In Memoriam: Sir Pooch 1997-2011
when I come in the door
to silence.
No joyous greeting
to let me know I was his world.
Or maybe it's
first thing in the morning
when I would wake to
see him at the top of the stairs
ball between front paws
waiting for me to play.
Or maybe the late afternoon
ecstatic
at the thought of his daily walk.
Or when those warm brown eyes
would stare into mine
until I got the message:
feed me, pat me, let me out.
Or in winter
playing crazy dog in the snow,
or in summer
loping along the bank of the pond chasing balls.
A hundred times a day
thinking I see him
out of the corner of my eye.
Just don't let me remember
him on his last, weakest day
the old head lifting
at the sound of my voice
milky eyes unable to see
weak legs unable to stand
carried like a baby
to the vet's
by my strong son
and laid on a table
where we stayed until the end
crying
because we had to let him go.
Published by Linda Louise Johnson
Linda Louise Johnson is an animal lover, crafter and hobbyist, graphic art afficionado and veteran writer. Her work has been featured on Associated Content, Yahoo! News, and eHow as well as in Poetry Garden,... View profile
Grieving the Loss of a PetPets are part of the family; we grieve them as we do other family members. Resources for dealing with the loss of a pet.
Dealing with the Loss of a PetA loss of a pet is rarely an easy passing with which to cope, but knowing your options for preserving your pet's memory may be of some comfort at that time.
Grieving the Loss of a PetEach and every pet owner will eventually have to deal with the loss of a pet. There are stages we will go through, it is all part of grieving the loss of a pet.
Dogs and Cats Grieve the Loss of a Loved One TooLike people, dogs and cats grieve the loss of a favorite human or companion animal. This article explains how they grieve and what you can do to help them through it.
Adjusting to Life After the Loss of a Beloved PetAfter the death of a dearly loved pet, we go through a roller coaster of emotions. Here are comforting thoughts on coping and recovering from the loss of your furry friend and f...
- Coping with Loss of Pet - 4 Tips to Get Past Feelings of Guilt
- Loss of Pet Dog - 5 Tips on Working Through Denial and Shock of a Pet's Death
- Dealing with Loss of Pet - 4 Steps to Helping a Senior Cope with Death of a Pet
- Resources for Those Grieving the Loss of a Pet
- Why Sir Pooch Can't Be a Service Dog
- Grieving the Loss of a Family Pet
- The Responsibility of Pet Ownership
62 Comments
Post a CommentI missed this...so sorry for your loss.
I'm crying with you. So sad. Big hug to you.
Still thinking of you, friend. I hope things have gotten just a bit easier, but I'm sure you miss him more than ever. Hang in there.
Thank you for your words. i must make a decision to put my husky-shepherd to sleep. Killing me she has bad diabetis. Thank you there is no easy way of letting go.. God bless you for your words.
Still missing Sir Pooch, I know, and I hope you are still remembering the happy times :)
Awww. heart breaking
What a beautiful tribute and I am sure that many of us can relate to this.
So sorry, Linda. Beautiful tribute.
I'm sorry, Linda! Thanks for writing this beautiful memorial..
You remain in my heart Linda. Your name fits your personality, which by the way your name means in Spanish, "Beautiful" for that's the way you are and the way you write.