Losing a beloved pet is one of the hardest experiences many of us face. In this blog The Last Look: Remembering Shadow, we reflect on the life of Shadow, a loyal border collie mix who brought immense joy and companionship to contemporary artist Jim Klein. From his rescue from the humane society to his final days on the farm, Shadow was more than just a pet— he was a steadfast companion and an integral part of Jim’s daily life.
How did Shadow become a part of your life?
Jim: My granddaughter and son found Shadow at the humane society. After they adopted him, my son tried keeping him in their yard in town, but Shadow was a Houdini. He was some sort of border collie mix, and he loved to dig to escape. Eventually, they brought him out to our farm where he had space to roam. He’d been here ever since.
What was Shadow like?
Jim: He was incredibly smart. If you left the farm gate open, he’d stay put, but if it was closed, he’d find a way to break out. He was super lovable and became a favorite of everyone who met him, especially the service people we hired on the farm or our delivery folks. He lived up to his name, always by my side.
Shadow was my constant companion and my painting buddy at the farm studio. Every walk I took, he was right there. Now, when I walk those paths, it feels different without him.
Fido by J Klein
How did you cope with the decision to allow Shadow to rest?
Jim: It’s never easy. Everyone that owns a dog goes through it since dogs don’t live as long as we do. I knew he was comfortable with me being there in his final moments. He looked at me, he held one last look, and then, suddenly, he was gone. It’s a tough decision, but it’s the kindest one.
It’s interesting. I brought Shadow home, but it wasn’t him anymore. Where’d Shadow go? We all have this life force and when it’s time, it just dissipates into the eternal. I’ve been thinking a lot about this, life and death, our bodies show up and then they fall off.
It goes back to Summation and the lyrics in that.
We buried Shadow’s body at a special place on the farm, so I can walk by every day. It’s a way I can keep his memory close.
Losing a pet makes you think about life and who we are when we’re done. I hope sharing this helps others who are going through something similar. Shadow was truly my shadow, and I feel fortunate to have had him in my life.