take a moment to tell your dog you love them

my 7 month old australian cattle dog was poisoned last week, and died friday in my arms. i don't think there ever was, or will be a better friend and faithful companion. i came across this letter which brought tears to my eyes, and i wanted to share it. to those who truly love your dogs, you will probably feel the same way, and i hope this helps to remind us all of why we love our animals and how much they really need us to be a part of their lives....



"Dear Mom and Dad,

I died today.
You got tired of me and took me to the shelter.
They were overcrowded and I drew an unlucky number.
I am in a black plastic bag in a landfill now.

Some other puppy will get the barely used leash you left.
My collar was dirty and too small,
but the lady took it off before she sent me to the Rainbow Bridge.

Would I still be at home if I hadn't chewed your shoe?
I didn't know what it was, but it was leather,
and it was on the floor. I was just playing.
You forgot to get puppy toys.

Would I still be at home if I had been housebroken?
Rubbing my nose in what I did
only made me ashamed that I had to go at all.
There are books and obedience teachers
that would have taught you
how to teach me to go to the door.

Would I still be at home if
I hadn't brought fleas into the house?
Without anti-flea medicine, I couldn't get them off of me
after you left me in the yard for days.

Would I still be at home if I hadn't barked?
I was only saying, "I'm scared,
I'm lonely, I'm here, I'm here! I want to be your best friend."

Would I still be at home if I had made you happy?
Hitting me didn't make me learn how.
Would I still be at home if you had taken the time
to care for me and to teach manners to me?
You didn't pay attention to me after the first week or so,
but I spent all my time waiting for you to love me.

I died today.

Love,

Your Puppy"

I'm so sorry that you lost your friend!

I am so sorry. This is so sad. My thoughts are with you. I adore my dogs & can't imagine going through what you are.

Ben,

I am so sorry to hear about you losing your dog. Aside from my girlfriend, my dog is my life. I couldn't imagine life without her. Hang in there and know that you were a great friend to your dog for its short life and I'm sure it knew that and loved you for it.

Jamie

Aww Ben how awful! Deepest condolences and big hugs to you as you face this terrible event.

i appreciate your condolences, all of you. thank you. my lil guy was the greatest, and i'm glad that he was able to accompany me everywhere i went, and went along on every ride to every store or errand. the hardest part was encouraging him in the last moments, telling him that it's all ok and i'm still happy with him. his expression said, "i'm sorry dad, i tried to get better, but i can't. please don't be unhappy with me!"

i'm thankful to have been there to help him across the rainbow bridge. it hurt tremendously, but had our possitions been reversed, i know i would have been glad to have my dad there with me.

thanks again people, your words help.

I am so very sorry this happened to you and your beloved dog. I know how much you can come to depend on your dog. I have one retired service dog and one active duty service dog. My life depends on them every day and we are never apart. I would be so lost without them, so I understand how deeply you can come to love your dog. The best thing you can do for your beloved pet is when you feel ready, remember all the good times you had. Remember the things that made her special. Do you know how she was poisioned? You are in my thought and prayers.

I'm so sad to hear this! :(

I have a dog who will be 12 soon, and he really is my best friend and my first baby. I tell him I love him every single day. I'm terribly sorry for your loss.

we're not sure how he got into whatever he got into; he was my fishing buddy, and our store mascot, so he's been exposed to people who could have fed him something, or he may have found something at the lake or rivers. we've covered the property and can find nothing that could have cause this, and all of our other animals (the ones that are always at the house) are fine. i'm going to be searching the areas we frequented to see if i can find any poisons anywhere, and remove them to prevent a future incident with someone else's pet. the dog was very well mannered, and pretty much refused to eat anything unless i told him he could have it, but he was also an explorer and a chewer. i've never noticed anything that could harm him on our day trips, but then again i never really looked either.

the reaction was very similar to an animal poisoned from radiator fluid, but took much longer to bring him down. however, he was SuperDog, and could bounce back from impossible odds when no other could. he was nearly killed twice by our retired K-9 gsd when he was a baby (poor ol shep got senile, and was in his last days; pup broke the rules and started heeling him and got put on his back on two different occasions) then ran under the tire of the chevrolet pickup when he was about 5 months old. in the cases of the dog bite injuries, the first broke his nose, which healed incredibly fast and well. the second created a large pocket of fluid on his cheek, which he drained himself, and also healed miraculously fast and clean. i didnt believe these little dogs take kicks from cows, but this lil booger just KNOWS hes the toughest thing in the world. that 3000lb truck ain't nuthin! i'll get the bear inside, here watch me go get him! and so friggin fast..... jeez. being rolled over left him slightly sore for two days, but didn't even slow him down. i hate that he got into these situations, but he was a master of disaster, and could manage to get into the craziest predicaments, despite our efforts to protect him from harm. much like a little boy, always getting in trouble...


i love my little man, i'll miss him dearly. i still really can't believe that after all he's been through he didn't make it through this one. any other dog i would have given up on DAYS before, but somehow i still felt he could make it.... such a tough little guy, the SuperDog. if you don't know the breed, look up blue heelers. the "typical behaviour" describes about 1/10 of the little dog super dude tude.

rip little man.

I'm sorry for you loss. That's a tough one.

I'm very sorry Ben.

I just lost my best friend of 11 years last month on June 24th. I can honestly say that losing her was the saddest day of my 22year old life.

Hang in there bud!

I'm so sorry Ben. Your post has me in tears. I just had to put my 'first child' down not two months ago. She had terrible tumors, and I still feel like I let her down. I held her as they put her to sleep, and told her it was going to be okay and what a good dog she was. It's such a painful thing, to lose someone who loves you unconditionally. All my love to you, and your super dog. :hug:

Just one thing, are you SURE it was an Australian Cattle Dog and not one of those heeler ones?

I hope it 's not too soon and that you see the humor I intended.

If you don't, I REALLY meant no offense and was trying to make you smile, mabye even chuckle out loud a bit.

I've been in your position and it sucks bigtime.

He was as fortunate to have you as you were to have him.

Sorry for your loss :(

thanks, everyone. and thank you, wes, for the smile. i've been reflecting on our relationship, and i really am glad to have had him, even if for such a short time.

remember to give your ol boy or gal a pat, guys. the love that is returned is unconditional and unending. we are their idols, their gods, and they are our children. give em a little and you get a WHOLE lot back! ;)

and again, i really appreciate the words of comfort. thanks people!

Sorry for your loss :tears:

I feel your pain. I lost three wonderful border collies to rat poisoning (heartless neighbor) in one horrible night...From a fellow lover of herding breeds, and from one who knows how unfair it is to have them torn from you so harshly and unexpectedly...My heart goes out to you...