Instructions to a Guardian Angel of Dogs: A Pet Loss Poem

Lady: Border collie 2000- June 3,2014 She belonged to my son, Danny. So devoted- she lived to be near him and to ride in the truck. I’ll write the story of Lady one day.

Lady 2000- June 3, 2014

This poem was included in a comment of last year by Gerard Oosterman of http://oosterman.wordpress.com/. A number of individuals visit my blog looking for poems about pet loss. So, here is another poem to add to the PET LOSS category.

The last 21 months of Lady’a life, was in my care. She required regular medication and extra attention and that was something that my son could not give her. He did not cease loving his pet. She could no longer ride on the truck so I decided to take over her care. I’m glad that I did. I grew to love her even more after she came to live with me. I can still visualize her looking down the lane as my son drove away in his truck each day. I know that she grieved to be with Danny but she adapted very well living with me. As I often say about dogs, Lady was “more human than most humans.” I think I read that and it is not my original quote.

Instructions To a Guardian Angel of Dogs
By ginger Patton

Hello. I’ve been expecting you for quite some time.
Here, come sit beside us for awhile .
and let me tell you about this old friend of mine.
She might look tattered or maybe old
But I won’t say goodbye until you’ve been told.
She had the brightest eyes I had ever seen,
And wore a beautiful fur coat that would out shine a queen .
She was never prissy but walked with an aire ……
And oh so polite, you could take her most anywhere.
She could run like the wind and could catch anything she chased
But she protected and sat with me when I had problems to face.
You could not find a friend nearly so dear.
Because no matter the trouble she always stayed near…
She has never asked for much from me;
Just to love and respect her and I think you’ll agree .
To give her a good meal plus a nice warm bed is not much to ask ;
When she has given me all her love and to her this was no task.
Now I understand you have a schedule to keep.
But I have a small favor before she nods off to sleep.
Please fold your wings around her and let her feel young while in no pain ;
Dear Guardian Angel of Pets ,
please keep her safe and happy until I see her again.

By Ginger Patton

In Memory of Boastswain, A Dog by Lord Byron (No comments please)

NO COMMENTS PLEASE.
This is merely another pet loss poem that I have added. Numerous views on my blog are from individuals looking for poems about pet loss. I have several more in draft that I intend to include in the Pet Loss Category so I will be adding more “here and there” or “now and then.”

Live Oak still beautiful after its demise. “All things are born to live and then live to die.”

The poem “Epitaph To a Dog” was written by Lord Byron and a close friend. The dog was a Newfoundland and much cherished by the poet.

Epitaph To a Dog

Near this Spot
are deposited the Remains of one
who possessed Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.

This praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery
if inscribed over human Ashes,
is but a just tribute to the Memory of
Boatswain, a Dog
who was born in Newfoundland May 1803
and died at Newstead Nov. 18th, 1808

When some proud Son of Man returns to Earth,
Unknown to Glory, but upheld by Birth,
The sculptor’s art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And storied urns record who rests below.
When all is done, upon the Tomb is seen,
Not what he was, but what he should have been.
But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his Master’s own,
Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
Unhonoured falls, unnoticed all his worth,
Denied in heaven the Soul he held on earth –
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.

Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power –
Who knows thee well, must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust!
Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,
Thy tongue hypocrisy, thy heart deceit!
By nature vile, ennobled but by name,
Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.
Ye, who behold perchance this simple urn,
Pass on – it honours none you wish to mourn.
To mark a friend’s remains these stones arise;
I never knew but one — and here he lies.

By Lord Byron

” Dog Named Beau” By James Stewart, 1989

Gerard Oosterman of “Oosterman Treats” http://oosterman.wordpress.com/ sent this poem in a comment on one of my posts. I remember reading this poem in Google sometime ago. Stewart read the poem on “The Johnny Carson Show” in 1989. It has been written that Carson cried as Stewart read the poem. Most of you probably remember Stewart as a fine actor and if not, you have most likely heard his name. He was a classy gentleman with excellent moral fiber, unlike anything we see in the entertainment business now.

Beau was a Golden Retriever. This poem probably will resonate with two bloggers that I follow. Mary and Tim Livingston have bred, trained and, had more than a few Goldens during their marriage. If you want to see some dog beauties and fantastic art, I encourage you to take a look at Tim’s blog http://theforesterartist.com/ and Mary’s blog at http://thebackdoorartist.com/

A Dog Named Beau by James Stewart (from Jimmy Stewart and His Poems) Crown Publishers, 1989

He never came to me when I would call
Unless I had a tennis ball,
Or he felt like it,
But mostly he didn’t come at all.

When he was young
He never learned to heel
Or sit or stay,
He did things his way.

Discipline was not his bag
But when you were with him things sure didn’t drag.
He’d dig up a rosebush just to spite me,
And when I’d grab him, he’d turn and bite me.

He bit lots of folks from day to day,
The delivery boy was his favorite prey.
The gas man wouldn’t read our meter,
He said we owned a real man-eater.

He set the house on fire
But the story’s long to tell.
Suffice to say that he survived
And the house survived as well.

On the evening walks, and Gloria took him,
He was always first out the door.
The old one and I brought up the rear
Because our bones were sore.

He would charge up the street with Mom hanging on,
What a beautiful pair they were!
And if it was still light and the tourists were out,
They created a bit of a stir.

But every once in a while, he would stop in his tracks
And with a frown on his face look around.
It was just to make sure that the old one was there
And would follow him where he was bound.

We are early-to-bedders at our house–
I guess I’m the first to retire.
And as I’d leave the room he’d look at me
And get up from his place by the fire.

He knew where the tennis balls were upstairs,
And I’d give him one for a while.
He would push it under the bed with his nose
And I’d fish it out with a smile.

And before very long
He’d tire of the ball
And be asleep in his corner
In no time at all.

And there were nights when I’d feel him
Climb upon our bed
And lie between us,
And I’d pat his head.

And there were nights when I’d feel his stare
And I’d wake up and he’d be sitting there
And I reach out my hand and stroke his hair.
And sometimes I’d feel him sigh
And I think I know the reason why.

He would wake up at night
And he would have this fear
Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,
And he’d be glad to have me near.

And Now he’s dead.
And there are nights when I think I feel him
Climb upon our bed and lie between us,
And I pat his head.

And there are nights when I think
I feel that stare
And I reach out my hand to stoke his hair,
But he’s not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn’t so,
I’ll always love a dog named Beau.

 

By James Stewart

 

Pet Loss Poem: Generous and Loving as a Dog

Another poem to add to a group of pet loss poems. This was sent to me by Vicky- blog site at http://vicshill.wordpress.com/ who lives in Great Britian. She recently lost a very dear friend- her beloved dog. I’m so sorry for her loss.

To Become as Generous and Loving as a Dog

It came to me that every time I lose a dog,
they take a piece of my heart with them….
And every new dog 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 dog …
and maybe
I will become as generous and loving as they are.

author unknown

“A Dog’s Will” (click or double click to enlarge photo)

In The Dark You Can Find The Light

This is a poem that I found quite awhile ago and had it filed away in memory. It can be found in several web sites via Google. I am posting it especially for some blogging friends. Mary and Tim Livingston have had Golden Retrievers for many, many years. Mary’s beloved dog died far too young and this is a post just for her. Mary has the blog “The Backdoor Artist.” Tim’s blog is “The Forester.” Both blogs are wonderful with many posts and wonderful photos of and about the Golden’s in their life. I can not make the link thing work. But scroll down to where the blogs that I follow are at the bottom of this blog. If you click on the names of the blogs it will take you there. In the past if was working just by clicking. Since this blog is “having a spell” I’m not sure what it will do.

The poem is by an unknown author

The Legacy

When humans die, they make a will
To leave their homes and all they have to those they love.
I, too, would make a will if I could write.

To some poor wistful, lonely stray
I leave my happy home,
My dish, my cozy bed, my cushioned chair, my toy.
The well loved lap, the gentle stroking hand,
The loving voice,
The place I made in someone’s heart,
The love that at the last could help me to
A peaceful painless end
Held in loving arms.

If I should die, Oh do not say,
“No more a pet I’ll have, to grieve me by it’s loss”
Seek out some lonely, unloved dog
And give my place to him.
This is the legacy I leave behind –
’til all I have to give.

Author Unkown

Pet Loss: A Poem by Rudyard Kipling “The Power of a Dog”

“Time spent with our pets seems as fleeting as the life of a butterfly” Quote by Yvonne Daniel

I read about Neil Gaiman and his dog in The Scoop in The Dogster. Gaiman wrote about his dog in his personal blog on Tumblr. A touching story of how he rescued his beautiful pet from the side of the highway.
http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2013/01 Niel Gaiman included Rudyard Kipling’s poem titled “The Power of a Dog. I feel this is one one of the best poems related to pet loss that I’ve read thus far.

“The Power of a Dog”

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 that nature permits
Are closing in asthma or tumors or fits
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers, or loaded guns.
Then you will find–its 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 still 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?

Poem by Rudyard Kipling

Note: Some search engine terms/questions were in reference to the year that Kipling wrote this poem. I have not been able to find, via Internet, what year the poem was written.

Post and photograph Yvonne

How Do We Cope With The Loss of a Pet (original post 2/2012) click image to enlarge

Migrating  butterfly on frostweed

 

I’ve debated with myself if Dr D. would approve of what I am going to post. I did not ask her for a yea or a nay. Since she does about one euthanasia on average each week and sometimes more, I thought that some of her clients might find some comfort in this poem that I wrote for Dr. D. back in 1999. She still misses this dear little cat. In Dr. D’s words, “she made me laugh when I was down and brought me comfort when I was in pain. Athena will always be my most beloved cat. I think of her everyday.”

So the following poem was written in an effort to try to ease her pain. I wrote and re-wrote it many times- staying up until 3 or 4am after getting home from work at midnight.  I worked on this little poem for probably 2 weeks or more. I just remember that I labored to try to find the right words. I’m not really into writing poetry. I find it very difficult to try to get the wording to flow. Keep in mind that it was written from my heart and it is not a polished poem.

Someday I’ll write Athena’s story. I think it will touch your heart.                                                                          

  

The Day You Told Me Goodbye

 

It was fate and destiny that led you my way

Thank you dear Lisa for finding me that day

You rescued me as a wild, dying kitten and gave me life 

I shared your good times, the bad times, your pain, and strife

My life with you was filled with warmth and tender care 

And other pets whose love for you, I could share

I am gone now, you told me goodbye- please don’t be sad

Remember the happiness we shared together and be glad

The mornng I left you, my breath became the wind that gave me wings,

To live on in spirit and in the wind that sings

I will touch your face as a  warm raindrop on a summer day

You’ll hear my purr as a hummingbird darting among the flowers of May

I am still following you with footsteps that you can not hear

For I am your guardian angel now and I will always be near

I am free and wild again but I’m with you in my spirit though we are apart

You will see me again in other pets who will know the goodness of your heart

I will live on in the beauty of a butterfly and in the music of the wind

And one day you’ll  find me as a tiny kitten in need, waiting to be your friend.

Poem by Yvonne          September 21, 1999 

                              

Pets And Grief (Part 3)

 

 

  

Little Coley remained wary and skittish

Coley, my wild child. 9/8/2011

 I said goodbye to the little cat in the pics above this past Monday. I actually had a little story and in my haste I managed to delete all that I had written. Oh well, I suppose it was not all that good anyhow. I was having difficulty putting into words, my feelings about what I consider a necessary evil. I know that euthanasia is the humane thing to do for an animal that no longer has any quality of life. But I have had many pets over the years euthanized and it never gets any easier. Coley lived in my house for 15 years and during that time she became a part of my life along with my other favorite and older pets.    

Actually I have been sad for the past several weeks because I could see her demise slowly approaching and then the last 3 days her time with me went ever so fast. Coley was cremated and her ashes scattered over the vast property of the crematory.  I know that her spirit lives on.    

My little black cat trapped as a 5 month feral kitten

 Post and photographs Yvonne  

 

Pets And Grief February 11, 2012 12:27am

 

I spoke with Dr. D. last evening and she said that she just would not look at the poem that I wrote in 1999 and posted as a blog. She had an original that I had sent to her and she wondered how she had lost the poem. I told her that I had hand written several thinking that I wanted to preserve my hard work.

She does not want to talk about Athena the cat and Holly the Border Collie, that I mentioned in a post titled My Dog Marley. She was miserable for a long time after the death of each of those very special pets. Holly and Athena were a stabilizing force  when ever things were not so good.  It is just too sad for her at times. She tries not to think about her dearest pets that have left this earth. There are lots of special stories about Holly and Athena and someday I will write about them.

I also have been very sad when a pet dies or one that was euthanized. I can barely look at their photos without crying. Some pets are just like that. We just never get over their death but yet we should realize that a dog or cat simply does not have a long life. That is the reality one must face when getting a pet. Losing a young pet from an injury, illness, or one that disappears is still something that I can not digest. A pet that lives a long life is a different matter, at least for me.  I cried over those as well and I still think about them with much sadness. I am very grateful for the time spent with any pet that was a significant part of my life.

A few of my pets are very special to me and they are getting on in age. The special ones are all past 10 years old. I have already begun to feel the sting of pain in my heart when I think about how much time I will have with them.

 After the loss of a pet and if you have love to spare, another pet will find a place in your heart. Somehow, somewhere and sometime in the most unexpected way. That is how Marley came into Dr. D’s life. She was walking in her neighborhood when she found an abandoned puppy. The first pet story that I wrote for this web site was about her finding a puppy that she named Marley who is now about 10 or 11 years old. Dr. D did not bond with Marley for almost a year because she just did not want to love another dog in the way she loved Holly.

A peculiar thing happens when one of my pets die. Invariably, a dog or cat will show up at my home as if to replace the departed pet. I’ve often wondered about that. I have no explanation for there is none. I just accept the dog or cat that comes my way and give the new one a place in my heart.

Post Yvonne