[dutchess]

[JohnHuang2]

Beautiful job, as always, my friend -- G'morning to ya :-)

[lysie]

How beautiful!!

Not knowingly, there are times when we may take them for granted because they are always there... by our side. When they are gone, we still hear their tags clanking together or the sharpening their claws on the furniture.

Thank you for reminding me how fortunate I am that all my pets are well. Without them, there are days I would be a basket case. Of course, there are days I'm a basket case because of them. :-)

[Severa]

Shag decided to drop in from mom and dad's house and say HI!

[GailA]

Good morning FRiends, wonderful job as usual Dutchess, My Gizmo has been gone 2 years and I still miss him. Our pets are as precious as our children, they even take the place of children when you are not blessed with them.

Coffee's on

[dixie sass]

I've been missing my Tinkerbell an awful lot. It's been a year now, but - darnit, can't stop crying. I am so sorry about Codee. What a beautiful face.

You did a beautiful job Dutchess. I love the Rainbow Bridge, but it always makes me sad...

I don't have a scanner or anyway to get this picture of Tinkerbell to you, so you will have to use your imagination.

She was just skin and bones when she found me. I heard a dog barking outside and went to look and there she was. She had a collar on with a little bell and that is how she got her name. Somebody had dropped her off, abandoned her.

For the first week she stayed on my bed except for using the bathroom. Finally she decided to come out and see what the rest of the apartment was like. We had two cats already, Tweety Bird and Bud Boy who had moved here with Momma. Little did we know that both Bud and Tweety Bird were due to leave us within the year.

As Tinkerbell gained her health back her beauty became more apparent, she was a soft blue grey color with the sweetest expression on her face and big eyes. She had longish hair and a great fluffy tail and was small and dainty.

The picture of TinkerBell that I'm looking at was taken when Momma walked into the living room and saw where she was lying. She was draped around a picture of Garfield that said "I'm not just another pretty face."



Tinkerbell adopted two boys - Sam and Murphy - so that they wouldn't have to go to the pound. Both boys were Burmese but Sam was black as the ace of spades and Murphy had the standard blue eyes and chocolate markings. She was a good mother to them. Later we had a fourth join us - another female name toy a Himalayan. She and Tinkerbell were good friends.

When I moved, I had to find a place for all but TinkerBell. She was getting on in years and the landlord said that I could keep her, but the others had to go. I miss them all but most of all I miss Tinkerbell.

When Momma died, she jumped up on the bed, licked Mommas' cheek and then rounded the other cats up and took them to the back bedroom. Sometimes, I think that she was human.

[dixie sass]

Tell Gizmo "Good Job" and give Gizmo a hug for me.

[DollyCali]

Good morning Dutchess.. Good Grief.. It is barely 7 AM & you have be abawling.

I am sorry that you lost your Codee - I can only imagine the pain in your soul. I too have many dear furry, feathered pals awaiting my transition.

Thank your for the thread & the work you did on it..I am sure there is some therapy for you in presenting Codee's tribute/memorial.

I am truly of the belief we will share eternity with out pets although we may not understand the exact form..

[Dubya]

Beautiful. I have some friends at Rainbow Bridge waiting for me.

[FreeTheHostages]

So please, Master, share your life with others. Do not refuse the opportunity to give another lucky pet the love you have given me. No other animal will ever take my place in your heart, but there is another one who needs you and will grow to love you as much as I did.

Wise words.

This is very beautiful, Dutchess. Thank you for sharing.

[Temple Owl]

Aw dutchess, I am so sorry. I know how much you loved Codee. But ( stealing a line from Old Shep) if dogs have a heaven, there's one thing I know ole Codee will have a home. I'll tell Ink.

[Calpernia]

Oh know! Dutchess....I can just give a hug.

[HairOfTheDog]

Sigh... We miss them always, but we open our hearts to new ones too. I lost two this year within a month of each other.... They were together 16 years.

THE DOG
Beauty without Vanity
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
And all the Virtues of man,
Without his Vices. 
Lord Byron

I think we are drawn to dogs because they are the uninhibited creatures we might be if we weren't certain we knew better.

They fight for honor at the first challenge, make love without moral restraint and they do not for all their instincts appear to foresee or dwell on their own death. Being such wonderfully uncomplicated beings, they need us to do their worrying.

There will be an occasional clash of intents if not of wills, and you must work this out without loss of intimacy.
~George Bird Evans, Troubles With Bird Dogs

When the body that lived at your single will,
When its whimper 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.
(From Rudyard Kipling's "Power of the Dog")
Goodbye, ZULU, 1986-April 23,2003

Rest in Peace Logan, Nov 1988-March 25, 2003

[MEG33]

Beautiful job,dutchess.I am sad you have lost Codee.I lost my Purty kitty in the spring and I miss her.Pets give us so much joy..and the loss is always painful.

[The Thin Man]

Oh, this is awful about Codee. I'm so sorry dutchess.

[Charles Martel]

The Last Will and Testament of an Extremely Distinguished Dog

---

The original version of this tribute was written by Eugene O'Neill for his wife Carlotta, a few days before their Dalmatian passed away from old age in December, 1940. Please give credit to the author if you should pass this moving piece on to others in the future.

---

I, SILVERDENE EMBLEM O'NEILL (familiarly known to my family, friends, and acquaintances as Blemie), because the burden of my years and infirmities is heavy upon me, and I realize the end of my life is near, do hereby bury my last will and testament in the mind of my Master. He will not know it is there until after I am dead. Then, remembering me in his loneliness, he will suddenly know of this testament, and I ask him then to inscribe it as a memorial to me.

I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep the objects they have, and to obtain the objects they have not. There is nothing of value I have to bequeath except my love and my faith. These I leave to all those who have loved me, to my Master and Mistress, who I know will mourn me most, to Freeman who has been so good to me, to Cyn and Roy and Willie and Naomi and -- But if I should list all those who have loved me, it would force my Master to write a book. Perhaps it is vain of me to boast when I am so near death, which returns all beasts and vanities to dust, but I have always been an extremely lovable dog.

I ask my Master and Mistress to remember me always, but not to grieve for me too long. In my life I have tried to be a comfort to them in time of sorrow, and a reason for added joy in their happiness. It is painful for me to think that even in death I should cause them pain. Let them remember that while no dog has ever had a happier life (and this I owe to their love and care for me), now that I have grown blind and deaf and lame, and even my sense of smell fails me so that a rabbit could be right under my nose and I might not know, my pride has sunk to a sick, bewildered humiliation. I feel life is taunting me with having over-lingered my welcome. It is time I said good-bye, before I become too sick a burden on myself and on those who love me. It will be sorrow to leave them, but not a sorrow to die. Dogs do not fear death as men do. We accept it as part of life, not as something alien and terrible which destroys life. What may come after death, who knows? I would like to believe with those my fellow Dalmatians who are devout Mohammedans, that there is a Paradise where one is always young and full-bladdered; where all the day one dillies and dallies with an amorous multitude of houris [lovely nymphs], beautifully spotted; where jack rabbits that run fast but not too fast (like the houris) are as the sands of the desert; where each blissful hour is mealtime; where in long evenings there are a million fireplaces with logs forever burning, and one curls oneself up and blinks into the flames and nods and dreams, remembering the old brave days on earth, and the love of one's Master and Mistress.

I am afraid this is too much for even such a dog as I am to expect. But peace, at least, is certain. Peace and long rest for weary old heart and head and limbs, and eternal sleep in the earth I have loved so well. Perhaps, after all, this is best.

One last request I earnestly make. I have heard my Mistress say, "When Blemie dies we must never have another dog. I love him so much I could never love another one." Now I would ask her, for love of me, to have another. It would be a poor tribute to my memory never to have a dog again. What I would like to feel is that, having once had me in the family, now she cannot live without a dog! I have never had a narrow jealous spirit. I have always held that most dogs are good (and one cat, the black one I have permitted to share the living room rug during the evenings, whose affection I have tolerated in a kindly spirit, and in rare sentimental moods, even reciprocated a trifle). Some dogs, of course, are better than others. Dalmatians, naturally, as everyone knows, are best. So I suggest a Dalmatian as my successor. He can hardly be as well bred or as well mannered or as distinguished and handsome as I was in my prime. My Master and Mistress must not ask the impossible. But he will do his best, I am sure, and even his inevitable defects will help by comparison to keep my memory green. To him I bequeath my collar and leash and my overcoat and raincoat, made to order in 1929 at Hermes in Paris. He can never wear them with the distinction I did, walking around the Place Vendome, or later along Park Avenue, all eyes fixed on me in admiration; but again I am sure he will do his utmost not to appear a mere gauche provincial dog. Here on the ranch, he may prove himself quite worthy of comparison, in some respects. He will, I presume, come closer to jack rabbits than I have been able to in recent years.

And for all his faults, I hereby wish him the happiness I know will be his in my old home.

One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved". No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail.

****************

Aw, dammit... where's the box of kleenex? (*sniff*)

[jwfiv]

Just beautiful, Miss Dutchess...thank you.

This is one of those threads where it pays to be as tough as me...otherwise, all the loving thoughts and memories of our furry kin might have me bawlin' like a baby.

That first pic of your Codee, with the rainbow behind, is just...perfect.

I made sure to give my borrowed cat a little extra love at breakfast-time today...)

Good morning, afternoon and day to all the Finest.

It's a wonderful life.

[knighthawk]

Hi all!

[Aquamarine]

What a beautiful tribute to your dear Codee and all the other pets that have passed on, leaving us behind with wonderful memories.

I was going to post a picture of Beauregard but can't seem to find it in my storage. May have to upload it again and post it.

[Oorang]

Strider, the Oorang Airedale, wishes to tell you he is so sad to hear about Codee. His Mom, who is always on that computer reading FR, sends Dutchess the following:

If a dog were your teacher, you would learn stuff like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout.... run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

[JulieRNR21]

Dutchess....thank you for this beautiful thread.

The Rainbow Bridge poem has brought much comfort to many mourning the loss of beloved pets.I have often shared it with friends who have lost pets.

Over the years we have had many wonderful cats but I had a special bond with one who passed over the Rainbow in 1996.

She was a small gray tabby named Tabitha who was a part of our family for 15 years. She had been a special loving companion & comfort to us during several difficult years. When she was about two years old, she had gotten into the engine of my car and almost lost a leg.

Thanks to our dedicated vet and our daily cleansing of her wound, Tabitha recovered. All the attention we lavished on her...turned her into a most affectionate sweet cat. It was as if she appeciated our efforts by becoming more dog-like...greeting us when we returned, purring up a storm and jumping on our laps at every opportunity.

We were so heartbroken at losing Tabitha that we delayed getting another cat for 5 years....finally adopting our Siamese, Georgio. We knew we could never replace the special relationship we had with Tabitha.

I am very grateful that Georgio's 'godfather' St. Louie encouraged me to get another cat. Georgio has brought much joy to our lives but we'll always have very special memories of our Tabitha!