A Dog's Prayer

[labman]

Treat me kindly,my beloved master,for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.
Do not break my spirit with a stick,for though I should lick your hand between the blows,your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.
Speak to me often,for your voice is the world's sweetest music,as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.
When it is cold and wet,please take me inside,for I am now a domesticated animal,no longer used to the bitter elements.And I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.Though you had no home,I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land,for you are my god and I am your devoted worshiper.
Keep my pan filled with fresh water,for although I should not reproach you were it dry,I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.Feed me clean food,that I may stay well,to romp and play and do your bidding,to walk by your side,and stand ready,willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.
And,beloved master,should the great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight,do not turn me away from you.Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest --and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands.

By Beth Norman Harris

 

[labman]

I will miss you "Bear and Blue" my faithful freinds that gave it all.

I will see your smile again on the other side.

 

[Renee750il]

I am so sorry, Jon . . . ((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))))))))

You know they are there for you, waiting and watching, and you know they never want you to be lonely.

 

[labman]

I will miss you "Bear and Blue" my faithful freinds that gave it all.

I will see your smile again on the other side.

Not sure if I can take the pain of loss...please Great Spirit give me the strength to carry on.

 

[youbetcha1018]

I'm sorry for your loss. I too experienced it too. Everything will be fine soon.

 

[TheGoldenRetriever]

Not sure if I can take the pain of loss...please Great Spirit give me the strength to carry on.

Oh, I know that feeling!! So sorry for your loss!! ((((((((Hugs))))))

Remember how they loved you so? They lived for you ... Bear and Blue would want you to carry on.

Sometimes it helps to write or talk about them ... you can do that here. Unlike places "outside" ... no one on this forum ever questions why I still write about Cheyenne, my Golden Retriever, who has been gone for 5 months now. Nor do they question why I still write about Spike, my GSD/Wolf, who has been gone over 2 yrs. Both gone before I joined here (but had been reading before), yet no one asks why. They understand why. It's one of the things I love about this place. So please, when you are able,... write about Bear and Blue ... about their lives and the wonderful joy they gave you.

 

[labman]

It is going to be very hard right now to talk about them.
Yesterday was the day I made the call and took them in.

I love dogs too much for this to keep happening to me every few years,sure I gave them the best life a dog could have,but the killer was there faithfulness.
"Bear" was a very,very special dog,one in a life-time.

It is too much to talk about right now,I can't even see the key board or screen very well. All I can say is loosing these dogs was as big a blow as loosing my father.

 

[Renee750il]

Jon, each and every one, in their own way, is a one-in-a-lifetime, and there will be another, and another, and another who needs you - and whom you need. And the chain of life will continue.

You know that death is only a doorway, and parting between us and those we love is never forever.

 

[labman]

"Bear" is on the left and "Blue" is on the right in my avatar...It's hard to even look at their picture.

I'm not sure if I'll get another dog after Sage is gone.

 

[labman]

Took Sage for a lonely walk this morning,when we got to the end of the trail I heard some rustling in the leaves and I thought that must be a deer, I looked over to Sage and his ears are purked up and his tail was slightly wagging. He thought it was Bear and Blue coming back. I told him to stay,and out of the bushes runs by three beautiful deer.

 

[TheGoldenRetriever]

Labman, sorry your loss is still so fresh ... that's when it's the absolute hardest. Wish I could tell you it will get better "soon" ... but it won't. Wish I could tell you that you'll "get over it" ... but you won't.

With loss it's never a matter of "getting over". It's a "getting through", learning to deal with a "new normal" ... one that you would not have chosen. That will happen ... not soon, but it will. The first day you are able to think of Bear and Blue and actually smile at a particular memory ... that's the day you're just starting to get there. You don't believe it now, but it will happen.

I looked at the pictures in your avatar carefully. Bear and Blue were such beautiful dogs! They are still beautiful, they're just not with you right now. You will see them again, someday when that's meant to be. In the meantime you and Sage can get through your mutual loss together. Sage is unable to understand this loss like you can. Sage needs you right now, more than ever. Please don't say you don't think you'll have another dog when someday Sage is gone. First because anyone who is able to love an animal so very much is exactly the kind of person who should never be without one. But more importantly because today is not "someday". Sage is here now ... and needs you badly. Sage is grieving too, needing the help only you can give to get through this loss.

What an uplifting experience you and Sage had with the deer. Maybe it was that Sage was thinking it was Bear and Blue walking there... or maybe not. Maybe it was a message of sorts from Bear and Blue, letting you and Sage know they're OK where they are, ... and that they will wait for you. Maybe it was not a "lonely walk" ... but rather a message to remind you that you are not alone. I firmly believe all our lost loved ones, human and animal, do send us such messages ... but sometimes while we're still too immersed in fresh grief. Later we are better able to understand what they were trying to say.

 

[labman]

Those are very powerful and comforting words TheGoldenRetriever, thankyou so very much. Good to know there are good people out there that truely understand what's it's all about.

The deer gave me the sign that Blue and Bear are back with their mother(my beloved Katie) running wild and free.

My son and I were out in the yard today and heard two eagles chirping, we looked up and saw them swoop over the grave and circle once and then fly directly over us. I said to my six year old son, wow! those are the biggest and prettiest eagles I've ever seen, and he said maybe it's Blue and Bear and they are flying away....and I had already just thought the same thing..so needless to say I feel alot better today.

 

[smkie]

(((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))) for your broken heart. IT will get different not better but easier to bear in time. Then a new link will combine your past loves to the present. THat is the best way to heal, to keep your heart open when the time is right.

 

[labman]

Breaks my heart alright, I'm still being haunted with regrets and guilt too,Bear and Blue were almost 12 1/2 years,Blue was deaf,loosing hair,but was still eating and fairly happy.Bear had sore hips,shoulder and would have stomach problems at times,but other wise they were happy,able to go for walks and play with Sage a little.
Maybe I spared them alot more pain by making the choice to put them down,but I still can't help but feel that I should of gave them more time.

 

[labman]

I've had a few dogs in my life-time and they've all been good dogs,but Bear and Blue were much more than just good dogs. No words can describe their loyalness and faithfulness.
They were like a son and daughter to me...The legacy is gone.

 

[Renee750il]

Jon. Stop second guessing yourself. Now. If you hadn't known it was the right thing to do for them you would never have been able to do it. You know this.

 

[labman]

I can't help it!!!! If I could go back I would of waited...people I've told were surprised also,and would say - - Did ya have to put them both down?

I know I shouldn't be doing this to my self,but I always do.

 

[labman]

I'm just wondering if I could have done more.

 

[TheGoldenRetriever]

I'm just wondering if I could have done more.

Hey Labman, everybody does that after they have to put a dog down. It's perfectly normal to second-guess yourself, because no one ever wants to make that decision. Especially when others who did not live with your dogs question your decision. They are not trying to make you feel badly ... they probably just don't know what to say. That's pretty normal too.

But you know what? Renee's right ... if it had been the wrong decision something would have stopped you. Don't torture yourself. You loved Bear and Blue their entire lives, and were strong enough to give them that final act of love when their bodies were failing and you knew they could not heal. It's tortorous for dogs when their bodies are failing and they hurt. They are unable to understand why their parts don't work like they once did ... and why they hurt all the time. What you did was a loving act ... a final gift.

 

[labman]

Thanks for helping me to put things back into perspective. I'm still very sad and miss them very much, but the other negative feelings are subsiding now. I'm counting my blessings and am rejoicing in what I do have and what I had shared and learned from Bear and Blue.