A Child Losing A Pet

[Kashmir]

It's easily one of the toughest scenarios to withstand as a child; losing that pet you've loved since young enough to remember. The devastation within the young mind. It still gets me to this day, as it's not easy for adults either. I'll always remember the pets I've had that have since left this world, especially that certain one, and it still brings a sensation of loneliness and heartbreak to me when thinking about them. That never-ending, undying love and loyalty that dogs have within them for us is one of the most cherished emotions in life.

I saw this beautiful photo and the poem along with it and again felt that rush of love and loneliness enter me. Gets me every time. I'm sure many others feel it as well.

Here it us:



I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep.
I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me.
I was with you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to re-assure you, that I'm not lying there.
I walked with you toward the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said " it's me."

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.
It's possible for me, to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."
You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew...
In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning
and say "good-night, God bless, I'll see you in the morning."
And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.
I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.

~Author Unknown

[SGMM]

Have seen that pic & read that poem many times....have sent them to many fellow rescue shelter volunteers/friends....& yeah it still gets me everytime!!

[SFK]

Touching pic and poem.

[Volusia]

Thanks Kashmir, I appreciate you posting this poem. I'm struggling right now as my faithful dog Cleo of nearly 15 years is in most likely her last few weeks. We're hand feeding her with liquid dog food through plastic oral syringe feeders and my wife administers IV fluids 3 times per week.

We've been asked by several people why we don't have her euthanized. My answer is that my dog has been by my side through the worst of my days including the loss of my Dad and she has loved me unconditionally. I could never leave her or have her put down in her time of need.

Thanks again.

[nick1962]

I grew up with a cocker spaniel called Sam; when I reached 18 I left home but came back regularly, and Sam was always the first to greet me. One weekend he was not there; he had had a stroke and gone blind. The vet had advised that he be put down. My mum was with him when the time came-apparently as the drugs went in he howled one last time. My mum felt that he was calling to her. When she told me I wept buckets.

[JMV]

I've wept more at pets passing than people I've known that have passed.

There's just something about the unconditional love of your dog.

[rcole_sooner]

I think too much gets put into pets passing.

I ain't heartless, I love mine, and I do miss the ones that are gone, at times. Always seems like it was the last one, and the memory of the previous fades.

When I was a kid, my step dad said, "Damn, go get the shovel.".

He cared for pets and animals in general, but death is just part of life, and ya gotta deal with it, and move on.

I see parents get their kids all worked up over losing a pet. I don't think it is fair to the kid.

[Kashmir]

This is Jazmine. We had her since my kids were toddlers, until they were in their late teens. She was very much a part of the family. She was part rot, shepherd, husky, and lab, and would often scare the hell out of people, which made her an excellent watch dog. But she never hurt anyone. It bothered me when she passed, even more than it bothered my kids. Probably because it was an end of an era in our family. (I did her eyes in photoshop, not so well actually, which is why they look as they do. She looked better than this.)

[SneakySnakeLady]

I had many pets growing up, and losing them was hard- but I have even more today as an adult and I find that it is even harder for me to lose them now than I was back then.

[Kashmir]

Originally Posted by rcole_sooner

I see parents get their kids all worked up over losing a pet. I don't think it is fair to the kid.

I never got my kids worked up over it, got myself pretty upset though.

[Guitarhack]

One of my earliest memories was the day I got my first dog. I guess I was around four and he was a pup. That dog always looked forward to seeing me, was always there for me, and loved with out question. When he got older he developed some heath problems and had a stroke. One of the toughest things I had to do was to put him down. But you learn how wonderful pets can be and also to really treasure the time you have with them.

[121064]

[JMV]

Originally Posted by rcole_sooner

I think too much gets put into pets passing.

I ain't heartless, I love mine, and I do miss the ones that are gone, at times. Always seems like it was the last one, and the memory of the previous fades.

When I was a kid, my step dad said, "Damn, go get the shovel.".

He cared for pets and animals in general, but death is just part of life, and ya gotta deal with it, and move on.

I see parents get their kids all worked up over losing a pet. I don't think it is fair to the kid.

I'm inclined to agree. Some people invest far too much into their pets while they're alive, too.

It's one of those things in life you just have to deal with. It sure isn't easy, though. Especially if you had a great dog.

[peach64]

Finding my cat dead in the street under my neighbors car was the most traumatic thing that ever happened to me. I had my right index finger cut off, that didn't compare to losing my cat. I learned so much at 8 years old:
1) never take anything for granted
2) People don't give a shit, I came in crying that my cat was dead, and the people vistiting that night were the ones who killed him, " it's just a cat" even my mother was kind of indifferernt.
3) learened about death, started praying to God, since the death of that cat, I've had 6 , two lived pasted 20, two lived to 10, and now I have two at 12.
There is no scripture, but I'd like to think when I kick the bucket, or get raptutred, or whatever, I'll see them again.

[itchybro]

Originally Posted by JMV

I've wept more at pets passing than people I've known that have passed.

There's just something about the unconditional love of your dog.

Yup, the communication with people is easier. You just never quite know if that dog "got it".

P.S. I sure hope I'm greeted. There's gonna be quite a crowd....

[121064]

Originally Posted by rcole_sooner

I think too much gets put into pets passing.

I ain't heartless, I love mine, and I do miss the ones that are gone, at times. Always seems like it was the last one, and the memory of the previous fades.

When I was a kid, my step dad said, "Damn, go get the shovel.".

He cared for pets and animals in general, but death is just part of life, and ya gotta deal with it, and move on.

I see parents get their kids all worked up over losing a pet. I don't think it is fair to the kid.

I think you're entitled to your opinion.

My opinion is you're wrong. As wrong as anyone can be. Besides, who are you to say what is an "acceptable" level of grief?

That goes for you, too, JMV. Just because YOU don't care about animals, doesn't mean others shouldn't.

[markerdown]

It's always tough at any age when they leave. Hope I get to see the 3 we have lost so far in my lifetime again. I sure do miss them

[rcole_sooner]

When I was little, our cats used to have kittens so fast, we could hardly give them away fast enough.

They loved to get up on wheels, in the winter. There were many a squished kitty, after my dad left for work in a hurry.

That was better than the ones that got in the engine compartment. One liked to get on the fan shroud. He eventually lost 3 legs, before he did not come back from the vet. Future engine compartment cats, never made it back after the 1st visit to the "vet".

The "get the shovel" dog, I found with his guts strung out behind him, from being shot. He made it home, but was not good. I dug the hole, my step dad put the dog in, and shot him in the head with a .22. We covered him up, and that was that.

I was visiting a friend once, and while walking around back, he found a chewed up dead cat. He yelled, "Daddy, the dogs got another one.". He picked up the body, carried it to the trash can, and threw it in on top of about 6 other cat bodies. Damn!!! That was tough, even for me, to see. Farm pets got tough lives.

I've had a lot of pets come and go. Chasing cars, chasing female dogs (gets male dogs shot), chasing livestock (also gets dogs shot), coyotes, foxes; there are many reasons pets leave us. Just go get another one, and love it like the last one. Maybe better ... Now our kitties are inside kitties, don't breed, and don't get eaten. We learned a little.

[JMV]

Originally Posted by 121064

That goes for you, too, JMV. Just because YOU don't care about animals, doesn't mean others shouldn't.

You suck at reading comprehension. Seriously.

[lucidspoon]

I grew up on a farm, and there were at least 20 cats around at any given time. I always had my favorite ones as a kid, and it was sad when they'd die, but we lived on a busy highway, so it was a pretty common occurrence. I'd always help my dad bury them, and in fact one time, I saw one laying in the yard and I went to get my dad and a shovel. I carried the cat out to the field and laid it down as my dad started to dig. As soon as the shovel made a sound when it hit a rock, the cat jumped up and darted off. Damn thing was just sleeping!

I can't even imagine how many cats are buried at my parents' house. Got to be at least 50. Plus, my sister had a horse growing up, and it's buried somewhere out there too.

I've had to bury a few cats as an adult, and it's been hard, but nothing like when we had to put our one dog down a couple weeks ago. I think I mentioned it in a couple threads, but she attacked our other (much smaller) dog and caused her to have to have emergency surgery to save her. It was so bad, her one lung was sticking out of her side. Growing up on the farm, I'd NEVER have imagined taking animals to the vet. It wasn't until a couple years ago that we started taking our dogs to get their yearly shots.

But knowing that we were going to be losing the one dog from having to put her down, since we're in a neighborhood with several other dogs and little kids, I wanted to do whatever it took to save the little one.

Before surgery:



Right after surgery:



At home recovering (we would normally never dress an animal up, but it's to keep her from getting sunburned, since she's shaved in spots):

[rcole_sooner]

Originally Posted by 121064

I think you're entitled to your opinion.

My opinion is you're wrong. As wrong as anyone can be. Besides, who are you to say what is an "acceptable" level of grief?

That goes for you, too, JMV. Just because YOU don't care about animals, doesn't mean others shouldn't.

When grief causes trama, fear, and other psychological problems, it is not acceptable to me. But that is just IMO.

[Joeydego]

Death is all part of growing up

QUEENSRYCHE - SILENT LUCIDITY - YouTube

QUEENSRYCHE - SILENT LUCIDITY - YouTube

[rcole_sooner]

Life and death while preparing sandwiches: Emilio's death - Kill Bill 2 - YouTube

Life and death while preparing sandwiches: Emilio's death - Kill Bill 2 - YouTube

[121064]

Originally Posted by JMV

You suck at reading comprehension. Seriously.

You suck. Seriously.

[RedSkwirrell]

Haunted guitar anyone?

[BillB1960]

Originally Posted by 121064

You suck. Seriously.

[Kashmir]

Originally Posted by rcole_sooner

When grief causes trama, fear, and other psychological problems, it is not acceptable to me. But that is just IMO.

Can one fight off grief? I don't think so. If you possessed deep love for an animal you had for years, one that grew up alongside your kids, one with incredible loyalty and love itself, grief is automatic upon its death, imo. I don't think it causes psychological issues, it's just a saddened moment of losing a loved one, a place you visit periodically through life thereafter. It's no different than love for a family member in that respect. I suppose some people have this in their hearts for an animal and some don't. Hey, we're all different individuals.

[SFK]

You people will argue about anything.

[lucidspoon]

Originally Posted by Kashmir

Can one fight off grief? I don't think so.

He didn't say grief was a bad thing. He was saying that debilitating grief over a pet sets a bad precedent for kids. How's a kid going to cope with losing a grandparent if they're taught that losing a pet seems like the end of the world.

When a pet I liked died, my parents would just be like, "It's OK to be sad." and let me deal with it. They didn't freak out. If they were attached, I would assume they'd grieve on their own. A parent needs to be strong for the kid and not bring the kid into their own grief.

That's what causes so many problems with divorced parents.

[JMV]

I love cat pictures.