Said goodbye to my Dog today [NSR]

[lemon boy]

, Karl - I had it in my head that I'd put these up for you before or that you'd seen em. I get all choked up everytime and I've read em a million times already.

---------------------------------------------
Dog's PLEA

Treat me kindly, my beloved friend , 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 blows , your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn . 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 footsteps fall on my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticaed animal no longer accustomed to the bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privelege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth . Keep my pan filled with fresh water , for I can not 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 , my friend , when I am very old , and I no longer enjoy good health , hearing and sight , do not make heroic efforts to keep me going ....please see that my trusing life is taken gently . I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your loving hands .

-Anonymous-
-------------------------------------------------
The Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting heaven and earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of its many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass.

When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm spring weather. The old and frail animals are young again. Those who are maimed are made whole again. They play all day long with each other.

There is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on earth. So each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up! The nose twitches! The ears are up! The eyes are staring! And this one suddenly runs from the group!

You have been seen and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and again and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet.

Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.
Author unknown
----------------------------------------------------
“I Stood Beside Your Bed Last Night”

I stood beside your bed last night, I came to have a peep.

I could see that you where crying, you found it hard to sleep

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,

“It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well. I’m fine, I’m here.”

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour your tea,

You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today. Your arms were getting sore.

I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today. You tend it with such care.

I want to reassure you, that I’m not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.

I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said, “It’s me.”

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.

I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.

It’s possible for me, to be so near you everyday.

To say to you with certainty, “I never went away.”

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew.

In the stillness of that evening, I was close to you.

The day is over, I smile and watch you yawning.

And say “goodnight, God bless, “I’ll see you in the morning.”

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,

I’ll rush across to greet you and we’ll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.

Be patient, live your journey out, then come home to be with me."

-----------------------------------------------------

A man and his dog were walking along a road. He was just enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying and that his dog had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading him.

After a while, they came to a high white stone wall along the side of the road. It looked like it was made of fine marble. At the top of the hill it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he reached the arch he saw a magnificant gate that looked like mother of pearl and the streets were paved of pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate and as he got closer he saw a man sitting at a desk. When he got close enough he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?" "This is heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.
"of course sir. Come right in and I'll have some ice water brought right up. " The man behind the desk gestured and the gate began to open up.
"Can my dog come too?" the traveler asked.
"I'm sorry. but we don't accept pets." the man answered.

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued on the way he had been going. After a long walk and at the top of another long hill, the man came to a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate he saw a man inside leaning against a tree and reading a book. "Excuse me," the man called to the reader. "Do you have any water?"
"Yes, there is a pump right over there. Come on in." answered the reader.
"How about my friend?" the traveler gestured to the dog.
"There should be a bowl by the pump," the man said.

The traveler andhis dog entered the gate and, sure enough, there was an old fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the bowl and took a long drink himself . When they were full, he turned back to the man reading his book and asked, "What do you call this place?" "This is heaven," was the answer.

"Well that is confusing," he said. "The man down the road said that place was heaven too." "Oh, you mean the place with the streets of gold and the pearly gates? That is hell." "Doesn't it make you mad that they use your name like that?" asked the traveler. "No. I can see that you might think so, but we're just happy that they screen out the people who would leave their dogs behind...............

[HyRUPz]

Our hearts go out to you KS . . .

I knew Baker well and he was a helluva dog. In his younger years he was always leading on the trail, scouting . . . we'd hot tub and he'd drag a log into the tub and drop it in; he licked relentlessly the chlorine on your back, and he loved to party and bark loudly.

He loved powder too. Loved the shred life; God bless you Baker ol' friend, you've reminded us all today how important life is, and how we need to be grateful for all this wonderful life offers.

Best to the KS' . . . celebrate his life. Thank Ullr.

[iceman]

Dammit, LB, quit putting those up. I have to skim right past them or I'll start frickin' cryin'.

[lemon boy]

don't I know it.

When we put my friends dog down over the summer I formatted them all nice and printed them on some bond paper for her.

[Helicrackjnky]

Sorry Rock as you know I had to do the same with Mickey last summer,I know how hard that is but know it is for the better!!
See ya later bro and keep your chin up!!

[altachic]

Lot's 'o Love to you and the fam Rocky.

Bummer indeed, we're all here for ya.

[LCC]

I'm sorry to hear about your tragic loss. I couldn't imagine putting my best friend down, but will make the wise decision when the time calls. He's been through some really tough times with me, and kept me going. He's also been through some great times with me, and kept me going.

[raddam]

Hey KS

man I am so sorry about your loss of Baker.
I have a 14 year old as well.
i am not looking forward to his day

may his memories fill your days with smiles

Thinking of you
AD and JS

[Lumpy]

Toast to Baker's great life with you and your family tonight after work...one of the most precious assets a man has in his life is the uncompromising, unconditional love and companionship from his dog...leaves a big void in a family's life. My condolances KS.

[Mr. Altagirl]

Sorry to hear Rocky. Hug the kids and remeber the good days. At some point in the future, a new friend will come along and help keep the good memories alive.

[Meat's of Evil]

Baker was such a kick ass dog. Sorry for your families loss R. I know Jenny will be way bummed.

[13]

I had the pleasure of meeting Baker as well.

Sorry for your family's loss, dude.

[TJ.Brk]

Man Karl. I'm so sorry for your loss. Seems alot of us maggots lost our best 4 legged friends this winter. I'm sure their up in Heaven picking out some stashes for us.

[ArmchairExtreme]

So Sorry, Rock. Dogs are the finest animals. It will get a little better each day til the warm memories overtake the tears.

Had a nice dinner with your Cuz and Dexter last night. Be sure to reach out when you're in NY.

[seldon]

Im sorry dude.... so sorry... heres a story that might help... (sorry about the formatting)

>> > >A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was
>>enjoying the
>> > >scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He
>>remembered
>> >
>> > >dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for
>>years.
>>He
>> > >wondered where the road was leading them.
>> > >
>> > >After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one
>>side
>>of
>> > >the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long
>>hill, it
>>was
>> > >broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was
>>standing
>> > >before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked
>>like
>>Mother
>> > of
>> > >Pearl, and the street that led to the gate
>> > >looked like pure gold.
>> > >
>> > >He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he
>>saw a
>> > >man at a desk to one side. When he was close enough, he called
>>out,
>> > "Excuse
>> > >
>> > >me, where are we?"
>> > >
>> > >This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.
>> > >
>> > >"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.
>> > >
>> > >Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water
>>brought
>> > >right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
>> > >
>> > >"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the
>>traveler
>> > >asked.
>> > >
>> > >"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."
>> > >
>> > >The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road
>>and
>> > >continued the way he had been going with his dog.
>> > >
>> > >After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill,
>>he came
>>to
>> > >a dirt road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it
>>had
>>never
>> > >been closed. There was no fence. As >he approached the gate, he
>>saw a
>>man
>> >
>> > >inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
>> > >
>> > >"Excuse me!" he called to the reader. "Do you have any water?"
>> > >
>> > >"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there". The man pointed to a
>>place
>>that
>> > >couldn't be seen from outside the gate. "Come on in."
>> > >
>> > >"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.
>> > >
>> > >"There should be a bowl by the pump." They went through the
>>gate, and
>> > >sure enough, there was an old fashioned hand pump with a bowl
>>beside
>>it.
>> > >
>> > >The traveler filled the bowl and took a long drink himself,
>>then he
>>gave
>> > >some to the dog. When they were full, he and the dog walked
>>back
>>toward
>> > the
>> > >
>> > >man who was standing by the tree waiting for them.
>> > >"What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.
>> > >
>> > >"This is Heaven," he answered.
>> > > "Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road
said that was Heaven, too."
"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's Hell."
"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"
"No. I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that they screen out the folks who'll leave their best friends behind."

[watersnowdirt]

so so sorry to hear that. I can't even imagine - my heart just breaks for you and your family.

Many thoughts sent out from HMB, CA.

[wahama88]

Real sorry to hear about your aussie. I have a year and a half year old aussie named Cooper and I can imagine that loss of losing your family member. Very sorry, it is a cruel but necessary evil in life. Aussies expecially, the attachment you have to them is unbeleivable

[duph]

Truly sorry Karl. Lost one as a kid that was older than me, brought another one to the vet and said goodbye - she entered my life when I was 12. What you're going through cannot be mended by anything but time. Though the prose that some of these great folks have put up surely must have some comforting effects. Eventually the good times with Baker will be your most recent memories of him. I feel for you... Can't imagine what it will be like when my now 2 year old leaves this earth...

[dbldmnd]

KS, Sorry for your loss. Baker looked like a great dog/friend/family member.

[Karl Stall]

Wow. Thank you all again for the kindness and caring that you've shown to me and my family and, most importantly, the memory of Baker. It means so much to me - what a wonderful group of friends to have!

I can't help but keep looking at the responses and the pictures of him; it strikes me how he looks pretty good in the pictures despite how poorly he was doing.

Today, we received a handwritten letter from the vet, and he said that we could always call if we wanted to talk. That gesture sent us again into hysterical sobbing but oh well.

Let me say this: the people who devote their lives to caring for animals are some of the best, most kind and amazing souls to roam this planet. Huge kudos and raised glasses to the vets who take care of our beloved pets.

I know it's the weekend and no one is around to read this, but I'll probably bump it next week because somehow it keeps him around for just a bit longer.

From the bottom of my heart, you have my love and gratitude!!

[Buster Highmen]

Raise one to Baker from the Order of the Flying Elbow!

[Karl Stall]

* I want to keep this thread around. BTW - We have a new Aussie puppy, a blue merle girl. I will post some pics some time. She is related to Baker through both of her parents.

She's pretty sweet. We still miss Baker, though. He was special.


Thanks

[TheDingleberry]

Lost mine last year. Sorry bro!

[The Reverend Floater]

Sorry, Karl.

[Trackhead]

The last photo needs to be hanging in your house. Shows the bond between a pet and family.

Sorry about your loss. I'm sure your family friend had a great life.