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When Pets Die
by
Kenneth Seymour
The recent death of my dog Buster had me once again questioning the overall philosophy of life and whether we all meet up again after we leave this world. I've had to part with more than my fair share of pets, my dogs alone since I was a kid are now in double figures, and each parting has been heart-wrenching and soul-searching. Kind people say 'oh you'll meet your pet after you die' and others says 'be thankful for all the pleasure he (or she) gave you.'
But, if I'm to 'believe' in everything I'm told about life after death then I must include my pets. Some say, in that authoritive tone, 'oh no, pets don't go to Heaven, only people.' I ask why? These same 'wise' people say, 'you mean you want to believe that all those chickens and pigs and cows we kill and eat daily are all up there waiting for their farmer friends?' That's when I pause. It seems implausable that every chicken, pig, cow, fish, and bird that ever lived will be found reborn again in Heaven - doesn't it? So can I expect my dogs to be waiting for me when I die? Assuming you and I, go on to another life.
Buster was 12 & half years old, a kind of smallish Golden Retriever/Cocker cross, and died fairly suddenly with 'congestive heart failure.' Many good friends sent me that well known elergy 'The Rainbow Bridge' that comforts us in the belief that all our pets wait for us in a huge country field with other pets, and rush to meet us when we cross that bridge after we die. It would be nice to believe this really happens. It's inconceivable to most of us pet lovers that they are not waiting for us to join them, somewhere. Because to all of us pet owners, particularly those who had dogs, we know that our canine friends were indeed the best friends we ever had. Committed, trusting, always there for us, never sulking, never being spiteful, always happy, and faithful to us to the very end. Have you ever had a human friend that good? Never. So, losing a pet that far exceeds anything in character we can ever expect from a fellow human, it stands to reason therefore, that that pet, must be able to keep its soul and await our arrival.
There is genuine pain when we lose a pet. A thousand stories can be told daily about owners of pets that have died, and how it affected them. Recently a man in the U.S. had his faithful dog deliberately run down by a bad tempered customer in a pickup. This led to a confrontation. Shots were fired. He killed the man. He was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to 15 years for manslaughter. Within a day of being incarcerated he hung himself. In another matter here in Canada a woman lost her pet, on a crosswalk, the dog on a leash, as a hot shot young driver tried to speed through before she crossed. The woman finished up in the psychiatric ward and has been there nearly a month. In England a farmer shot a neighbours dog for so called trespassing in his fields. The neighbour took poison to the field and killed the farmers entire herd of milking cows. Yes, yes, yes, I know, the man was an idiot to do that, but....if the gun-happy, dog-hating, cocky farmer had used tact (a lost art these days) in dealing with the situation ALL that could have been avoided.
The stories go on. Cruelty to animals is now at a rate that boggles the minds and hearts of true SPCA (RSPCA) officials. Farmers who mistreat cattle and horses. Pet 'farms' that raise 'designer dogs' in wire rabbit cages. Birds in kept months in shoe boxes, dogs sold and bashed to death on the street as food, chickens that never ever get to even turn around in the battery cages. Cats used as target practice by fat-gutted army-uniformed pretend soldiers in US. Near where I live here in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia, a farm that housed four beautiful Shire horses, a number of sheep and goats, was 'accidently' burned to the ground when the fat, lazy, owners put an electric fire in the barn to supposedly keep the animals warm! There was 'significant' evedence the fire was set to claim insurance money, but the SPCA and the investigating local Fire department refused, refused, to even consider it anything more that stupidity! The 'stupid' nerds collected the insurance money and left town via the local Kentucky Fried Chicken drive-thru, and purchased two buckets of chicken with all the fixins!
Buster, my dear companion, friend, and close personal pal, has gone. The days are empty. I keep remembering him when we took our daily walks together. I remember him when I come back into the house - and he's not there. When I sit out on the deck and smoke my pipe, I remember him. The way he rested his chin on my foot. The way he'd sleep on my slippers when I left them casually by my chair. His ever wagging tail. The way he curled his lip when he smiled. The way he looked up at me, his eyes squinting, as if he wanted to say so much. When he was so sick at the end, the way he came over to me and rested his head in my hands. I write this and I cry. And I'm not ashamed to cry. And whatever the realities of life and death are, I know he waits, just over that bridge, and will rush to greet me, when I die. And thank God, at my age, it won't be long.
ROLL OF HONOUR
Begun February 18th 2004 - closing April 24th 2004
Add your pet's name to our ROLL OF HONOUR. No matter what your pet was, a dog, cat, canary, budgie, rabbit, gold fish, whatever, if your pet brought you that very special happiness only pets can provide then let us add him or her to our ROLL OF HONOUR. I'll start with Buster, and add my other pets later on. All you have to do is email me at: Britmail@aol.com (just click on this link) put PET in the Subject, and tell us the name, kind of pet, and add a few words, as below. Or just write me a line or two and share your heartache with me. Ken Seymour.
BUSTER. A golden cocker/retriever cross, who was my friend, my companion, and a constant joy to be with. The space he left can never be filled again. I miss him so much.
SAMMY. A dear cat that went out one day a year ago, and never returned. Deeply missed.
MR. BEAN. Our dear rabbit that we had seven years. One morning we found him 'asleep.' DALY. Our beloved German Shepherd dog who was with us 14 years. Sorely missed.
MURPHY. A part of our family and when he died we mourned for over a year. He is still missed very much. He was a Golden Retriever. Never ignore a cough in a dog.
FILBERT. A dearly missed dog who was our daily friend and companion. Aged 12.
MARGARET. Our dear Beagle that we rescued from the SPCA. She only lived a year after that but my son and I still miss her terribly.
SPIKEY. He came with us to England, pined for 6 months in quarantine, came back with us to Canada, and died in my arms at the age of 15 & a half years of a seizure. He loved to fetch sticks. He loved potato chips. And digestive biscuits. He loved me - as I loved him.
ROBIN. Our dear tabby cat, who made our lives so happy complete. She died aged 14.
SUZIE WONG. It is over 37 years since I unwisely put this dog of mine down but hardly a month goes by without me thinking about her and the selfish thing I did. I do hope there is that bridge.
SCOTTY. Our dear dear dog who ran to meet us and was killed. Love rewarded wwith tragic loss and pain. Makes you wonder.
BALDRICK. The most special dog I've ever had. He was fun, he was always alert, and even at his passing he looked around to us and smiled. He never knew when to quit. We miss him. MISTY. A sweet cat we only had a short while but somehow she stays in my memory.
RINGO. A twiity budgie who hung around on his perch for nearly 8 years. What a sweetheart. BRIDIE. I took her from the dog pound when she was a few years old. She was always quiet and reserved. She was taken from us after catching a chill in an ice cold Canadian lake. She wanted to fetch a stick floating on the water. She is still loved.
MAUPASSANT. My dear darling cat who was my constant companion. She died of food poisoning. I miss her.
JULIE. A dark black cat with a white tipped tail. My companion and friend for 12 years.
SANDY. Our beloved Golden Lab who was with us 16 years. Wait for us sweetheart. BERTRAM. The sweetest cat that ever lived. She graced our life with her softness. Much missed.
FLOSS. When we left Jamaica she pined away and died. I still remember her after 57 years. ROVER. He was his own dog. Did his own thing. But we'll never forget him.
SALLY. Can you miss a canary? We do. He sang his heart out. His cage is kept to remind us. JACK. A very faithful and loving dog. I'm too old for anymore. Thank you Jack. I loved you. TINA. Just a pup and only lived awhile. But we will always remember her.
PAN. I had to give her away and she followed me all through town. I'm sorry Pan. I still love you.
BRIN. A cross greyhound and lab. Followed to school every day. Died of distemper.
MISTY. A dear sweet cat who actually liked to kiss me on the lips. I had to give her up.
REX & ANDY. Both killed by a car crossing the road. Miss you both so much.
BILL. Border Collie we love and still miss.
BANJO. May he not wait long over that bridge for us to arrive. Missed so very much.
STELLA. She never wanted much yet she meant everything to us.
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