Some tears today. My sister’s old dog Gizmo had to be put down. His heart was failing badly and his little body just couldn’t cope any more.
I posted a story about Giz a while back, when I had his company for the weekend. You can read it here. He wasn’t always treated well during his life, but he had a happy final few years, and a peaceful end. (The vet made a house call, there was no last distress.)
I’m missing him already. I can picture his upright little body trotting along proudly, one of his collection of bright bandanas around his neck at a jaunty angle, tail waving like a flag. His brown eyes would shine like stars with love and with delight at finally being with people who treated him with kindness.
A prayer for animals
Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our
friends the animals,
especially for animals who are suffering;
for any that are hunted or lost or
deserted or frightened or hungry;
for all that must be put to death.We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity,
and for those who deal with them we ask a
heart of compassion and gentle hands and
kindly words. Make us, ourselves, to be true
friends to animals and so to share the blessings
of the merciful.
Albert Schweitzer
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Aw, I’m so sorry. What a sweet little face he had. It’s good that he was able to enjoy a good home and lots of loving care before it was time for him to go. That’s really what matters.
i have always considered it no coincidence that dog is God spelled backwards. such wisdom and sweetness in that little face. i am glad he had a peaceful ending. goodbye, gizmo.
I’m so sorry. He looked like a sweet little doggie. I’m so glad he was loved and cherished by your family. He will be missed very much.
Oh Tess, I know well the pain of losing a beloved animal companion. Much love and many blessings on the journey through loss. Christine
Thank you everyone, yes we will miss him. He’s buried now in my sister’s back garden, within sniffing distance of the pet rabbits he used to want to play with.
I’m so sorry for your and your sister’s loss. Your friends have shared such comforting and true words already. I found this song in my CD collection this morning and I hope it also gives you some comfort.
dogsong 2 (by The Be Good Tanyas)
out in the trees, dirt on our knees
we laid him down forever
and on that hill there it was still
as in the ever after
he lays his rest we knew it best
to lay him down so gently
and now he sleeps where moss does creep
and no more he is with me
the birds did cry, and so did i
to think of life so lonely
and in their song i heard it long
what sadness, and what beauty
your friend is gone, but you live on
in life you loved him fully
but now little steams and forests dream
and all is made more holy
Elaine, that’s so lovely, thank you so very much for taking the trouble to post this comment. The words of the song are wonderful. ‘To lay him down so gently’ – I love that phrase especially.
Oh my gosh, how did I miss this post until now? Tess, I am sorry to hear about Gizmo’s passing. What a cutie he was. I think you could really see the sweetness you speak about in his eyes even in the picture.
Thank you, God for the richness that our animal companions add to our lives.
Hey, NW, don’t worry about it, and thanks for the comment, it’s appreciated.
I know what a hard thing it is to say goodbye to a beloved animal companion. My wife and I had to have our much loved Border Collie, Emma, put down earlier this year. She’d been part of our family’s life for some 13 years and she’d developed inoperable cancer.
It was our daughter who had the moral and spiritual strength to stay with Emma as the vet (a compassionate young woman who later sent us a lovely, handwritten, condolence card) gave Emma the injection.
We mourned (with many tears) for days – and still miss Emma months later. So I hope you and your sister will accept my sympathy and empathy.
Barney, thanks very much for your understanding, and I’m sorry to hear about Emma. I don’t think I’d have the fortitude to be a vet.