A Journey in Remembrance.......
"Trouble"...
When I was a little girl back in the deep south of Alabama...the one thing I wanted the most was the one thing my daddy wouldn't let me have...a dog. Back then I had never seen a purebred dog...and me being a child, didn't understand his logic. All the dogs in the country were mutts. My daddy's reason was that he was a salesman and we traveled a lot...and back then hotels & motels and landlords wouldn't let you have a dog. Every Christmas he would always ask me, "Sissy ( nickname ) what do you want Santa to bring you?"...and he always knew he would get the very same answer ...a dog. I didn't care what kind it was, didn't care what sex it was, what color it was ...as long as I had one! Daddy died when I was 13 years of age...and after that I finally had the chance to get a chihuahua/manchester mix...I named
her "Trouble" ( gone thru a lot of "trouble" to get one ).
After her, there was no end to the dogs I ended up with. Toy Poodles are my very favorite dogs ( maybe because a Toy Poodle was the first purebred I ever owned )...although I love all of them. I don't just have dogs...they are my life!
This page is dedicated to "BUFFY", "BRITTANY" & "DEMI"...
Who I buried in my heart !
No tears of sorrow did they shed
No sins to be forgiven
They closed their eyes in sleep
And opened them in heaven.
- Author unknown
As you can see "Buffy" was a Silver Toy Poodle...she was my life, for 5 years. I always told her that she was a Human...trapped in a dogs body. She was very smart...and never met anyone she didn't like. She would have got in the car with any stranger...she just loved EVERYONE ! I lost her to "Pyometra"...there's no cure for it....at least that's what my vet at the time told me. I took her to North Ga. to breed her and without me knowing it... she was put with the stud I had chosen ...and "another male". I don't hold any hard feelings to the one who did this...maybe they didn't know just how dangerous it was to put her with the two different males...but I hold grief in my heart for losing her. She left me on February 19th...just as the first Daffodil had bloomed in my yard....and to this day whenever I see that flower I think of Buffy. She died on the way home from the vets office ( I had just had her spayed due to Pyometra )....I hate to admit this, but at that moment I
wanted God to take me with her. Buffy was only 4 lbs....and yet she controlled me. It hurt so much to give her up, to know that she was gone forever. To this day I cannot talk to someone in person without crying about her. I know Buffy waits for me at the Rainbow Bridge.
wanted God to take me with her. Buffy was only 4 lbs....and yet she controlled me. It hurt so much to give her up, to know that she was gone forever. To this day I cannot talk to someone in person without crying about her. I know Buffy waits for me at the Rainbow Bridge.
Brittany Nicole was born on the very hour that Nicole Brown Simpson was murdered. She was a white Toy Poodle. Brittany was very spoiled ...to say the least. I did as she told me...she was my master. I loved her beyond what words can express. At the age of almost 10 years, I lost her on August 15, 2003. Her illness come on suddenly, without warning and in less than a heartbeat she left me. I got her to the vets office, but she was dead by the time I picked her lifeless little body up to carry her inside. I buried my face in her white fur, as tears ran down my face...and my heart broke in a million pieces as I prayed that I could be mistaken...that she had not really left me. The world stood still when the vet said there was nothing he could do. I will never know what took her from me, but there will always be a special place set aside in my heart for my Brittany. For the first time in almost 10 years, Brittany won't be with me when I cut the grass that she loved to run in... she will never go with me to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, that she loved so much...(when she was a baby she barked at everyone in Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg Tennessee from the seat of our RV, the very first time she went there)....guess being from the country she never knew there was so many people in the world. WE hiked the "Chimneys" together. I see her in every part of my life as it used to be....and oh how I wish for just one moment that I could talk to her again. I know she loved me as much as I loved her. I remember the next day after we buried her...and I thought to myself as I woke up...how can I face today without her?
Brittany will never jump over my shoulder at night and snuggle up to me with her head on my shoulder as she actually snored her little self to sleep knowing that I loved her with everything I had in me. I never talked to Brittany like she was a dog. She always knew exactly what I said or what I meant. If you aren't a true dog lover...you could never understand how a heart can be broken when your baby has to say goodbye. I wasn't ready to give her up. I don't know if I can ever love that deep again.... I don't know that I want to. I never took her for granted, I always knew she wasn't mine forever, but merely a loan from God. She never knew what it was like to sleep on the ground. She loved to take a shower with me. She loved to go to the hair salon...and she loved new clothes. She was completely convinced that when RV's were invented...that someone had her in mind. She left a void in me that nothing can ever fill. I grieve in silence for my Brit, but for almost 10 years I was truly blessed to have her in my life. Of all the people on this earth ...I was chosen to be Brittany's mommy...wasn't I the lucky one? God took my Brittany home to be with Buffy...and together , they wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge. She walked across my heart and left tiny little pawprints that can never be erased.
Brittany will never jump over my shoulder at night and snuggle up to me with her head on my shoulder as she actually snored her little self to sleep knowing that I loved her with everything I had in me. I never talked to Brittany like she was a dog. She always knew exactly what I said or what I meant. If you aren't a true dog lover...you could never understand how a heart can be broken when your baby has to say goodbye. I wasn't ready to give her up. I don't know if I can ever love that deep again.... I don't know that I want to. I never took her for granted, I always knew she wasn't mine forever, but merely a loan from God. She never knew what it was like to sleep on the ground. She loved to take a shower with me. She loved to go to the hair salon...and she loved new clothes. She was completely convinced that when RV's were invented...that someone had her in mind. She left a void in me that nothing can ever fill. I grieve in silence for my Brit, but for almost 10 years I was truly blessed to have her in my life. Of all the people on this earth ...I was chosen to be Brittany's mommy...wasn't I the lucky one? God took my Brittany home to be with Buffy...and together , they wait for me at the Rainbow Bridge. She walked across my heart and left tiny little pawprints that can never be erased.
My Demi....
Demi was a white Toy Poodle. I got her from my friend in 2002. After she had had all her vaccines my husband and I took her fishing up to Dennis Station at Lake Sinclair along with our other dogs...Demi was afraid
of the aluminum docks. My husband spoiled her bad by taking her every time he went to the store, etc. She was very bossy with our other dogs, she didn't want them in the house. One late afternoon in the summer I had let
her out in the backyard....a horrible storm come up and I couldn't find her. No matter how many times I called her name she wouldn't come to me. I was crying and panicking ...so much so that my husband went out in that storm and found her. She had hid under our storage building and was soaking wet and trembling with fear. From that day on Demi would absolutely go to pieces shaking terribly when it would thunder. I could never leave her alone for fear of another storm coming and if she had been home alone I think she would have died from fear.
It had been unusually warm weather for January 2, 2006. The news said extremely bad weather was headed our way. I went out on the back porch to get a carrier for our poodles (4), and had got two of them in it when I heard what I thought was hail on our roof. We had planned on taking the dogs and leaving till the bad weather had passed. My husband ran into our hallway and said.. "Goodbye, I love you"...I knew it had to be very bad weather for him to be afraid. I grabbed the pillows off our sofa and put them over our heads. I could hear a roar, and glass breaking every where. I peeked into the kitchen but didn't see and dishes falling out of the cabinets. As quick as it tornado arrived, it was over. It hit about a hour before dark.
My neighbor called to check on us and said..."Your Doberman is across the road at Mrs. Robinson's house". I said..."that's not possible the front gates are locked". She said..."You have no gates anymore". I went to my front door and when I opened the inside door glass pieces piled up about a foot high. All our windows on the front of the house were blown out.
Someone's box fan was in our home...some of our neighbors roof was in our living room floor. A upright freezer was in my backyard....a new sewing machine still in the box was in my front yard...and the walls to someone's bedroom was at the foot of my front steps. I went into shock and sat down in my recliner, a deputy walked thru my door with a flashlight asking if anyone was in here...I told him we were ok. He said to me, "by all rights you should not be alive after such a tornado". The National Guard was called out to cover our windows with plastic sheeting...after the tornado it turned freezing cold....so I was thankful for their help.
The next day as I looked out at the destruction in my yard and our neighbors homes I could see Christmas decorations all over my yard as if someone had decorated it. Our neighbors in front of us had 5 utility buildings full of things, that tornado took all 5 buildings and slammed them into the trees in our front yard...had those trees not been there our house would have been destroyed. Demi was with us thru it all....even the cleaning up parts. By October that year we had just about got new fencing up, new gates, etc....95% was cleaned up. We decided to go to the Smoky Mountains...we sure deserved to go some where after what we had been thru. My husband put our four poodles in the RV...and when left. We had been in the mountains about 6 days and in October sometimes it's hard to find a parking space so we mostly rode the trolleys. On the Thursday before we were to leave Saturday I told my husband that I was not up to riding the trolley for long periods of time due to 3 back surgeries. I suggested we take the RV to the Welcome Center between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and park there and we wouldn't have to ride the trolley very far to Gatlinburg. It's almost impossible to find a place to park a RV in Gatlinburg.
I thought the parking space had surveillance camera's there. It was cool that day but not cold. I left food/water out, turned the TV and heat on for my babies. Demi and Dody were barkers and I didn't want them getting in the front seat of the RV barking and causing attention so I put both of them on a bark collar and placed them in a carrier. We did a little shopping and went to eat. When we returned to our RV, my husband went to the back door with two of our
grand children to unlock the door. I was checking messages on my phone and was walking to the passengers door. I stepped in piles of broken glass and was thinking to myself..."I don't remember this glass being here when we got here". I looked at the door and saw the window was broken out , when I looked inside and saw that carrier gone I thought I would die. I fell to the ground screaming..."Oh God not Demi". I loved all my dogs but Demi owned my heart.
We called the police, nothing was done except to make a report. Our other two beautiful poodles were sitting on the sofa in our RV. I suppose the reason they weren't stolen is because the thief was in a hurry and just grabbed
the . I can't describe how hurt we were, we left that night going home. I've never seen a grown man cry like my Larry did...and I was crying also. The next morning I called Pigeon Forge newspaper and placed an ad. The 4th call I got said she was the manager of a RV park and that an elderly couple had found a white toy poodle female. She said they had gone shopping with another couple and the poodle was locked in their RV. As soon as we found out it was our Demi we left and got into Pigeon Forge at 1:20 am. Demi was so glad to see us I thought she would never stop licking us. We found out when the poodles were stolen the theif took them out behind Belz Mall opened the carrier, tore off their bark collars & threw them out in the woods.
I knew Dody would never let anyone put their hands on her, she was a year old when I got her and didn't trust no one except me or my husband Larry. Demi had walked around in front of that mall and waited till she saw a RV and ran got in it when the door was open. She was smart enough that in all that traffic in October in the Smokies and all the millions of people there...that she was going home. Two months went by before I found where Dody was at....but the people who lived at the house where she was wouldn't let me have her. My husband and I drove to Pigeon Forge near Christmas it was 17 degrees...I was scared out of my mind that Dody would freeze to death before we could get there to get her. We sat in our RV for 3 days and nights in the yard of the home owners where Dody was seen, I could hear Dody, but I thought she was under their house. They had a big dog, it wouldn't let me go under their house so I asked them if they could chain the dog up just long enough for me to get her, they said no. I asked if I could block their dog off on their back porch till I could get her, they said no. I asked if they could put their dog in the
house till I could get her...they said no. I knew then I would never see Dody again. I was so grateful for getting Demi back but I loved Dody too. I left a large open bag of dog food in their barn for Dody and with an absolute broken heart I drove away and yelled out the window. "Merry Christmas Dody, mama will always love and miss you".
My husband died March 28, 2013.... I think from the way Demi acted she knew he was gone. He went to his grave wishing we could have got Dody back. Around the end of November I found Demi's daughter "Cigi" dead. I knew Demi was 13 1/2 years old by now and I didn't know how long I would be blessed to have her...and as dumb as it sounds...I didn't bury Cigi. About December 5th Demi wasn't acting right...not sick acting but just not herself. She would gag, and I thought she had something in her throat...but looked and saw nothing. Then on the night of December 9th she started vomiting up foam and mucus. I got her to the vet the next day. He took one look at her and heard her gasping for breath and sais..."You can't let her live like this, she is suffering bad. I can give her some medicine but it will only last about an hour". I said..."Whats wrong with her"......he said severe congestive heart failure. He put her to sleep first then gave her the shot that would stop that precious heart from beating. I held her as all this was going on, crying my heart out. I watched as her breathing got slower and slower but she wasn't gasping for breath...then she was gone.
My Demi is gone. God let me be her mother for 13 1/2 years....I was blessed again even after I lost Buffy & Brittany.
Today...December 15, 2015 I buried my Demi and her little daughter Cigi together in my front yard so every time I open my door I can see where my baby is.
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I lost my mother ( Inez ) on November 14, 2002...........15 weeks later my only sibling (brother) "Dwain" was found dead in his sleep of a heart attack on March 8, 2003 (on his wife's birthday) .....7 weeks after his death, his wife Marty was being transported to Savannah Ga. hospital to have open heart surgery when the ambulance wrecked, the back doors come open and she was slung out in front of her family ( behind the ambulance)...and killed instantly ( May 2, 2003 )...this candle burns for those who left my world ever so dark...that they may find their way back to me and know that I miss them & love them.
My mother always sang to us kids...guess thats where I got my singing from.
She always taught us that "With GOD All Things Are Possible"
She always taught us that "With GOD All Things Are Possible"
When morning came and y'all weren't here....and night came & y'all still weren't here......
then for me, there never was a day.
then for me, there never was a day.
Her nickname was "Rosebud".....and that she was. She was the sister I never had.
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, someone
who was left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one
suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are
intent; his eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly, he breaks from
the group, flying over the green grass, 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 those trusting eyes, so
long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together...
Author Unknown
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, someone
who was left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one
suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are
intent; his eager body begins to quiver. Suddenly, he breaks from
the group, flying over the green grass, 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 those trusting eyes, so
long gone from your life, but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together...
Author Unknown
GOD spelled backwards is DOG, so they must be special to GOD.
''Dog''
When God had made the earth
and sky, the flowers and trees,
He then made all the animals
and all the birds and bees.
And when His work was finished
not one was quite the same
He said, I'll walk this earth of
mine and give each one a name.
And so He travelled land and sea
and everywhere He went,
A little creature followed Him,
until his strength was spent.
When all were named upon the earth
and in the sky and sea,
The little creature said, Dear Lord,
there's not one left for me.
The Father smiled and softly said,
I've left you to the end.
I've turned my own name back to front
and called you, DOG, my friend.
A Dog's Prayer
Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more
grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.
Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand
between the blows, your patience and understanding
will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.
Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know
by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps falls upon my waiting ear.
When it is cold and wet, please take me inside, for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege
of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Though had you no home,
I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow
in the warmest home in all the land, for you are my god and I am your devoted worshiper.
Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach
you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.
Feed me clean food, that I may stay well,
to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready,
willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.
And, beloved master, should the great Master see fit to deprive me of my health
or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in
your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest
- and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew,
my fate was ever safest in your hands.
TEN COMMANDMENTS OF A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER
1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be very painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me- it is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up for my punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I have only you!
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it's speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll NEVER forget it.
7. Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold be for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart may be getting old and weak.
9.Take care of me when I get old. You, too, will grow old.
10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say, "I can't bear to watch it" or, "Let it happen on my absence." Everything is easier for ME if you are there. Remember, I love you.
Author Unknown
Dogs Live In Our House
My dogs, and I live in this house. You are welcome to come and visit us anytime but we have a few things that you must understand before you visit:
You must expect a few dog hairs to stick to your clothes. I vacuum and clean on a regular basis, but Dogs lives in this house too.
You may be licked and given a paw a few times but they do this because they love people and want to say "Hello", so if you feel that you are too good for their love then you may not feel welcome here because this is their home too.
My dogs are well mannered and very clean but if you are one of those people who think ALL animals are dirty and smelly then you and I will probably have difficulty feeling comfortable during your visit.
If you don't like the sound of barking, then my home is not likely to be a pleasant place for you. My dogs protects me by letting me know I have a visitor. Whether it be a friend or uninvited stranger. If you are a friend, my dogs will consider you their friend too but if you are an unwelcome guest, my dogs will protect me with their life as I would theirs.
Do not expect me to lock my dogs in another room during your visit. I have trained my dogs well so they will not do anything to you except maybe want a pat on the head. I will not subject them to feel as if they are being punished by locking them away for no reason. That would just be cruel.
When you walk in my home, be careful not to trip on a toy or a bone. These are my dog's little treasures and I will not take them away from them just to show you that I keep a clean house. They know where all their toys are. They may not look like much to you, but to them, they are worth more than gold.
You see, This is OUR home. We have been together for a long time. I raised them into well mannered, beautifully behaved dogs. I am proud of them.
I consider them my personal gift from God. They have done nothing but give me their endless love and devotion for many years. I love them dearly and want to make their years happy ones. As happy as they make mine.
When you go home to your family, they stay here with me. Fine and loving companions. They are MY family and I wouldn't change that for the world.
When I was sick, they stayed right by my side as I did theirs when they were not having a good day. Better friends... I could not ask for. When no one else cared, my Dogs did. They have given me nothing but pure joy and I love them endlessly.
So please understand that I am not being rude. I'm just looking out for our babies.
My best friend closed her eyes last night,
As her head was in my hand.
The doctors said she was in pain,
And it was hard for her to stand.
The thoughts that scurried through my head,
As I cradled her in my arms,
Were of her younger puppy years,
And Oh....her many charms.
Today there was no gentle nudge
With an intense "I love you" gaze,
Only a heart that's filled with tears
Remembering our joy filled days.
But an Angel just appeared to me,
And he said, "You should cry no more,
GOD also loves our canine friends,
He's installed a doggie door!"
A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.
He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about
nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard.
As he was driving the last nail into the post,
he felt a tug on his overalls.
He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.
"Mister," the boy said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."
"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money".
The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents.
Is that enough to take a look?"
"Sure," said the farmer.
And with that he let out a whistle,
"Here, Dolly!" he called.
Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.
The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.
Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up..."I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.
The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."
With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.
Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."
The world is full of people who need someone who understands.
I STOOD BY YOUR BED
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 reassure you, that I'm not lying there.
I walked with you towards 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 every day.
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 "goodnight, 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. Be patient, live your journey out ... then come home to be with me.
Author Unknown
NATIVE AMERICAN PRAYER
I give you this one thought to keep --
I am with you still – I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone –
I am with you still – in each new dawn.
If It Should Be
If it should be that I grow weak, and the pain should keep me from my sleep, then you must do what must be done, for this last battle cannot be won.
You will be sad, I understand, don't let your grief then stay your hand, for this day more than all the rest, your love for me must stand the test.
We've had so many happy years, what is to come can hold no fears, you'd not want me to suffer so, the time has come to let me go.
Take me where my need they'll tend, and please stay with me until the end, I know in time that you will see, the kindness that you have done for me. Although my tail its last has waved, from pain and suffering I've been saved.
Please do not grieve, it must be you who had this painful thing to do; we've been so close, we two, these years, don't let your heart hold back its tears.
Author Unknown
The Journey
When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey. A journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet will also test your strength and courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.
Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures -- jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information.
Your pace may be slower, except when heading home to the food dish, but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field. Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details: the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig.
Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.
Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching: summer insects collecting on a screen; how bizarre they are; how many kinds there are or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by.
You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chew toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie with a cat in hot pursuit, all in the name of love.
Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound. You will learn the true measure of love. The steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together."
Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race. And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.
If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your animal companion always knew you to be. The one they were proud to call beloved friend. I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go.
An animal companion's time on earth is far too short, especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left. The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy now wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle gone to gray.
Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead, young and whole once more. "God speed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.
Author Unknown
''Dog''
When God had made the earth
and sky, the flowers and trees,
He then made all the animals
and all the birds and bees.
And when His work was finished
not one was quite the same
He said, I'll walk this earth of
mine and give each one a name.
And so He travelled land and sea
and everywhere He went,
A little creature followed Him,
until his strength was spent.
When all were named upon the earth
and in the sky and sea,
The little creature said, Dear Lord,
there's not one left for me.
The Father smiled and softly said,
I've left you to the end.
I've turned my own name back to front
and called you, DOG, my friend.
A Dog's Prayer
Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more
grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.
Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand
between the blows, your patience and understanding
will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.
Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know
by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps falls upon my waiting ear.
When it is cold and wet, please take me inside, for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege
of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Though had you no home,
I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow
in the warmest home in all the land, for you are my god and I am your devoted worshiper.
Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach
you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.
Feed me clean food, that I may stay well,
to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready,
willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.
And, beloved master, should the great Master see fit to deprive me of my health
or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in
your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest
- and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew,
my fate was ever safest in your hands.
TEN COMMANDMENTS OF A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER
1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be very painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me- it is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up for my punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I have only you!
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it's speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll NEVER forget it.
7. Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold be for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart may be getting old and weak.
9.Take care of me when I get old. You, too, will grow old.
10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say, "I can't bear to watch it" or, "Let it happen on my absence." Everything is easier for ME if you are there. Remember, I love you.
Author Unknown
Dogs Live In Our House
My dogs, and I live in this house. You are welcome to come and visit us anytime but we have a few things that you must understand before you visit:
You must expect a few dog hairs to stick to your clothes. I vacuum and clean on a regular basis, but Dogs lives in this house too.
You may be licked and given a paw a few times but they do this because they love people and want to say "Hello", so if you feel that you are too good for their love then you may not feel welcome here because this is their home too.
My dogs are well mannered and very clean but if you are one of those people who think ALL animals are dirty and smelly then you and I will probably have difficulty feeling comfortable during your visit.
If you don't like the sound of barking, then my home is not likely to be a pleasant place for you. My dogs protects me by letting me know I have a visitor. Whether it be a friend or uninvited stranger. If you are a friend, my dogs will consider you their friend too but if you are an unwelcome guest, my dogs will protect me with their life as I would theirs.
Do not expect me to lock my dogs in another room during your visit. I have trained my dogs well so they will not do anything to you except maybe want a pat on the head. I will not subject them to feel as if they are being punished by locking them away for no reason. That would just be cruel.
When you walk in my home, be careful not to trip on a toy or a bone. These are my dog's little treasures and I will not take them away from them just to show you that I keep a clean house. They know where all their toys are. They may not look like much to you, but to them, they are worth more than gold.
You see, This is OUR home. We have been together for a long time. I raised them into well mannered, beautifully behaved dogs. I am proud of them.
I consider them my personal gift from God. They have done nothing but give me their endless love and devotion for many years. I love them dearly and want to make their years happy ones. As happy as they make mine.
When you go home to your family, they stay here with me. Fine and loving companions. They are MY family and I wouldn't change that for the world.
When I was sick, they stayed right by my side as I did theirs when they were not having a good day. Better friends... I could not ask for. When no one else cared, my Dogs did. They have given me nothing but pure joy and I love them endlessly.
So please understand that I am not being rude. I'm just looking out for our babies.
My best friend closed her eyes last night,
As her head was in my hand.
The doctors said she was in pain,
And it was hard for her to stand.
The thoughts that scurried through my head,
As I cradled her in my arms,
Were of her younger puppy years,
And Oh....her many charms.
Today there was no gentle nudge
With an intense "I love you" gaze,
Only a heart that's filled with tears
Remembering our joy filled days.
But an Angel just appeared to me,
And he said, "You should cry no more,
GOD also loves our canine friends,
He's installed a doggie door!"
A farmer had some puppies he needed to sell.
He painted a sign advertising the pups and set about
nailing it to a post on the edge of his yard.
As he was driving the last nail into the post,
he felt a tug on his overalls.
He looked down into the eyes of a little boy.
"Mister," the boy said, "I want to buy one of your puppies."
"Well," said the farmer, as he rubbed the sweat off the back of his neck, "these puppies come from fine parents and cost a good deal of money".
The boy dropped his head for a moment. Then reaching deep into his pocket, he pulled out a handful of change and held it up to the farmer. "I've got thirty-nine cents.
Is that enough to take a look?"
"Sure," said the farmer.
And with that he let out a whistle,
"Here, Dolly!" he called.
Out from the doghouse and down the ramp ran Dolly followed by four little balls of fur.
The little boy pressed his face against the chain link fence. His eyes danced with delight. As the dogs made their way to the fence, the little boy noticed something else stirring inside the doghouse.
Slowly another little ball appeared, this one noticeably smaller. Down the ramp it slid. Then in a somewhat awkward manner the little pup began hobbling toward the others, doing its best to catch up..."I want that one," the little boy said, pointing to the runt.
The farmer knelt down at the boy's side and said, "Son, you don't want that puppy. He will never be able to run and play with you like these other dogs would."
With that the little boy stepped back from the fence, reached down, and began rolling up one leg of his trousers. In doing so he revealed a steel brace running down both sides of his leg attaching itself to a specially made shoe.
Looking back up at the farmer, he said, "You see sir, I don't run too well myself, and he will need someone who understands."
The world is full of people who need someone who understands.
I STOOD BY YOUR BED
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 reassure you, that I'm not lying there.
I walked with you towards 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 every day.
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 "goodnight, 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. Be patient, live your journey out ... then come home to be with me.
Author Unknown
NATIVE AMERICAN PRAYER
I give you this one thought to keep --
I am with you still – I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift, uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not think of me as gone –
I am with you still – in each new dawn.
If It Should Be
If it should be that I grow weak, and the pain should keep me from my sleep, then you must do what must be done, for this last battle cannot be won.
You will be sad, I understand, don't let your grief then stay your hand, for this day more than all the rest, your love for me must stand the test.
We've had so many happy years, what is to come can hold no fears, you'd not want me to suffer so, the time has come to let me go.
Take me where my need they'll tend, and please stay with me until the end, I know in time that you will see, the kindness that you have done for me. Although my tail its last has waved, from pain and suffering I've been saved.
Please do not grieve, it must be you who had this painful thing to do; we've been so close, we two, these years, don't let your heart hold back its tears.
Author Unknown
The Journey
When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey. A journey that will bring you more love and devotion than you have ever known, yet will also test your strength and courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.
Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life's simple pleasures -- jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles, and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If you spend much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and noted as being full of valuable information.
Your pace may be slower, except when heading home to the food dish, but you will become a better naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field. Too many times we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather than enjoy the journey. We miss the details: the colorful mushrooms on the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather caught on a twig.
Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new world. We stop; we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows: that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever changing wonders, each day an essence all its own.
Even from indoors you will find yourself more attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching: summer insects collecting on a screen; how bizarre they are; how many kinds there are or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this; the point is in the doing, in not letting life's most important details slip by.
You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking for the cat food brand your feline must have, buying dog birthday treats, or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chew toys, bounce little rubber balls till your eyes cross, and even run around the house trailing your bathrobe tie with a cat in hot pursuit, all in the name of love.
Your house will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse, and feel the need to explain that an old plastic shopping bag adorns your living room rug because your cat loves the crinkly sound. You will learn the true measure of love. The steadfast, undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together."
Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human race. And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.
If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person your animal companion always knew you to be. The one they were proud to call beloved friend. I must caution you that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will have to find the strength and love to let them go.
An animal companion's time on earth is far too short, especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart, until one day there is nothing left. The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy now wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle gone to gray.
Deep down we somehow always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead, young and whole once more. "God speed, good friend," we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again.
Author Unknown
Man's Best Friend - Greyfriars Bobby
John Gray a gardener, together with his wife Jess and son John arrived in Edinburgh around 1850. Unable to find work as a gardener he avoided the workhouse by joining the Edinburgh Police Force as a night watchman.
To keep him company through the long winter nights John took on a partner, a diminutive Skye Terrier, his ‘watchdog’ called Bobby. Together John and Bobby became a familiar sight trudging through the old cobbled streets of Edinburgh. Through thick and thin, winter and summer, they were faithful friends.
The years on the streets appear to have taken their toll on John, as he was treated by the Police Surgeon for tuberculosis.
John eventually died of the disease on the 15th February 1858 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby soon touched the hearts of the local residents when he refused to leave his master's grave, even in the worst weather conditions.
The gardener and keeper of Greyfriars tried on many occasions to evict Bobby from the Kirkyard. In the end he gave up and provided a shelter for Bobby by placing sacking beneath two tablestones at the side of John Gray’s grave.
Bobby’s fame spread throughout Edinburgh. It is reported that almost on a daily basis the crowds would gather at the entrance of the Kirkyard waiting for the one o'clock gun that would signal the appearance of Bobby leaving the grave for his midday meal.
Bobby would follow William Dow, a local joiner and cabinet maker to the same Coffee House that he had frequented with his now dead master, where he was given a meal.
In 1867 a new bye-law was passed that required all dogs to be licensed in the city or they would be destroyed. Sir William Chambers (The Lord Provost of Edinburgh) decided to pay Bobby's licence and presented him with a collar with a brass inscription "Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost 1867 licensed". This can be seen at the Museum of Edinburgh.
The kind folk of Edinburgh took good care of Bobby, but still he remained loyal to his master. For fourteen years the dead man's faithful dog kept constant watch and guard over the grave until his own death in 1872.
Baroness Angelia Georgina Burdett-Coutts, President of the Ladies Committee of the RSPCA, was so deeply moved by his story that she asked the City Council for permission to erect a granite fountain with a statue of Bobby placed on top.
William Brody sculptured the statue from life, and it was unveiled without ceremony in November 1873, opposite Greyfriars Kirkyard. And it is with that, that Scotland’s Capital city will always remember its most famous and faithful dog
Bobby's headstone reads "Greyfriars Bobby - died 14th January 1872 - aged 16 years - Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all".
The Story of Stiffy Green
They say that there is nothing unusual about hearing a dog barking in a cemetery at night, unless you happened to be in Terre Haute, Indiana. If you are anywhere in the area around Highland Lawn Cemetery at night, and hear a dog bark, you may just be hearing the legendary voice of Stiffy Green, Indiana’s favorite graveyard ghost.
In the early 1900’s, Stiffy Green was a familiar character around Terre Haute. He was the constant companion of a man named John Heinl, an elderly gentleman who was well-liked in town. He too was familiar figure as he strolled about the city each day in the company of his little bulldog. Stiffy Green was so named thanks to his unusual, stiff-legged walk and the fact that he had startling, green-colored eyes. The little dog was friendly, yet fiercely protective of his master, never allowing strangers to get too close.
In 1920, John Heinl passed away. While his death was a cause for sadness in the community, no one was hit harder by it than Stiffy Green. The poor creature was heartbroken and he refused to leave his master’s side, even during the funeral services and after Heinl was entombed at Highland Lawn. Eventually though, two of Heinl’s friends decided to take in the dog and care for him. They took him to their house in Terre Haute and introduced him to his new home.
Within a few days, Stiffy Green had gone missing. He was found a few hours later lying in front of the door to the Heinl mausoleum, silently watching over his master’s burial place. John’s friend placed a leash on the dog and took him back home again but less than a week later, the dog was missing once more. He was always discovered again, several miles away, in the cemetery. Over the next month or so, this became a standard routine. If the dog could not be found around the house anywhere, his new owners always knew where he was. Eventually, they just gave up and let Stiffy Green take up residence in the graveyard. They brought him food and water and allowed him to stay there.
Not long after this, they began to realize that the dog was not eating. He paid little attention to the bowl of water either, preferring to sit nearly motionless at the entrance to the tomb, barring anyone from entering it. He stayed there in the rain and cold and never shirked what he seemed to feel was his duty. And it was there, on the cold stone step, that the body of Stiffy Green was eventually found.
As word of the loyal dog’s death spread, Heinl’s friend pondered what to do with the animal’s body. They certainly didn’t want to simply dispose of their friend’s constant companion but they weren’t certain he should be entombed as a human would be either. Finally, they reached a compromise. A fund was established and the dog’s body was taken to a local taxidermist. The dog was then stuffed and mounted into the sitting position that he had maintained outside of the tomb for so many months. His eyes were left open and his bright green eyes were replaced with glass ones that managed to capture the gleam of the originals. When the task was completed, Stiffy Green was placed inside of the Heinl tomb, right next to the crypt that held the remains of his beloved companion.
And seemingly, this would be where our story ends... but it’s not.
Several months after Stiffy Green’s death, a caretaker was leaving the cemetery on a warm evening. Just as he was opening the door to his car, he heard the bark of a dog from the direction of the Heinl mausoleum. Thinking that something about this seemed odd, he decided to go and have a look. As he neared the tomb, the sound got louder and then he suddenly realized why the bark seemed so strange, and so eerily familiar. He had heard this dog barking before. It was the bark of Stiffy Green!
But that was impossible, he realized, the poor animal had died many months ago. The bark must have been his imagination, he decided and walked back to his car. He would think no more about this until other people started to report the same barking from the area around the tomb.... and they would report something else too.
According to the legends, many people have heard the barking of a small dog in Highland Lawn Cemetery in the evening hours. It always seems to come from the direction of the Heinl mausoleum. A few of them have also reported that Stiffy Green does not wander the cemetery alone. They also claim to have seen the figure of an elderly man strolling along between the tombstones, sometimes smoking a pipe and sometimes just smiling as he looks away into the distance. While the old man’s description sometimes varies, the witnesses never disagree about the fact that he is always accompanied by a small stiff-legged bulldog... with piercing green eyes.
********************************************************************************************************************************************
I Want To Be 5 Again
I am hereby officially tendering
my resignation as an ADULT.
I have decided I would like to accept
the responsibilities of a 5 year old again.
I want to go to McDonald's
and think that it's a four star restaurant.
I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle
and make ripples with rocks.
I want to think M&Ms are better than money,
because you can eat them.
I want to play kickball during recess
and paint with watercolors in art.
I want to lie under a big Oak tree
and run a lemonade stand with my friends
on a hot summers day.
I want to return to a time
when life was simple.
When all you knew were colors,
addition tables and simple nursery rhymes,
but that didn't bother you,
because you didn't know what you didn't know
and you didn't care.
When all you knew was to be happy
because you didn't know all the things
that should make you worried and upset.
I want to think
that the world is fair.
That everyone in it
is honest and good.
I want to believe
that anything is possible.
Somewhere in my youth...
I matured and I learned too much.
I learned of nuclear weapons,
war, prejudice, starvation
and abused children.
I learned of lies, unhappy marriages,
suffering, illness, pain and death.
I learned of a world
where men left their families
to go and fight for our country,
and returned
only to end up living on the streets...
begging for their next meal.
I learned of a world
where children knew how to kill...
and did!!
What happened to the time
when we thought that everyone
would live forever,
because we didn't grasp
the concept of death?
When we thought the worst thing
in the world was
if someone took the jump rope from you
or picked you last for kickball?
I want to be oblivious to the complexity
of life and be overly
excited by little things once again.
I want to return to the days
when reading was fun and music was clean.
When television was used
to report the news
or for family entertainment
and not to promote
sex, violence and deceit.
I remember being naive
and thinking that everyone was happy
because I was.
I would walk on the beach
and only think of the sand between my toes
and the prettiest seashell I could find.
I would spend my afternoons
climbing trees and riding my bike.
I didn't worry about time,
bills or where I was going
to find the money to fix my car.
I used to wonder
what I was going to do or be
when I grew up,
not worry about what I'll do
if this doesn't work out.
I want to live simple again.
I don't want my day to consist
of computer crashes,
mountains of paperwork,
depressing news,
how to survive more days in the month
than there is money in the bank,
doctor bills, gossip,
illness and loss of loved ones.
I want to believe in the power of love,
of smiles, hugs, a kind word,
truth, justice, peace,
dreams, the imagination,
mankind and making angels in the snow....and the love of a dog.
I want to be 5 again.
This should be posted at all pet stores and puppy palaces
FORGOTTEN DOG'S CHRISTMAS
Author unknown
Twas the nite before Christmas when all thru the house Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care In hopes that St. Nick soon would be there. The children all nestled all snug in their beds With no thought of the dog filling their head. And mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap Knew the dog was cold, but didn't care about that. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash Figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash. The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave the luster of mid-day to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear But Santa Clause with eyes full of tears. He unchained the dog once so lively and quick Last year's Christmas present now painfully sick. More rapid than eagles he called the dog's name and the dog ran to him despite all his pain. Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen On Comet on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen. To the top of the porch to the top of the wall Let's find this dog a home where he will be loved by all. I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year For Santa had made one thing quite clear. The gift of a dog is not just for the season We had gotten the dog for all the wrong reasons. In our haste to think of the kids a gift There was one important thing we missed A dog should be family, and cared for the same You don't give a gift, then put it on a chain. And I heard him explain as he rode out of site, "You weren't given a gift, you were given a life."
PLEASE...PLEASE....care for and LOVE your pets!!
John Gray a gardener, together with his wife Jess and son John arrived in Edinburgh around 1850. Unable to find work as a gardener he avoided the workhouse by joining the Edinburgh Police Force as a night watchman.
To keep him company through the long winter nights John took on a partner, a diminutive Skye Terrier, his ‘watchdog’ called Bobby. Together John and Bobby became a familiar sight trudging through the old cobbled streets of Edinburgh. Through thick and thin, winter and summer, they were faithful friends.
The years on the streets appear to have taken their toll on John, as he was treated by the Police Surgeon for tuberculosis.
John eventually died of the disease on the 15th February 1858 and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard. Bobby soon touched the hearts of the local residents when he refused to leave his master's grave, even in the worst weather conditions.
The gardener and keeper of Greyfriars tried on many occasions to evict Bobby from the Kirkyard. In the end he gave up and provided a shelter for Bobby by placing sacking beneath two tablestones at the side of John Gray’s grave.
Bobby’s fame spread throughout Edinburgh. It is reported that almost on a daily basis the crowds would gather at the entrance of the Kirkyard waiting for the one o'clock gun that would signal the appearance of Bobby leaving the grave for his midday meal.
Bobby would follow William Dow, a local joiner and cabinet maker to the same Coffee House that he had frequented with his now dead master, where he was given a meal.
In 1867 a new bye-law was passed that required all dogs to be licensed in the city or they would be destroyed. Sir William Chambers (The Lord Provost of Edinburgh) decided to pay Bobby's licence and presented him with a collar with a brass inscription "Greyfriars Bobby from the Lord Provost 1867 licensed". This can be seen at the Museum of Edinburgh.
The kind folk of Edinburgh took good care of Bobby, but still he remained loyal to his master. For fourteen years the dead man's faithful dog kept constant watch and guard over the grave until his own death in 1872.
Baroness Angelia Georgina Burdett-Coutts, President of the Ladies Committee of the RSPCA, was so deeply moved by his story that she asked the City Council for permission to erect a granite fountain with a statue of Bobby placed on top.
William Brody sculptured the statue from life, and it was unveiled without ceremony in November 1873, opposite Greyfriars Kirkyard. And it is with that, that Scotland’s Capital city will always remember its most famous and faithful dog
Bobby's headstone reads "Greyfriars Bobby - died 14th January 1872 - aged 16 years - Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all".
The Story of Stiffy Green
They say that there is nothing unusual about hearing a dog barking in a cemetery at night, unless you happened to be in Terre Haute, Indiana. If you are anywhere in the area around Highland Lawn Cemetery at night, and hear a dog bark, you may just be hearing the legendary voice of Stiffy Green, Indiana’s favorite graveyard ghost.
In the early 1900’s, Stiffy Green was a familiar character around Terre Haute. He was the constant companion of a man named John Heinl, an elderly gentleman who was well-liked in town. He too was familiar figure as he strolled about the city each day in the company of his little bulldog. Stiffy Green was so named thanks to his unusual, stiff-legged walk and the fact that he had startling, green-colored eyes. The little dog was friendly, yet fiercely protective of his master, never allowing strangers to get too close.
In 1920, John Heinl passed away. While his death was a cause for sadness in the community, no one was hit harder by it than Stiffy Green. The poor creature was heartbroken and he refused to leave his master’s side, even during the funeral services and after Heinl was entombed at Highland Lawn. Eventually though, two of Heinl’s friends decided to take in the dog and care for him. They took him to their house in Terre Haute and introduced him to his new home.
Within a few days, Stiffy Green had gone missing. He was found a few hours later lying in front of the door to the Heinl mausoleum, silently watching over his master’s burial place. John’s friend placed a leash on the dog and took him back home again but less than a week later, the dog was missing once more. He was always discovered again, several miles away, in the cemetery. Over the next month or so, this became a standard routine. If the dog could not be found around the house anywhere, his new owners always knew where he was. Eventually, they just gave up and let Stiffy Green take up residence in the graveyard. They brought him food and water and allowed him to stay there.
Not long after this, they began to realize that the dog was not eating. He paid little attention to the bowl of water either, preferring to sit nearly motionless at the entrance to the tomb, barring anyone from entering it. He stayed there in the rain and cold and never shirked what he seemed to feel was his duty. And it was there, on the cold stone step, that the body of Stiffy Green was eventually found.
As word of the loyal dog’s death spread, Heinl’s friend pondered what to do with the animal’s body. They certainly didn’t want to simply dispose of their friend’s constant companion but they weren’t certain he should be entombed as a human would be either. Finally, they reached a compromise. A fund was established and the dog’s body was taken to a local taxidermist. The dog was then stuffed and mounted into the sitting position that he had maintained outside of the tomb for so many months. His eyes were left open and his bright green eyes were replaced with glass ones that managed to capture the gleam of the originals. When the task was completed, Stiffy Green was placed inside of the Heinl tomb, right next to the crypt that held the remains of his beloved companion.
And seemingly, this would be where our story ends... but it’s not.
Several months after Stiffy Green’s death, a caretaker was leaving the cemetery on a warm evening. Just as he was opening the door to his car, he heard the bark of a dog from the direction of the Heinl mausoleum. Thinking that something about this seemed odd, he decided to go and have a look. As he neared the tomb, the sound got louder and then he suddenly realized why the bark seemed so strange, and so eerily familiar. He had heard this dog barking before. It was the bark of Stiffy Green!
But that was impossible, he realized, the poor animal had died many months ago. The bark must have been his imagination, he decided and walked back to his car. He would think no more about this until other people started to report the same barking from the area around the tomb.... and they would report something else too.
According to the legends, many people have heard the barking of a small dog in Highland Lawn Cemetery in the evening hours. It always seems to come from the direction of the Heinl mausoleum. A few of them have also reported that Stiffy Green does not wander the cemetery alone. They also claim to have seen the figure of an elderly man strolling along between the tombstones, sometimes smoking a pipe and sometimes just smiling as he looks away into the distance. While the old man’s description sometimes varies, the witnesses never disagree about the fact that he is always accompanied by a small stiff-legged bulldog... with piercing green eyes.
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I Want To Be 5 Again
I am hereby officially tendering
my resignation as an ADULT.
I have decided I would like to accept
the responsibilities of a 5 year old again.
I want to go to McDonald's
and think that it's a four star restaurant.
I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle
and make ripples with rocks.
I want to think M&Ms are better than money,
because you can eat them.
I want to play kickball during recess
and paint with watercolors in art.
I want to lie under a big Oak tree
and run a lemonade stand with my friends
on a hot summers day.
I want to return to a time
when life was simple.
When all you knew were colors,
addition tables and simple nursery rhymes,
but that didn't bother you,
because you didn't know what you didn't know
and you didn't care.
When all you knew was to be happy
because you didn't know all the things
that should make you worried and upset.
I want to think
that the world is fair.
That everyone in it
is honest and good.
I want to believe
that anything is possible.
Somewhere in my youth...
I matured and I learned too much.
I learned of nuclear weapons,
war, prejudice, starvation
and abused children.
I learned of lies, unhappy marriages,
suffering, illness, pain and death.
I learned of a world
where men left their families
to go and fight for our country,
and returned
only to end up living on the streets...
begging for their next meal.
I learned of a world
where children knew how to kill...
and did!!
What happened to the time
when we thought that everyone
would live forever,
because we didn't grasp
the concept of death?
When we thought the worst thing
in the world was
if someone took the jump rope from you
or picked you last for kickball?
I want to be oblivious to the complexity
of life and be overly
excited by little things once again.
I want to return to the days
when reading was fun and music was clean.
When television was used
to report the news
or for family entertainment
and not to promote
sex, violence and deceit.
I remember being naive
and thinking that everyone was happy
because I was.
I would walk on the beach
and only think of the sand between my toes
and the prettiest seashell I could find.
I would spend my afternoons
climbing trees and riding my bike.
I didn't worry about time,
bills or where I was going
to find the money to fix my car.
I used to wonder
what I was going to do or be
when I grew up,
not worry about what I'll do
if this doesn't work out.
I want to live simple again.
I don't want my day to consist
of computer crashes,
mountains of paperwork,
depressing news,
how to survive more days in the month
than there is money in the bank,
doctor bills, gossip,
illness and loss of loved ones.
I want to believe in the power of love,
of smiles, hugs, a kind word,
truth, justice, peace,
dreams, the imagination,
mankind and making angels in the snow....and the love of a dog.
I want to be 5 again.
This should be posted at all pet stores and puppy palaces
FORGOTTEN DOG'S CHRISTMAS
Author unknown
Twas the nite before Christmas when all thru the house Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care In hopes that St. Nick soon would be there. The children all nestled all snug in their beds With no thought of the dog filling their head. And mamma in her kerchief and I in my cap Knew the dog was cold, but didn't care about that. When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash Figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash. The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow gave the luster of mid-day to objects below. When what to my wondering eyes should appear But Santa Clause with eyes full of tears. He unchained the dog once so lively and quick Last year's Christmas present now painfully sick. More rapid than eagles he called the dog's name and the dog ran to him despite all his pain. Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen On Comet on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen. To the top of the porch to the top of the wall Let's find this dog a home where he will be loved by all. I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year For Santa had made one thing quite clear. The gift of a dog is not just for the season We had gotten the dog for all the wrong reasons. In our haste to think of the kids a gift There was one important thing we missed A dog should be family, and cared for the same You don't give a gift, then put it on a chain. And I heard him explain as he rode out of site, "You weren't given a gift, you were given a life."
PLEASE...PLEASE....care for and LOVE your pets!!