For all of us who have lost a pet

[Jerry]

]Lucky, 1993 t0 2009]

This was written by my daughter, the day after after she had to have her German Shepherd mix, Lucky, put down. I think it is something to think about and give comfort to all of us who have lost pets over the years.


So long....And Thanks for the catfish?

I debated about a subject/title. Turns out, even in times like these, I'm a nerd with a strange sense of humor.

Alternative title: Eulogy for an Old Friend

It's weird. The things you think about when that time comes. Focus on the good times, the misspent youth, the odd adventures. That's what you tell yourself, and maybe that's what you do. But you still cry. You still miss them. You still look for that old friend that you know is gone. But you still look, still wait for the familiarity of life. Know you will be disappointed, but you do it anyhow. Because you don't want to forget.

And some say a dog is just a dog. If that is the case, she was no dog. Anything but.She was a not-so scary guardian, a rebel, a nomad, a clown, and always, a friend, but not a dog.

I could always tell when she was the guilty party. There was that look in her eye, that "whoops I've been caught" gaze that told me everything. And then came the self punishment. Yep, she would send herself to a corner and wait out the storm. Didn't have to raise your hand or even your voice (Not that I would). She always knew better, just chose the alternative path.

It's not even that she wasn't well trained. She knew her basics, knew what was expected of her. I said stay, she listened, then considered her options. Then she jumped into the pond anyway, because she wanted to.

It was she that kept the boys in line, made sure the floor outside my room was always warm, kept an eye on the doors when no one was home.She was always ready for another adventure, didn't care where life took her, as long as the top was down or the windows were open so she could feel the breeze.

I'm not going to recount all of our misadventures, that would be long winded and no one would read it anyway. But I will say that she was the only constant in my life for a very long time, the only one I could always count on.

It's give and take, you know? Having a dog. Not a sacrifice, but so very close. It's time, resources, emotional real estate that can never be reclaimed. But, having a dog is no sacrifice. No, I didn't give up a thing. I gave her 16 years and in return she gave me a lifetime. The best of barter, folks.

Ain,t life grand?


Written by Jennifer.

[KFCarter]

Moving, eloquent and full of life... all of us could hope for such a fine eulogy one day.

:ootd:

[BEEDEE]

jerry - what a wonderful tribute. This is what we posted when our beagle died:

http://sv-fortytwo.com/logs/max.html

Brian

:ootd:

[JolyStNicholas]

Moving,loving thought out and well done lassie!

[ForresterModern]

Beautifully put.

" My primary goal in life is to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am." I don't remember who said it but it is how I try to live my life.

[LANCER1562]

While I was growing up, I had a dog. He was never thought of as a pet but as a member of the family. The hardest decision I've had to make (I was 15 years old) was to have him put down rather than let him suffer in pain. I truly loved my dog, Mickey" and 30 years later I still miss him.

[Galician]

Thank you, Jerry, for sharing this. I have my late mother's dog who is the same age, and I'm slowly facing the same decision pending. I recently had to put her cat down and it hurt far more than I would have expected, since I felt like I was losing a bit of my mother as well.

I don't have the same bonds with her as your daughter did with yours, but I have helped care for her since my mother took her in off the street almost fifteen years ago. I shall try to work out a similar outlook, but it'll be good to know when they are together again.

My thoughts to you in your loss.

[Peter C.]

Wonderful words showing the love Jennifer had for her departed friend, and great wisdom too.

Peter

[Dan R Porter]

The friendship of a dog cannot be surpassed. I just PTS a 3 year old dog. So young it was hard. This hit home for me thanks for posting!

[Wompet]