TRIBUTE TO A DOG
 
The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in
this selfish world,  the one that never deserts him,  the
one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his
dog.  A man^s dog stands by him in prosperity and in
poverty.  In health and in sickness.  He will sleep on the
cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow
drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master^s side.
He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer; he will
lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with
the roughness of the world.  He guards the sleep of his
pauper master as if he were a prince.  When all other
friends desert, he remain.  When riches take wing and
reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as
the sun in its journey through the heavens.
 
                -- Senator George Vest, 1870



"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.
Your are his life, his love, his leader.  He will be yours,
faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.  You owe
it to him to be worthy of such devotion." 

                                         --unknown




     The Power of the Dog
        by Rudyard Kipling
 
    There is sorrow enough in the natural way
    From men and women to fill our day;
    And 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 passsion and worship fed
    By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
    Nevertheless it is hardly fair
    To risk your heart to 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,
    With its 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-term 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?
 
 
 
 
WHEN THE TIME COMES...
 
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 to 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.
 
        -- Unknown
 
 
  Some well-meaning friends did gently suggest that I get
another dog.  I secretly hated them for their insensitivity.
Lady wasn't just a dog.  She was a friend, an irreplaceable
soulmate.  No dog could ever take her place, not ever.
 
  I thought the pain would never end.  But slowly, through
the months that followed, it eased.  Just a little bit each
day.  I've since leaned from experts that a pet's death trig-
gers a complex and bewildering set of emotions in the owner.
Depression, tears, anxiety, and guilt are normal reactions.
Everyone feels them.  I wasn't alone.  I wasn't crazy.
Just normal.  I didn't need to punish myself further
by questioning my sanity for feeling those emotions.  But
I did.  I hope I won't next time.
 
  - Bill Shaw, an excerpt from 'The Significant Life -And
    Death- of Lady'
    (c) 1984, Bill Shaw
 
 
  One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress.
Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret
but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance
of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved
us and whom we loved."  No matter how deep my sleep I shall
hear you and not all the power of death can keep my spirit
from wagging a grateful tail.
 
  - Excerpt from 'The Last Will and Testament of an
    Extremely Distinguished Dog' by Eugene O'Neill