
Thank you Orli! Thank you for being so loyal, gentle, kind; for being my rock, for believing in me when my own (then wife and her clan) would not. Thank you for your patience and unwavering commitment, dedication and well-placed stubbornness.
Thank you for saving my life on many occasions when I had no idea where I was.
Thank you for nudging me at the right time when I thought that I was alone and lost and worthless.
Thank you for guiding me through the streets of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, Pietermaritzburg and many other places.
Thanks for climbing mountains with me, literally.
Thanks for jogging with me, when you could.
Thanks for being so gentle with the little kids who crossed your path, even though they sometimes pulled your ears and stepped on your tail.
Poem
I wrote a poem for you, Orli, Golden Princess, Lionness of God, my light.
Orli
****
A faithful friend, with eyes so bright,
A guide to me, in day and night,
With her wagging tail and her soft warm fur, so gold,
Led me with certainty, always bold.
A faithful friend and constant guide,
With eyes so gentle and a heart so wide,
A loyal companion, never far from sight,
A shining example of courage and might.
She led the way through every street,
With gentle nudges, and wagging tail for all she’d meet,
With eyes so keen and heart so true,
She safely navigated, all day through.
The gentle touch of a wet nose on my hand,
The wag of a tail, waiting for my command.
They say that dogs are a man’s best friend,
And with you Orlagh girl, that statement was never in doubt, to the very end.
She brought so much love, comfort and light,
To me and others, day and night.
She’d always be there, never to roam,
A constant companion, in sickness or home.
She was more than just a dog, but a friend so true,
A guide through life, in all I’d do.
Her legacy will live on, in memories so bright,
Of a faithful guide dog, who guided with might.
But one day, she took her final rest,
Her journey on earth, truly the best.
She left a void, in the heart of her family and friends,
Who’ll miss her wagging tail, until the very end.
But in our memories, she’ll always stay,
A shining star, that lights the way,
A hero in every sense of the word,
Our love for her, forever heard.
It hurts, feels like a burn,
Your absence leaving a pain that’s hard to turn,
Though your time with us was all too brief,
The memories we have of you bring sweet relief.
You gave us strength when we were feeling weak,
A guide when we needed to navigate life’s peaks,
And even though you’re no longer by our side,
Your example, love and guidance will forever be our guide.
Let us honor this guide dog with care,
And remember the joy that she used to share.
Though you may have left us far too soon,
Your spirit lives on in the light of the moon.
So let us remember this noble hound,
With every step we take, on solid ground,
And know that in our hearts, she’ll always be,
Our guide, our friend, so brave and free.
****
Rest in Peace, my dearest friend. I love you, Orli.