A Tribute to My Best Friend!

There are various places in which a dog may be buried. I'm thinking of a Doberman now, whose coat was as black as the night, and who, as far as I am aware, never entertained a mean or unworthy thought. This Dobie is buried beneath an apple tree, under 4' of loam soil and during its proper season the apple tree softly strews petals on the green lawn of her grave.

Beneath an apple tree, peach tree or any other flowering shrub or tree is an excellent place to bury a good dog. Beneath such trees, such shrubs, she slept in the drowsy summer sunshine, or lifted her head to challenge some strange intruder. These are good places in life or death. But, it is a small matter. For if the dog be well remembered, if sometimes she leaps though your dreams actual as life, eyes sparkling, laughing, begging, it matter not at all where the dog sleeps. On a hill where the wind is untamed, and trees are roaring, or beside a stream she knew in puppyhood, or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where cattle graze. It is all one to the dog, and all one to you and nothing is gained and nothing is lost ---IF memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a dog.

If you bury her in this spot, she will come to out when you call --- come to you over the dim frontiers of death, and down the well remembered path and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel they shall not growl at her, nor resent her coming for she belongs there. People who may make fun of you. People can't see the lightest blade of grass bent by her footfall, who hear no whimper. People who may never really have had a good dog. Smile at them, for you shall know something that is hidden from them and which is well worth the knowing.

The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of her master.

I miss you Dutchess and I know you're still with me!
"Dutchess" was 16 years old when cancer finally took her from my mortal life but ....

Just this side of heaven is a place called The Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to The 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 and 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 thing: they 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. The bright eyes are intent; the eager body quivers. Suddenly they begins to break away from the group, flying over the green grass, their legs carrying them 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 parted 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.

Then you cross The Rainbow Bridge together. . . . to meet our maker TOGETHER!

I thank God every day for the special time I've had with my wonderful friends and my only wish were that we could have parted on the same timeline.  

On 2-21-2002 I lost another valuable friend ("Cotton") who was 18 in that very month. She too has now joined "Dutchess" and "Crystal" (Whom I lost last January of 2001, an Old English Mastiff at the age of 9) at the rainbow bridge and I will join them there to meet our maker together!

 

We lost our beloved Doberman friend "Lacey" on 6-28-02.

Pinto Button and Cosh Image  Copyright © Faeylyn Wylder 1998
This poem was originally written by Ben Hur Lampman and has been adapted to fit my BEST FRIEND!