Best Friend

[Buzzworthy]

A and J,

I am truely sorry. I can empythize. It is one of the worst feelings in the world.


Kaya's Thread





The Doggie Prayer


If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this--the last battle--can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.

Take me to where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.

Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close--we two--these years,

Don't let your heart hold any tears.



Sent to me by LB as well I believe. We are with you, it passes over time, but I am in tears again now just thinking about my baby Kaya.


Dogs are so great. So great it makes it that much harder.



Bob, that is horrible news too. Hang in there, anything I can do, call.

[Canuk]

Wow...thanks so much for sharing. I have never had a dod, but reading threads like this - no matter how sad they are - makes me feel as if I am missing something spectacular.

[Viva]

So sorry, Raddam. Came close to crying, too.

I also got a dog when I was about 17, but lost him very early on to parvo. Now after more than 20 years, I'm a position to have one again. Rafi (Rafael The Destroyer) and I have been together for three months now. While it's amazing how much bonding occurs between the species, that between human and canidae is very special.

[Grange]

A moving tribute. I still miss my dog from when I was growing up. I think I'm going to go hug my dog now.

[Pinner]

Thanks for posting that. RIP, Beau.

Sorry I missed you guys this weekend. I'll be back soon though.

[str8line]

Sorry about your buddy, Adam. He sure was a beauty.

My 10 year old black lab(Barkley) died last August from cancer. It was so tough to watch him whither. He was the healthiest dog ever, then he got the tumor. I love to think back on all of his unique mannerism's and all of the good times we had together. We now have a stuffed animal black lab for my son(2 years old)that we call Barkley. My Golden Retriever(Lilly) sure misses her brother.

I wish dogs had a longer life span.

[freshie247]

I know that's a tough call to make,but it's the right one.Watching them suffer because you can't bear to let them go,isn't good for anyone;I've seen it with my mom's animals several times.Best wishes!

[MOHSHSIHd]

my one dog turned 18 this february....but he is 2000 miles away and I fear I wont see him again before he goes...

[irul&ublo]

Very moving tribute. It makes me think fondly of my long gone friends Alex and Schultz. Even though I have new dogs, I still remember each of them; its amazing when you are a dog person, how distinct the personalities of your dogs are.

[Knockneed Man]

Best dog ever... I'll never forget mtn biking around Larkspur Mtn in the dark looking for Beau while he stalked a heard of sheep...

[iceman]

Sorry to hear about Beau, sounds like a great dog. I've lost a bunch over the years, I know how it feels. And Sasha just turned nine, she hasn't slowed a bit but it's coming. So...yeah. I get it.

But willl you guys stop with the doggie prayers and poems please? Too sad-making for me.

[duph]

Raddam, I want to say something, and I wish I had better words...

Sorry for your loss. Beau is indeed beautiful. People have already said so, and I agree. I wish their life spans were longer.

I'm reminded of my dog's first "ski" day, almost 2 1/2 years ago. Bob and Jerry, two hitchers I picked up at Loveland Pass, assured me she'd love it and do just fine. "This is my dog's favorite thing to do," said Jerry. I didn't think much of the fact that his dog wasn't running with him on this particular day. I soon would.

First off, I was totally amazed at how Winter took to it. Months prior, as a wee pup, she jumped into the first body of water she ever saw and swam like mad. This was no different. The snow was deep, over her head, which she kept above the surface while porpoising fast down the hill. Her giant tongue flapped out of a seemingly huge smile through the churning smoke show. I thought it was the greatest thing I ever saw.

When we turned a corner halfway down, the mood changed drastically. Jerry was just standing there, holding a plastic bag. At first I thought he was about to get high, but then I saw that the bag's contents were gray. "This is Delilah," he said, holding back some emotion. "She died a couple weeks ago. She used to be just like that," he said, while watching Winter fly down the hill in Bob's contrail. When he started scattering Delilah's ashes about, I wanted to say something, and I wished I had better words....

"This was one of her favorite places," said Jerry, as he folded the bag and put it in his pocket.

Suddenly it made sense that he didn't mind my then 11-month-old terror jumping on him and licking his face in the car. He didn't mind at all, and urged me to take her with us for a run. His memory of Delilah jump-started a beautiful thing for Winter.

May your memories of Beau touch others in such a profound way. I'm sure they already do.

Best to you and Jane,

Matt