After Ellie died one of the many practical, and depressing, things we had to do was to contact Chewy and cancel our standing dog food delivery. A few days later an Amaryllis appeared at our front door, with a card from the Chewy team sending their condolences.
For a while the plant looked kind of sad sitting on the coffee table in the living room, with no flowers and a bend in its green spine. The plant came with a brace (with a twig and some twine), and Mom moved it into place above the curve, and gradually, the spine of the plant started to straighten, and then, slowly, the flowers started to bloom. The red of the petals is so vivid and the size and number of the blossoms keeps growing so there’s no way to ignore it now.
The shape of the flowers, like a speaker on an old Victrola, makes it seem like the plant has something to say, though try as I might I can’t hear the words. And while there are no new puppies growing from this magical plant, there is life: beautiful, bright, and temporary.
I know that I will always miss Cricket and Ellie, but this little (or not so little) plant has given me hope that my heart will be able to make room for new love, when the time comes.
If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out my Young Adult novel, Yeshiva Girl, on Amazon. And if you feel called to write a review of the book, on Amazon, or anywhere else, I’d be honored.
Yeshiva Girl is about a Jewish teenager on Long Island, named Isabel, though her father calls her Jezebel. Her father has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his students, which he denies, but Izzy implicitly believes it’s true. As a result of his problems, her father sends her to a co-ed Orthodox yeshiva for tenth grade, out of the blue, and Izzy and her mother can’t figure out how to prevent it. At Yeshiva, though, Izzy finds that religious people are much more complicated than she had expected. Some, like her father, may use religion as a place to hide, but others search for and find comfort, and community, and even enlightenment. The question is, what will Izzy find?
rachelmankowitz 
What a wonderful thing for them to do. That a big company like Chewy could take the time to honor Cricket and Ellie speaks volumes about them. This gift would bring tears of joy every time I looked at it.
It’s a really wonderful idea!
Chewy does a great job staying connected with customers. 👍👍 for them. The plant is looking good.
It’s a smart business model, from people who clearly have their own beloved pets.
That’s really wonderful… and you take such loving care of your little babies as well. ❤️
Thank you!
What a kind gesture and beautiful blossoms!
My mom is the gardener in the family, but even I can appreciate these beautiful flowers.
That is a lovely and impressive gift.
It really is!
Chewy’s a good company, and what a wonderful gift full of so much meaning.
I hope whoever thought of sending these out for the loss of a pet got a big raise.
I’m surprised and delighted that a big commercial company like Chewy would do such a sweet thing. Thank you for sharing, Rachel! There’s no end to the missing of your dear doggies, but what a warm fuzzy to know that even Chewy cares.
I hope more companies learn from this model, because it’s genuinely meaningful and creates loyal customers at the same time.
Beautiful flower and what it represents 🙏🙏
I was surprised at how deeply I felt it when those flowers bloomed.
Peace unto you🙏
Thank you!
Sorry for the loss. I remember when I lost my baby they sent me a card. It was very hard to lose her. It’s so nice to have reminders and keep memorials around to keep their memories alive.
It really does help to have pictures and mementos around. I used to think it would make me too sad, but no, it’s comforting.
I thought it would too but I have found it comforting as well.
I find it sweet that a large company acknowledged your pain like this. I’m glad that this gives you hope.
There’s something so hopeful about watching a plant grow.
How sweet of Chewy! I love watching Amaryllis’ grow…it is possible to do that with this beautiful flower. Love the photo of Cricket and Ellie. You will always remember them and honour them and I am happy to see that you acknowledge the hope your heart will some day open to new love.
I’m picturing Cricket going through a big book of potential dogs, and saying, nope, nope, not this one either. She was very picky.
That’s hilarious. I knew a diva named Tinka that was like that. She’s been gone more than a decade, but oh-h, what spunk!
Lovely blooms. Sorry to hear about Ellie.
Thank you!
Wh
So refreshing that a company most of us dog/cat owners rely on reaches out with a gift of beauty at such a difficult time. Praying that just the right pup lands on your doorstep the moment your heart is ready to receive the love of another dog.
Me too! Thank you!
Very thoughtful remembrance from chewy. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you!
We do have beauty on earth and in the hearts of those that surprise us. How very nice. Those little faces and expressions that you were able to capture. Just precious!!
I miss being able to post pictures of the girls in every post. It’s so hard to get used to not having them here.
I can relate.. I miss our skinny Siamese, Ally. She was so smart and quite a character. She had a little swagger and thought she had permission to go where she wanted. She was fun and lively and kept the other girls in line. Do you think it would help to write about them, as in favorite or special memories. Maybe not right now but in time. ((hugs))
Maybe in the future.
To Mother Hen. You already started. Write away. There is never a time where putting some words down, especially in tribute is a bad thing
Such a lovely and heartfelt gesture.
It really was!
Wow, that’s very kind of chewy. That is a beautiful flower full of life and most likely a conduit from you to Cricket and Ellie looking down on you from the rainbow bridge. ❤️🤗 Stay blessed Rachel. You are always in my thoughts
Thank you so much!
We also use Chewy , and I am very touched and surprised that they took the time and initiative to honor cricket, and Ellie with a beautiful amaryllis ❤️
Beautiful post
Thank you!
What a beautiful flower! I hope it’s journey to life will somehow help you to heal. Blessings.
Me too! Thank you!
I loved your dogs and will miss them in your posts.
Thank you!
“The shape of the flowers, like a speaker on an old Victrola, makes it seem like the plant has something to say, though try as I might I can’t hear the words” … nicely done, and just keep listening.
Thank you!
What a thoughtful gift
It really is!
That was so kind of the people in the company. I’ve had Amaryllis rebloom for many years. Wait till the flowers on the stalk have died. Cut back the stalk which is hollow but allow the other leaves to grow over the summer. You may get more than one stalk come up which carries the blooming flowers. In the late summer cut all the leaves down to the level of the bulb. Then either take the bulb out, rub off the compost, and store it in newspaper in a cardboard box in a dry cool place. Keep it sleeping for six to eight weeks or more if it suits you. Then put the bulb in fresh compost in the flower pot. Water. Leave it in a warm sunny spot and watch it grow again. If the bulb gets too big to take it out the pot, which will eventually happen, just remove as much soil as you can, and put the newspaper on top of the bulb and scrunch it down. I have about 20 Amaryllis of various colours and enjoy watching them grow over the winter and early spring. They then provide leaves over the summer which feed the bulb and I put them in my front porch in big cardboard boxes to sleep in the early autumn. This year they are getting a longer sleep so that I can enjoy them when I come back from holiday. It is always a joy to see them come back year after year. You don’t say goodbye to them, you say, lovely having you, see you next year.
Thank you so much for all of this!
So lovely of the dog food company to send you this gift with its message of new life and hope at this very difficult time. I hope the right pup finds its way to you when the time is right.
Me too! Thank you!
The people at Chewy are so wonderful. What a beautiful bloom!
They really are wonderful!
Kudos to Chewy for showing that a big company can care about each of their customers. I believe that your heart still has much love to give and although no one and nothing can replace Ellie and Cricket, I believe those two four-legged angels will send you a gift for you to love when the time is right.
Thank you!
love, Love, LOVE this post! What a lovely gesture from the Chewy people. I am glad the flower brings you comfort. I have had some similar comfort lately, and you have inspired me to write a blog post about it! I hope you continue to find moments of joy.
Awesome! Thank you!
Love this flower and it’s fun to watch grow all year long.
I hope it continues to grow!
Me too. Love watching the same one grow all year so fun and gives you hope.
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Sorry for your loss Rachel. That was a very nice gesture from Chewy. We have an Amaryllis in our stairwell and it has bloomed at auspicious times throughout our lives. It is a slip from a plant started by my Mom (passed away in 1974) so I think she is watching over us. Right now it has seven blooms on it. 7 is our lucky number. Wishing you a pleasant day. Allan
That’s beautiful!!!
WOW! What a kind and thoughtful thing for Chewy to do. I’m sure it brightened your day some. Thanks for sharing. When the time is right you will be getting dog food deliveries from Chewy again. There is always a dog out there waiting for you that needs you.
I hope so!
We tend to have one or more amaryllis during the winter period. Love the comparison to the old Victrola and the idea that it has something to say. Thanks.
Thank you!
I have to admit, I couldn’t read your posts about the passing of Ellie and Cricket. I’ve been through the grief and awfulness too many times.
When you’re ready, the shelters are full to overflowing. Please think about these pups when the time is right.
Of course!
Sorry about your loss. Beautiful memoir.
Thank you!
Lovely! I love symbolic reminders of those we lost,
Me too!
Chewy is awesome. I’m so glad the plant is doing well and that it gives you comfort. ❤️
Thank you!
That is a fantastic gesture on the part of the company. The plant and its flower is so beautiful.
It really is!
Wow. I e of Chewy to do that! Great photos BTW. (Can’t wait to read of your next pup’s adventures.) 😉
Thank you!
‘Nice’ of Chewy… Fast thumbs.
What a lovely thought Rachel. Beautiful colour.
I love that red!
It is lovely. Mine was white and grew at a rate of two to three inches a day. We called it a triffid.
That’s awesome!
They do grow very fast but the flowers are wonderful.
That was nice of them to send a flower. I am so sorry about Cricket and Ellie.
Thank you!
It’s breathtaking, your photos are great.
Thank you! My Mom, of course, took most of them (I’m better at dog pictures than plants, as a rule.)
Rachel, it’s nice to see the flower blooming and I hope that Chewy and other companies whose gestures of kindness are not the exception. When my beloved Riley passed away I called his groomer at Petsmart to tell her. I know she probably groomed 100 – 150 dogs per month but when I called she knew who I was and when I told her what had happened, she was choked up. It really meant a lot to me.
Same with our groomer. It means so much to have other people understand the weight of the loss.
Chewy’s is very good about sending condolences. It helps blunt the pain of the loss a bit to know they care enough to do that.
It really helps.
It’s heartbreaking to hear (read) this. I went through losing 2 pups within 6 months of the other. Chewy sent me a card for the first pup, Gidget and an artist drawing of my baby girl, Coco (Gidget’s offspring). Gidget wasn’t a part of the Chewy family but a couple of years before she passed and (Princess) Coco had been a member of the Chewy family since her birth…9 years before she finally had to give up her fight.
I love Chewy! I will share the post I spoke of…I think you “liked” it.
The loss is always awful, but it helps to know other people care.
It is awful…I have faith that the animals we loved/who loved us will be there (in our cases, with tails wagging) when we enter Heaven. It is my belief that the animals are taken from us so soon because they already have pure hearts/souls, so they aren’t meant to stay longer; just long enough to teach their humans something.
Apparently, responding with a photo Isn’t allowed…
That makes sense; the dogs I’ve had for the shortest time were the purest souls.
The Amaryllis is lovely. What a great memorial to Cricket and Ellie.
It really is a lovely gesture!
I was so surprised to get flowers from Chewy after our dog Lila passed away. It was very comforting. We received a bouquet. Watching an amaryllis grow is always a treat. It’s such a beautiful flower. The bulb can be re-planted and will bloom again!
I like the idea that they send different plants in different seasons.
I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your fur babies! I enjoyed reading about them. I’m very impressed with Chewy for doing this, & it is a beautiful flower!
Thank you!
Your heart is clearly so big, Rachel, that you’ll surely have room for new love and more life when you know the time is right.
I hope so! Thank you!
OMG I LOVE Chewy and Now I do even More!!! xo ❣️
Me too!
❤️❤️❤️