Death in the family

[nachtjaeger]

THE POWER OF THE DOG
by Rudyard Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
But when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair
But . . . you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will
When the whimper of welcome 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!

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long
So why in Heaven (before we are there!)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

RIP Pepper
1996?-2009
May you run free where the gentle breezes blow
and the rabbits run fast (but not too fast.)


The house is so empty now, even with three humans and a cat.

Pepper!! 3.jpg

[Fred588]

My condolences

[Nessie]

Please accept my condolences on the loss of Pepper.

When my first dog died a few years ago, Duncan sent me this same poem and it still gets me all teary-eyed. It's so true! I thought I'd never get another dog because I didn't want to go through that again.

But there is a dog here now.

Nessie

[Robert]

Sorry for your loss. She joins a good pack in Dog Heaven.

[nachtjaeger]

Thanks, gang. That means a lot.

She was in perfect health two weeks ago, or so we thought. Then she had some minor "tummy whoopses" but she'd done that before. And she got better, for a week or so.
Wednesday she wasn't eating, Thursday she couldn't even keep water down. We rushed her to the Vet. Today, the ultrasound confirmed our worst fears.
We brought her home for a few hours of sunlight and fresh air, but she was waiting to die. The Vet stopped by after he closed the clinic and. . .
She was so smart- she knew exactly what the doctor was there for. And I have never seen an animal with such a strong will- even with her organs shutting down, she shook off the IV sedative he gave her- she was on her feet when she should have been asleep. I got her to lay down, and she lay there quietly, but she fought so hard to survive the lethal injections.

[water_bug_62208]

Sorry for your loss. She's a beautiful animal.

We had an old German shepherd who pretty much knew it was over and would simply lie there on the back porch waiting to die. It was as if he'd simply given up. In our case, too, the veterinarian was good enough to come to the house, did an examination, noted that he could provide the dog medication to keep him going for a bit longer, but it would only postpone the inevitable and he'd be suffering all the while. So, the family made the call to put him out of his misery. He whimpered ever so slightly and looked over to the veternarian as he administered the injection then casually laid back down almost as if he understood what had happened. He was so peaceful as he laid there before he finally passed away.

[Mick]

Deepest condolences. We lost our beagle Missy after 14 years. Like Pepper, she was our fur daughter. But you will see her again.

RAINBOW BRIDGE

JUST this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There isplenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

ALL the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to runfrom the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

YOU have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

THEN you cross Rainbow Bridge together....


Author unknown...

***
A Glimpse of the Rainbow Bridge

Was it today; yesterday; a week; a month ago?
There are no days; there are no nights since my furchild died.
I reach to pet my furry friend who is no longer here.
My heart is broken; my arms are empty; how many tears I've cried.

I leave the house, into the lane we always walked together.
The rain is falling. I notice not. Just more tears on my face.
She used to lead me down the lane. Her spirit leads me still.
But we go a different way to a very strange and different place.

I stand before a rustic bridge I've never seen before.
I stop. I know I'm not to cross. But why, I want to know.
And then the rain suddenly stops. I look up to the clouds.
I look down. The bridge is gone and it its place a rainbow.

I look across the Rainbow Bridge and see a joyful sight;
Thousands of healthy furchildren playing with my beloved pet.
I want to run and love her, but I'm rooted to the spot.
She looks and wags her tail and I hear her bark, 'Not yet.'

And then her bark turns to a voice and I hear her say,
'You cared for me, you played with me and loved me to the end.
I'm healthy now, don't cry for me. I'll meet you here again.
Others need your love and care. I'm sending you a friend.'

I rub my eyes and the rainbow is again the rustic bridge.
I send a prayer for that quick glimpse to the loving God above.
I hear a noise and glance back down. I can't believe my eyes.
Across the bridge my darling pet sent a furbaby for me to love.

I pick up the furry bundle, hold her close to my dampened cheek.
She nuzzles my neck, kisses my tears. It's true love a first sight.
Not to replace the one who's gone; another needs my love and care.
My eyes are drawn upward to see a Rainbow Bridge in radiating light.

copyright 1995
Jean L. Mowry-Everett

[Mynock]

It's been a year and 4 days since I had to put my mutt down. She was my best friend for 19 years.
Please accept my condolences. I know what you're going through.

[mud_david]

im sorry to hear about pepper, i had a siberian husky for 9 years and he died of cancer please accept my deepest condolences on you lose. i now how it feels to lose a friend

[Lomax]

A Kipling poem I wasn't aware of - that's unusual.

These lines of his are also appropriate.

Master, pity thy servant - bad things have come to pass;
There is no warmth in the noonday sun, nor health in the wayside grass;
His bones are full of an old disease; his torments run and increase;
Master, pity thy servant, and grant him a swift release.