Pet Loss and Rainbow Bridge
rainbow bridge, pet loss, grief, healingA Place in Our Hearts, Courtesy of Phyllis Potterfield
They will not go quietly,
the dogs who’ve shared our lives.
In subtle ways they let us know
their spirit still survives.
Old habits still make us think
we hear a barking at the door.
Or step back when we drop
a tasty morsel on the floor.
Our feet still go around the place
the food dish used to be.
And, sometime, coming home at night,
we miss them terribly.
And although time may bring new friends
and a new food dish to fill,
That one place in our hearts
belongs to them…
and always will.
OLD DOG IN A LOCKET
OLD DOG IN A LOCKET
Old dog in a locket
That lays next to my heart
…I will always love you
As I did right from the start.
You were right beside me
Through the darkest of my days
It was your kind and gentle nature
That made me want to stay.
Now I hold you in my arms
Your breath still warm against my hand
Our hearts still beat together
And I wonder if you understand.
Through the hours that I held you
Before the light did leave your soul
I knew a way to keep you
Forever in my hold.
I snipped the hair from around your eyes
So I would always see
The beauty that surrounds me
Even in times of need.
I snipped the hair from around your ears
So I would always hear
Music in the distance
To quiet any fears.
I snipped the hair from across your back
To bring me strength in time of need
And that the power of your essence
Would always be with me.
I snipped the hair from around your heart
That beat in time with mine
So love would know to find me
At some other distant time.
And so, your life slipped out of mine
On a quiet spring like day
But I knew that a part of you
Was always here to stay.
Old dog in a locket
That lays next to my heart
I will always love you
Even though we had to part.
- -Author Unknown
Just a Dog
Just a Dog
From time to time, people tell me, “lighten up, it’s just a dog,” Or “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance travelled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a Dog.” Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.”
Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been spent with “just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.
If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably understand phases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise” or “just a promise.”
“Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.
“Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
Because of “just a dog” I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.
So for me and the folks like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.
I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog” But the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a person.”
Author Unknown
Related articles
- The Greatest of God’s Gifts: The Dog (gomestic.com)
- Igbo Folklore: Why the tip of the dog’s nose is black in colour (brighthub.com)
Clumber Tribute
“I will lend to you for awhile, a Clumber pup God said,
For you to love him while he lives
And mourn him when he`s dead
Maybe for twelve or fourteen years
Or maybe two or three.
But Will you ? till I call him back…
Take care of him for me.
He`ll bring his charms to gladden you,
and (should his stay be brief)
You`ll always have his memories
As solace for your grief.
I cannot promise he will stay
Since all from earth, return.
But there are lessons taught below
I want this pup to learn.
I`ve looked the whole world over
In search of teachers true,
And from the folk that crowd Life`s land
I, God have chosen You.
Now will you give him all your Love
Nor think the labor vain
Nor hate Me when I come to take
My Clumber back again.
I fancied that I heard them say..
“Dear Lord, Thy will be done”
For all the joys this Clumber brings,
The risk of grief we`ll run.
We`ll shelter him with tenderness
We`ll love him while we may.
And for the happiness we`ve known,
Forever, grateful stay.
But should you call him back again
Much sooner than we`ve planned
We`ll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand
If by our love, we`ve managed
Your wishes to achieve
In memory of him who we loved,
to help us while we grieve,
When our faithful bundle does depart
This world of pain and strife
We`ll have yet another Clumber
And we`ll Love him all his life”
- Image by harold.lloyd (won’t somebody think of the bokeh?) via Flickr
“It came to me that every time I lose a critter, they take a piece of
my heart with them.
And, every new critter who comes into my life gifts me with a piece
of their heart.
If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be
critter and I will become as generous and loving as they are.”
Unknown
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Lovely Quote
“She is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are her life, her love, her leader. She will be yours, faithful and true to the last beat of her heart. You owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion.” ~Unknown
Le Cimetiere Des Chiens – A Paris Pet Cemetery
This is a video by Barbara Gordon of a pet cemetery in Paris, France. It opened in 1899 and since then, over 40,000 pets have been buried there.
