Dealing with Pet or Horse Loss

By Chris, Five Star Ranch Staff Writer

Horses and pets, like the rest of us only live a finite number of years. We all must die some time. Over the years I've lost several beloved horses and dogs and I still tear up over them.

Animal people understand the depth of feeling we bestow on our pet friends. They are members of our family. We love them with all our hearts. The following poems and stories were passed to me by friends and family. Hopefully there are a few thoughts here that might provide comfort for those of you who might have lost a loved one.

A Poem for the Grieving...

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there, 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's rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there, I did not die...

-Anonymous

A Dogs Soul

Every dog must have a soul
Somewhere deep inside
Where all his hurts and grievances
Are buried with his pride.
Where he decides the good and bad,
The wrong way from the right,
And where his judgment carefully
Is hidden from our sight.
A dog must have a secret place
Where every thought abides,
A sort of close acquaintance that
He trusts in and confides.
And when accused unjustly, for
Himself, He cannot speak,
Rebuked, He finds within his soul
The comfort he must seek.
He'll love, tho' he is unloved,
And he'll serve tho' badly used,
And one kind word will wipe away
The times when he's abused.
Altho' his heart may break in two
His love will still be whole,
Because God gave to every dog
An understanding Soul!

Author Unknown

The Little Dog Angel

High up in the courts of Heaven today
A little dog-angel waits,
With the other dogs he will not play,
But he sits alone at the Gates:
"For I know my master will come," says he
"And when he comes, he will call for me."

He sees the spirits that pass him by
As they hasten towards the throne,
And he watches them with a wistful eye
As he sits at the gate alone;
"But I know if I just wait patiently
"That someday my Master will come," says he.


And his Master far down on the earth below,
As he sits in his easy chair
Forgets sometimes, and he whistles low
For the dog that is not there;
And the little dog-angel cocks his ears
And dreams that his Master's call he hears.

And I know when at length his Master waits
Outside in the dark and cold
For the hand of Death to open the gates
That lead to the Courts of Gold,
The little dog-angel's eager bark
Will comfort his soul while he's still in the dark.

--- Norah M. Holland, c.1870

Dogs...

I talk to him when I'm lonesome,
and I'm sure he understands.
When he looks at me so attentively,
and gently licks my hands;
Then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes,
but I never say naught thereat,
For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes,
but never a friend like that!"

--W. Dayton Wedgefarth

Heart of Gold

I look upon your face, peaceful in eternal rest
And shed a tear for those lives never to be blessed
I imagine those liquid eyes, now shut forever more
Looking upon a family you adore
I imagine those pink and tender pads, in time worn rough
For when following your boy no grounds to sharp or tough
I touch the velvet of just one tiny ear
And wonder at the secrets, that your girl would have whispered here
I feel the downy chest that holds a heart of gold
That would have named a million stories, now to be untold
I see a little girl adorning your regal neck with ribbons and with bows
And with a joyful heart would've finished it with a rose
But alas these dreams were stolen, your dawns become your night
You've done no wrong little one, so worry not in the light
In the light of heavens gate there are children all around
That during their time on earth love just never found
Perhaps like you they died without having that chance
For others, sadly, they were born to ill wrought circumstance
So take your golden heart, your tender pads and ear
For there are children in heaven waiting to draw you near.

Stacey V Clark

Loss of a Dog

If you've ever known the welcome
Of a barking ball of hair,
A sloppy kiss,
A friendly paw,
A quiet adoring stare

If you've ever had a special friend
To share a tear or two,
Or maybe just a wagging tail
To lift you when you're blue-

If you've ever lost your troubles
In a joyful romp outside,
Or shared you fears
With listening ears
That never left your side-

If you've ever felt the wrenching pain
That only death can send,
Then you have lost
Not just a dog-
You've truly lost a friend.

A loving God would not destroy
The love that He creates.
So rest assured that you will find
Your dog at Heavens gate.


That joyful bark,
That sloppy kiss,
Will greet you once again,

And share your love forevermore
Your dog--your precious friend.
CC
I thank God upon every remembrance of you.
Philippians 1:3

Only A Dog

Do you remember thinking it was time that the kids learned some
responsibility and scanning the newspaper ads for a cheap dog
for sale? Do you remember bringing home this little ball of
shivering fur and putting her out in the yard on a chain that
was too heavy on a night that was too cold? Of course you don't
remember this. After all, she is only a dog.

Do you remember this baby crying because she was afraid and
alone? Do you remember screaming at her to be quiet and finally
going out there to kick her to drive home the lesson? Of course
you don't remember this. After all, she is only a dog.

Do you remember the many times you noticed her water bowl was
empty and her food bowl was covered with mold and thinking that
it was the kids' job to take care of her? Do you remember
seeing that her coat was dull and lifeless and, in many places,
chewed away down to the skin because of the parasites no one
took the time to rid her of? Of course you don't remember this.
After all, she is only a dog.

Do you remember her first heat and the neighbor's male visiting
her night after night? Do you remember thinking that letting
her have the puppies would be a good experience for the kids?
Do you remember that every one of those pups died because their
mother was no more than a puppy herself? Of course you don't remember this. After all, she is only a dog.

I know you remember the animal control officer coming to the
house, accusing you of animal cruelty and taking her away
because you couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.
After all, she is only a dog.

I thought you might be interested in how this girl is doing
today. You see, once she found a home that gave her love,
attention and proper care, she blossomed into a beautiful, loyal
companion. To these people, she is much more than only a dog.


She became a therapy dog and now goes to nursing homes and
hospices where she brightens the lives of the infirm and dying.
To some of these people, she has given hope. To others, she's
given them a reason to keep living. To even others, she's given
them the will to die peacefully, with a smile on their lips. To
these people, she is much more than only a dog.

Just last week, she helped find a little boy that was lost in
the woods. She spent a long, cold winter's night, lying over
him to keep him warm and risked her own life to protect his. To
this little boy and his family, she is much more than only a dog.

What is the difference? Why did that filthy, flea-ridden animal
chained in your backyard suddenly become so important to so
many? Because she never gave up her trust in people and she
never once thought, "After all, he is only a human."

ANONYMOUS, as far as I know....

Pet Store Puppy~

I'm a little puppy, so cuddly, sweet and small
I live inside a cage, you see at Pet Store in the mall.
I'm not an only puppy, my sisters are all here.
My brothers, too, except for Ralph who died coz he was scared.
It's lonely here at nighttime when all the lights go dark,
We tremble in our cages and we whimper and we bark.
But no one comes to hold us or pet our fears away
We sit all night in terror til the store opens next day.
We don't remember mama left so far behind
She did the best she could for us til Man said "It is time."
He crammed us all in cages too small for us you see
We rode for hours; we could not help but lay in poop and pee
And now we sit in Pet Store where kids come taunt and squeeze
They do not hear our whimpers or understand our pleas
We're miserable and it's scary here we all would rather die
But since we don't we do our best to run away and hide
I know you think my story too sad to leave me be,
You want to take me home with you, a happy little puppy.
But please, though it is fearful to live here against our will
If you take me that leaves a spot another pup will fill.
You can stop our suffering but not by taking us home
You must be strong and leave us here, unsold and all alone
For if you do not take me, then another pup won't come
And maybe he will not be shipped so far away from home
Tho some of us may not survive the cycle 'ere it falls
If we don't sell they will not need more puppies in these halls
And if they need no puppies then the Man will not bring more
Eventually it can all stop!
You CAN close the door.
So when you see a puppy face so sad and sweet and small
In a cage at Pet Store at your neighborhood shopping mall
The best thing you can do for him is leave him sittin
g there
That is the best way you can tell all dogs
how much you care.
Unknown

How To Make The Sadness End

Here she comes again, the lady that smiles.
I’ve been here for many days and people come and go
But only she has the time to stop for a while.
She says words in a tender voice that I don’t know
She scratches behind my ear and laughs sadly.
That is what I do not understand.
If I knew what made her sad I’d chase it away gladly
But all I can do is tell her the best way I can
That I care, so I wag my tail and prick my ears.
I think she is sad for me, being behind these bars.
Doesn’t she know that I am better of here?
There is no hunger, or mean people or cars
None of the uncertainty or the constant fears.
I vaguely recall when I had a home and a name.
I think it was Major, but it was long ago
Maybe it was months or years, it’s all the same,
When people dropped me off in a place I didn’t know.
I always look for the lady, hoping today she’ll show.
Today she talks to me so sweetly and laughs so sadly.
She talks something about promises and homes.
I woof gently, wanting to ease her sadness so badly.
She says, "Foster homes are just too few and far between
And I’ve done everything I can" and she sheds a tear.
She says many things, but I don’t understand what they mean.
How do I make her understand that I am safe here?
She hugs my neck and turns to walk away
Her sadness is strong as she leaves from my pen.
I whine and I cry, " I’ll love you - just stay".
She kneels and whispers, "I’ll see you at the bridge my friend".
She knew all along, what I did not understand,
And now I know why I couldn’t make the sadness end.

Stacey V Clark 1-13-99