SKY’s STORY

Her owner had driven miles to come to Beachy Head, carrying not only the weight of his own grief, but the unbearable thought of what would happen to Sky after he was gone. His wife had died. He had no one left. No one who could take her in. He couldn’t bear the thought of her being confused and alone in a shelter. In his overwhelmed mind, he believed the kindest thing was to take her with him.

When the chaplains found them at the cliff edge, they stayed with him. They listened with compassion, gently urging him to consider another path. They offered support, time, connection - doing everything they could to help him feel less alone, to open a door back to life.

He was calm. Polite. But resolute.

At one point, one of the chaplains gently asked if he could take Sky - just to ensure her safety. The man agreed and reached into his bag to give him her metal water bowl. 

One chaplain walked Sky a little way off, speaking softly to her as he went. The other stayed with the man - still listening, still hoping, still offering a way back. Right until the end, we kept trying to reach him. The last words he heard were words of kindness.

That day, he made the heart-breaking decision to end his life. 

Our chaplains tried hard that day, but sometimes we are unable to change someone’s mind. We grieve for him. We remember him. And though we could not change the ending, we were honoured to be there with him in his final hour - to offer kindness, gentleness, and dignity in the face of despair.

Sky was brought back to the Chaplaincy base. The chaplains fed her, stroked her gently, and told her she was a good girl. She knew something was wrong. She stayed close to the chaplain who had rescued her - pressing into his leg and panting. Later, she curled up quietly on the floor in the corner of the room.

When the police arrived, they took her into their care. But one of the chaplains couldn’t stop thinking about her in the kennel. He contacted the authorities and asked if she could come and stay with his family while he found her a forever home. After all the necessary checks, the answer was yes and he went to collect her.

She now spends her days playing with the children, going on long walks, finding sticks, and curling up on the sofa - surrounded by a family that loves her and her best years still ahead.

Sky lost her world that day - but she didn’t lose her future.