In Memory

Shane - R.I.P.     Poem for Shane     Remembering Friends

 

Shane - R.I.P.

Shane came into our lives when he was about 8 years old. He was abused by his previous owner - not in the sense of being beat and unfed, however, he was chained outdoors 90% of the time. Shane was incredibly agressive and terribly dog aggressive. I knew nothing about dogs at the time, as I had cats my entire life. Well, we taught each other what a little bit of patience and a lot of love can do for a soul. The first time I met Shane he almost took my hand off and within a few months, I was lying on the floor with him and cuddling and smooching his face.

 

Approximately 3 years after having Shane in my life, Dixie arrived. They became inseparable. They loved each other, but at times, they fought like a typical brother and sister or girlfriend and boyfriend, however you want to look at it. Shane was such a good boy and I will miss him forever.

 

We had to put Shane down in March of 2004, he was one month short of being 15 years old. Oh yes, and believe me, if Shane could get up on the bed, he was more than welcome to, but he was old and he had a problem with his hind legs and some back issues which we never really got into because they didn't occur until he was 14 years old. I had felt the first part of his life was so tough, I would do anything to just make him happy and comfortable. He showed signs of back and leg problems only a few months before we lost him. Supplements (glucosamine, chondroitan and MSM) sure helped him. But the night came that Shane went down on our kitchen floor, couldn't get up, and lost his bodily functions. He gave me "that" look and I knew it was time. We knew, we'd just been waiting for him to tell us when he was ready to go.

R.I.P. my darling boy, I will love you forever and a day.

The Greatest Gift

I always knew this time would come,
From the very instant our eyes first met.
How I loved you then! How I love you now!
I made a promise then and I keep that promise now . . .
You will not suffer from a pain that will not heal;
You will not know the loss of a life remembered, now gone.
It is for me alone to make this decision,
The price for the bright joy and pure laughter
You brought me during the time we shared.
I am the only one who can decide when it is time.
When my hope dies, and my fears ride high,
Just when I need you most, I must let you go.
It is for you alone to tell me when you are ready.
For without your guidance, I will not know
When to lay my grief, my guilt, my anger,
My sorrow and my selfish heart aside
And give you this last gift, this greatest gift.
Your eyes will speak to mine, and I will know.
The pain of this moment is excruciating.
Tears stream down my face in a river of sorrow,
And my heart drowns in a pool of grief.
For you have spoken, and I have listened,
And unlike other decisions I have made.
This one brings no relief . . . no comfort . . . no peace.
For if there's one thing you've taught me,
If there's only one thing I've learned. . . .
Unconditional love has a condition after all,
I must be willing to let you go, when you speak to me
I must be willing to help you go, if you cannot go alone.
And I must accept my pain so you can be free of yours.
Go easily now, go quickly now,
Do not linger here, it is time for you to leave.
Go find your strength, go find your youth.
Go find the ones who've gone before you.
You are free to leave me now, free to let your spirit soar
Rest easy now, your pain will soon be gone.
I pray I will find comfort in my memories . . .
In the dark and lonely days ahead.
I cannot say I will not miss you, I cannot say I will not cry.
For only my tears can heal my broken heart.
But, I promise you this: as long as I live,
You will live, alive in my mind, forever in my heart.
So I give you this last gift, all I have left to give,
And this will be my greatest gift . . . sending you away.
It is the measure of my unconditional love . . .
For only the greatest love can say,
"Good-bye, go find the bridge, we'll meet again,
Loving you has been the greatest gift of all."

By Karla M. Bertram

 

For My Friends
For all my Friends, with love and remembrance..
R.I.P. We'll see you at the Bridge.

Angela's Sherman (German Shepherd) and Kody (German Shepherd x)
Barb's Majik (greyhound), Sassy (domestic shorthair cat), and Muffy (blue Persian)
Belinda's Sabre (German Shepherd) and Wicket (Corgi)
Cathy's: Tigers #1 and #2 (gray tabbies), Misty(grey domestic) Inky(black domestic),
Timmy(grey/white domestic), and Shane (German Shepherd Husky mix)
Celia's Putnam (gray Standard Poodle)
Christie's Simba (Chinese Crested)
Cindy's Scout (German Shepherd), Beck (Border Collie), Ben and Chubby (rats)
Cisco's Wonder Dog (Chihuahua)
Charles' Cadbury (Chinese Crested)
Dana's Corky (black and white terrier) and Gus "Gustopher Gray Burt" (GSD)
Darlene's Tucker (Lhapso Apso)
Dee and Sandie's Chaz (Chinese Crested)
Ed's Sam (small breed mix)
Jaye's Hanna (Great Dane)
Jennie's Sunny girl (black lab/setter mix) and Buddy(Maiden) (gray and white domestic)
Judy's Hamlet (Dachshund)
Kim's Voni (Doberman)
Laura's Blossom (GSD Mix) and Zeus (GSD)
Laura's Sigh (German Shepherd), Polo (Shepherd Mix), Sam (German Shepherd)
Lee's Bandit (Chinese Crested)
Linda's Trixie (Pom) and Pearly (Chinese Crested)
Marthe's Prudence (Yellow Lab) and Uther (Jack Russell Terrier)
Mary's Bella (Arabian horse)
Melissa and Jeff's Sunday (white domestic cat)
Merri's Phillippe (Domestic shorthair black with white spot under chin)
Mike's Romanoff, Angel and Max (German Shepherds), Chip the Chinchilla
Pam's Sable (German Shepherd)
Phil's Couga (Blue Abyssinian); Muffin (tan domestic); Squiggley (Burmese)
Shannon's "Possum" (Barrel Horse)
Susan's Joey (Golden Retriever mix)
Terri's Belle (Golden Retriever)
Vivian's Sergio (black/white Ragdoll cat)

 

 

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