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One
Friend to Another
You’re
both giving me a special gift,
So
sorrowfully endowed,
And
through these last few cherished days,
Your
courage makes me proud.
But
really, love is knowing
When
your best friend is in pain,
And
understanding earthly acts
Will
only be in vain.
So
looking deep into your eyes,
Beyond,
into your soul,
I see
in you the magic, that will
Once
more make me whole.
The
strength that you possess,
Is why
I look to you today,
To do
this thing that must be done,
For
it’s the only way.
That
strength is why I’ve followed you,
And
chose you as my friends,
And why
I’ve loved you both all these years,
My
partners ‘til the end.
Please,
understand just what this gift
You’re
giving means to me,
It
gives me back the strength I’ve lost,
And all
my dignity.
You
take a stand on my behalf,
For
that is what friends do.
And
know that what you do is right,
For I
believe it, too.
So one
last time, I breathe your scents,
And
through your hands I feel,
The
courage that’s within you both,
To now
grant me this appeal.
Cut the
leash that holds me here,
Dear
friends, and let me run,
Once
more a strong and steady dog,
My pain
and struggle done.
And
don’t despair my passing,
For I
won’t be far away,
Forever
here, within both your hearts,
And
memories will stay.
I’ll be
there watching over you,
Ever
faithful friends,
And in
your memories I’ll run,
A young
dog once again.
—Author unknown
Our Westies,
Harley and Higgins, were cared for wonderfully over the years by our
friend and Veterinarian, Dr. Jim Wilson.
We
really can't say enough about Jim and his staff at the McCowan Animal
Clinic in Scarborough. Their professionalism and compassion are second
to none. We are so appreciative.
A dog does
not live as long as a man and this
natural law is the font of many tears. If a boy and a puppy might grow
old to manhood and doghood together, and together grow old, and so in
due course die, full a many heartache might be avoided. But the world
is not so ordered, and dogs will die and men will weep for them so long
as there are dogs and men.
—Ben Ames Williams,
"Wingshooters Autumn"
One Man's
Tribute to a Dog
The one
absolutely unselfish friend that
a 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 wintery 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 sores
and wounds 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 remains. When riches take wings and
reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in
it's journey
through the heavens. If misfortune drives the master forth an outcast
in the world, friendless
and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of
accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies.
And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in
it's embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter
if all other
friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be
found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert
watchfulness,
faithful and true, even in death.
—From a speech given by
Former US Senator George Graham Vest of Missouri. Delivered in 1870
when he was acting as a lawyer in a suit against
a man who had killed the dog of his client. He won the case.
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Harley
and Higgins
Our Beloved Westies
March 25, 1997 to May 12, 2009
Two
little brothers
in
Heaven together,
As
they were on Earth.
Thank
you so much
for
enriching our lives
with
your presence.
Run
free and play, sweet Boys,
until
we meet again and
can
scoop
you up into our arms.
The Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of Heaven is
a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When
an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet
goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our
special friends so they can run and play together.
There is
plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and
comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to
health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and
strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times
gone by.
The animals are happy and
content, except for one
small thing. They each miss someone very special to them, who had to be
left behind.
They all run and play
together, but the day comes
when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His/her bright
eyes
are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly, he begins to run from the
group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and
faster.
You
have been spotted, and when you and your special
friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be
apart again. The happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again
caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes
of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your
heart.
You cross Rainbow Bridge
together.
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