I Lost My Best Friend This Morning

5/21/07 | Me

[glasseye]

Thanx UB, and everyone else who contacted me.

Hope our puppies are playing together.

That would be nice.

Take care brother.

[Grandma Pam]

I am so sorry for your loss, uglybiker. Add me to the chorus of “I know how you feel”. We had to put our beloved cocker spaniel Abby down a couple of years ago. She was 14, and we got her when she was 7 weeks old. We had her cremated and keep her ashes here in the house because we couldn’t bear the thought of putting her outside in the ground. After all, she’d spent her whole life right here in this house with us.

We have an almost 4 year old miniature dachshund named Dixie now. A friend of ours breeds them and insisted that we take one of his puppies back in 2003 as Abby had started to decline. He said it would lessen the pain of losing Abby, and he was so right.

My parents also took one of the doxie puppies out of that litter and named her Sophie. My daddy passed away in 2004, and Mama passed away on March 9 of this year. Sophie now lives with us and her sister Dixie, and we all have a wonderful life together.

I can’t imagine life without a dog in it. They give so much joy and ask for so little in return.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

What a nice tribute.

[Sensei Ern]

We also lost Leo, three years ago. We haven’t gotten another cat as we have been too busy with other things to focus on that.

Think about this.

I am a pre-trib pre-millenialist Christian. That is, I believe GOd will take His people out of the world before he allows the Tribulation of seven years to take place. After that occurs, He will return to earth with us and we will establish His 1000 year kingdom on earth.

Having said that, I have had thoughts and even dreams of my dogs living through that horrible time, but since they are animals, and the tribulation is God’s wrath against man, they will survive. I have had dreams of my return where Stink Pot, GG, and Peewee see me coming in the clouds and crawl out from some long abandoned shed, tails wagging, and licking my face as if to say, “We missed you! We are so glad you are back.”

[Badeye]

‘This is by no means the first time I’ve gone through this, and certainly will not be the last. Although this is the first time I have been moved to write about it. It never seems to get any easier.’

Same here.

[madison10]

I have had dreams of my return where Stink Pot, GG, and Peewee see me coming in the clouds and crawl out from some long abandoned shed, tails wagging, and licking my face as if to say, “We missed you! We are so glad you are back.”

Tears...my eyes needed a good cleaning this morning anyway.

[afraidfortherepublic]

You are a beautiful and expressive writer. I’m so sorry for your loss, but I knoow you will be ready to share your heart with another desrving furry companion.

[pabianice]

HEART

She came to us in need of shelter, care, love Which we were happy to supply in abundance; A couple who's special lot in life was To care for those creatures of God who could not care for themselves; And God, with a wisdom man can glimpse only in the most unusual, Most startling, and most unexpected moments; Knew she was to be ours

Sasha A big dog; Way too big; Norwegian Elk Hound; Now so big, clearly a Norwegian Chow Hound; Raised and maintained on a diet of red meat and sugar By someone who loved too well and cared too little; Come to us after her master's untimely death; Shy, fearful, but so friendly and wanting friends; Painful, but brave; Her heart the biggest part of her

Slowly finding her places in her new home; A place to eat; a carpet to lie down upon; A place to be safe, to love again in safety; Near the recliner which most often held A loving human with kind hands; A place in the hierarchy of eight cats and another dog Who, despite his small stature, let her know who was Top Dog; And she, while never contradicting him, let us know With a doggie wink, a wig-wigging tail, and open-mouthed smile That she was really In Command

And so the few slow years sped by Heavy years, with a force of more than just The Earth's gravitational pull; Force equals mass times acceleration, The scientists tell us; But what can science tell us of the force Of destiny? The mass of care? The acceleration of time? A force also of congenital problems Common to those of her breed; And it became ever more difficult to walk To climb the stairs To do those small things every creature takes for granted Until taken from them; Until the joy of taking walks with her mistress Became only memories; Until it hurt just to move And medications became ever less effective In easing the pain But almost never a complaint from Sasha And , if you closed your eyes and listened Closely, we could hear her:

"You gave me a home and I love you with all my heart. After all your kindness it would be unseemly for me to now complain of a few aches and pains. Worse, it would be undignified."

And as we all know, a dog's dignity is special.

Yet, something had to be done, And something was; Calls were made; Consultations were held; Fears expressed; Reassurances given; A common operation; Little chance of any problems; And a plan of action put in motion; A Mission undertaken; And well-planned missions, we are taught from childhood, Must end in success One's heart must be obeyed

Then, things going terribly wrong The operation botched, complications, Intensive care; Terrible scars; Tubes and lines and Devices of frightening mechanicability; Her breath coming in hitches; A very sick Sasha peering at us through the Plexiglas oxygen cage; Oh, merciful God! How could this happen To our girl?! To your girl?! One last doggie smile between Labored breaths, I love you Thank you for your kindness Goodbye Then turning away Please don't watch me die And we did as she asked For in those things which matter most The heart knows best what to ask And how to answer

Some years ago in another hospital Waiting out another crisis A nurse said that she had seen many die; And that when someone died they never, ever Voiced regret over not having spent more time at the office, Or on the golf course, Or shopping, Or doing any of the things we find so important in health; No, she said The only regret the dying ever expressed to her Was in not spending more time With those to whom Their heart went out

And so we brought you home, Sashi-girl, In an urn; To be with us If only in death; If even in death; Your heart still beats strong in the house; A heart of courage; Of selflessness; Of gratitude; Of love; And now in the quiet evening As I sit just before bed, I catch a glimpse of something At just the edge of vision; A doggy smile; A curled tail wig-wigging in happiness; A wave of love -- "I'm still here, Master;" And I go to bed Holding her spirit close, Feeling her valiant heart beat strong, And it keeps me warm all through the night.

For Sasha, January, 2001

ltn72@charter.net

[hope]

Buddy is beautiful...I know how you feel right now. Lost my best friend last November...He went missing out of the yard while we went to dinner one evening. Not a day goes by that I don't still wonder where he is...It's also difficult grieving when many don't understand how you can do that for your best pet freind.

SNICKERS aka wee, wee

[AnAmericanMother]

That book drives me absolutely WILD!

The breeder TOLD that couple NOT to take that dog, that he wasn't the right dog for them. Field trial dogs are bred to compete in the hardest work that Labs do - they have incredible intelligence, energy, and drive to DO something. They need steady work and very strict (but fair) discipline, and some experience on the part of the owner. Not a first dog.

I have one Lab that's a half and half conformation/field trial cross. Even she, only a halfbred, was a semi-Marley for the first 2 years of her life. Only when she was 6 years old and I had plenty of experience did I venture to purchase a high-powered Lab like Marley. My new girl (9 months old) still has just a little (around 1/8) conformation just to lessen the excitement slightly -- but she is a buzzsaw on four wheels and into everything. If she didn't get her four miles a day she would be absolutely ungovernable, and she has to have her serious bird work on the weekends.

It makes me cringe to think how much that dog (and the humans) suffered, all unnecessarily, because they wouldn't take the breeder's advice. A field-bred dog is not for everybody, and it certainly wasn't for the Grogans.

[AnAmericanMother]

Sympathies for your loss of your friend Harley.

Lots of friends have Aussies (we do agility). They are wonderful dogs and so intelligent.

[Candor7]

Old Blue died and I dug his grave
I dug his grave with a silver spade
I let him down with a golden chain
And every link I called his name

Go on Blue you good dog you
Go on Blue you good dog you
Blue laid down and died like a man
Blue laid down and died like a man
Now he’s treein’ ‘possums in the promised land

[AnAmericanMother]

When I get to heaven here's what I'll do,
I'll blow my horn and call for Blue.
Oh, Blue, Blue, Blue Oh Blue
You're a good dog, you.

[stylecouncilor]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute. I’m sorry for your loss.

[Osage Orange]

Very sorry for you loss, my FRiend.

I'm actually expecting the same with my border collie, named Mattie. She's 12-13 years old now......and not the same dog she was.

I don't want it to happen....but I know it's going to...sooner or later.

Sigh...............

[sweetiepiezer]

Dear uglybiker-beautiful heart,

Loved your writing of your Buddy, but am in tears over his loss.
My heart goes out to you. I am sorry for your loss.

This poem by Kipling says it all:

The Power of the Dog
by Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more!
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless, it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumor, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find – it’s your own affair –
But . . . you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still);
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone – wherever it goes – for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ‘em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long –
So why in-Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

If you click on my name you will see my “buddy”, his name was Durango, we lost him due to the bad food in March.
I share your pain.
(((((((((hugz))))))))

[Grizzled Bear]

I’m so sorry uglybiker.

God bless you and comfort you.

[uglybiker]

And the same to you my FRiend.

There seems to be a number of us going through this at the same time.

I also have a cat who is going on 17. She's still lively and happy, but I'm going to have to prepare myself for the day when her time comes, too. But as all things must come to an end, others are just beginning. I have another cat who is pregnant. I'm about to have a house full.

[Grizzled Bear]

Amazing how their loss can hurt.

God bless you and have fun dealing with those young-uns.

Just don’t let them grow up to be “yutes!”

[Neets]

I just saw this.

I am so very sorry to hear about Buddy.

I see tho that Buddy was very lucky to have you and vice-a-versa.

Hugs to you sweetheart.