|
|
|
||||||||
***Grieve Not At My Grave For I Am Not There***
I'M NOT HERE
Dont' stand by my grave and weep
For I'm not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamonds glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn's rain.
When you awaken in morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circle flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die.
Author unknown
![[IMAGE]](chokec_1.gif)
![[IMAGE]](gsdwal_1.gif)
ALONE AGAIN
I wish someone would tell me what it is
That I've done wrong.
Why I have to stay chained up and
Left alone so long.
They seemed so glad to have me when
I came here as a pup.
There were so many things we'd do
While I was growing up.
They couldn't wait to train me as a
Companion and friend.
And told me how they'd never fear
Being left alone again.
The children said they'd feed me and
Brush me everyday.
They'd play with me and walk me
If only I could stay.
BUT now the family "Hasn't Time"
They often say I shed.
They do not want me in the house
Not even to be fed.
The children never walk me.
They always say, "NOT NOW!"
I wish that I could please them.
Won't someone tell me how?
All I had, you see, was love.
I with they would explain
Why they said they wanted me,
Then left me on a chain??
![[IMAGE]](wolfrun.gif)
I explained to St. Peter,
I'd rather stay here, Outside the pearly gate.
I won't be a nuisance,
I won't even bark,
I'll be very patient and wait.
I'll be here, chewing on a celestial bone,
I'd miss you so much, if I went in alone,
It wouldn't be heaven for me.
Two More Versions of Rainbow Bridge
Author Unknown
There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called the Rainbow Bridge because of it's many colors. Just this side of the Rainbow Bridge, there is a land of meadows, hills and valleys with lush green grass. When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water, and warm Spring weather. Those old and frail animals are young again. Those who have been maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other.
But there is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on earth. So, each day they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up. The nose twitches, the ears are up, and the eyes are staring, and this one suddenly runs from the group. You have been seen, and when you and your special friend meet, you take him or her into your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again and you look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet.
Then you cross the Rainbow Bridge together, never to be seperated.
___________________________________________________________
A Glimpse of the Rainbow Bridge
Was it today; yesterday; a week; a month ago?
There are no days; there are no nights since my furchild died.
I reach to pet my furry friend who is no longer here.
My heart is broken; my arms are empty; how many tears I've cried.
I leave the house, into the lane we always walked together.
The rain is falling. I notice not. Just more tears on my face.
She used to lead me down the lane. Her spirit leads me still.
But we go a different way to a very strange and different place.
I stand before a rustic bridge I've never seen before.
I stop. I know I'm not to cross. But why, I want to know?
And then the rain suddenly stops. I look up into the clouds.
I look down. The bridge is gone and in its place is a rainbow.
I look across the Rainbow Bridge and see a joyful sight;
Thousands of healthy furchildren playing with my beloved pet.
I want to run and love her, but I'm rooted to the spot.
She looks and wags her tail and I hear her bark, "Not yet."
And then her bark turns to a voice and I hear her say,
"You cared for me, you played with me and loved me to the end.
I'm healthy now, don't cry for me. I'll meet you here again.
Others need your love and care. I'm sending you a friend."
I rub my eyes and the rainbow is again a rustic bridge.
I send a prayer for that quick glimpse to the loving God above.
I hear a noise and glance back down. I can't believe my eyes.
Across the bridge, my darling pet sent a furbaby for me to love.
I pick up the furry bundle, hold her close to my dampened cheek.
She nuzzles my neck, kisses my tears. It's true love at first sight.
Not to replace the one who's gone; another who needs my love and care.
My eyes are drawn upward to see a Rainbow Bridge in radiating light.
Author Unknown
Prayer for a dying dog: (put in breed of choice)
There was a little DOG pup
So long he had no notion
The time it took from head to foot
To register emotion
And so it was that when his face
Was filled with tears and saddness
His little tail kept wagging on
Because of previous gladness
Friends
They come into our lives when they are oh so small... These winged, furry or fleet-footed creatures that come to share our lives.
They bring with them no expectations, only love and joy to share. They need us to teach them so much...how to behave, what to eat, where to sleep.
We need them to teach us about love, unconditional love. They greet us after a hard day, they soothe us when we hurt. They are there and expect nothing in return.
We learn much from them and as we learn we grow, older and wiser. But they grow older as well. They teach the young new friends that enter our lives...the rules of the game..the way of life.
And then one day...we notice that they are a bit slower in gettingaround....they sleep too much, they no longer play. They aregetting tired and can no longer share all of our joys with us.
They start to tell us in small little ways that soon they will be leaving. It's hard for us to admit that it's true, but in our heart we start to prepare.
Then one day...they are gone...as quickly as they came those many years ago. But they do not leave us the same. There will be a big hole for a long, long time. One that we think will never be filled.
Then the most amazing thing happens....the hole starts to grow smaller. For they have not left us completely..only their body is gone...the shell that could no longer move freely in this world.
In their place, they leave us the joy, the memories, the love...the gift they gave us for so many years is still yours, even though us cannot give it back. They are with you forever, reminding us what it is to love and to be loved....these wonderful dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, horses....soulmates that have shared our life.
They leave us a smile.
Tribute for My Son Bayou-Wolf Verthandi
June 6, 1992 - January 16, 1995
Dedicated to his presence and
The only other person who understood
Bob Brewster, DVM
Well, where, oh where, can my baby be
The Lord took him away from me.
Hes gone to heaven, so Ive got to be good;
So I can see my baby when I leave this world.
Dr. Brewster called to inform me
The words rang throughout my head.
My life had stalled, Bay was dead;
The hardest call for any doctor to dread.
Well, where, oh where, can my precious Bay be
The Lord took him away from me.
Now hes gone, even though I hold him tight;
I had lost the love of my life that night.
Dr. Brewster did all he could
But the Lord had other plans, that we understood.
To keep my precious Bay here was not to be;
God needed him in heaven to help watch over me;
Well where, oh where can my precious Bay be
The Lord took him away from me.
I could not understand, why,oh why;
did he have to leave at this time.
Time has passed and now I understand
I had found a love I knew I would miss.
But the love is still there even though he passed;
I realize that now, and Thank God for that.
Jennifer D. Leeper
![[IMAGE]](paw.gif)
FURBABIES
When God made human beings,
He molded man from clay. . .
He then made woman from a rib
Oh, what a busy day.
Completing chores of such renown
You’d think would take more time;
But in God’s perfect plan we see
His order, so Divine.
But when He made these little jewels
With hair and fur and such;
The ones we baby, bathe and feed. . .
The ones we love so much;
How did he make this little life
Who cares for masters kind?
Did He breathe life into the dirt
To create yours and mine?
They must have come from Gold dust
These little precious souls;
God’s gift to us. . .our blessing,
For us to love and hold.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR BEST FRIEND IS GONE?
STAGES OF GRIEF
There are four stages of grief as part of the mourning/healing
process. The stages are:
- shock or denial
- sadness or depression
- anger
- acknowledgement and acceptance
Although the term "stages" refers to some orderly process of a
time limited nature, mourning and healing are not a smooth
progression and are not time limited.
TASKS OF GRIEVING
The first task of grieving is to acknowledge the reality of
death, that the animal is gone and will not return.
The second task of mourning is to experience the pain of grief.
Task three of mourning involves adjusting to an environment in
which the deceased is missing.
The fourth task is to withdraw emotional energy from the loved
one and reinvest it in another relationship.
Following the loss, there is a broad range of feelings and
behaviors comprising the symptoms of grief. Feelings include
sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, loneliness, helplessness,
fatigue, shock, disbelief, yearning and sometimes relief.
Behavioral symptoms of grief include sleep disturbances, appetite
disturbances, loss of concentration, social withdrawal, dreams of
the lost pet, searching and calling out, sighing, restless
overactivity, crying and treasuring objects that belonged to the
lost pet.
Physical symptoms and sensations often accompany a grief
reaction. These physical sensations might include: hollowness
in the stomach, tightness in the chest, tightness in the throat,
oversensitivity to noise, a sense of depersonalization and not
belonging, breathlessness, weakness in the muscles, lack of
energy and dry mouth.
Surviving the loss of a pet requires a variety of coping
strategies. Some of these strategies include:
- get lots of rest
- stick to your schedule
- keep decision making to a minimum
- seek support and comfort from others
- be gentle and pamper yourself
- keep a journal
- underindulge in addictive activities
- allow yourself your feelings
- ignore insensitive societal messages
To complete the grieving process takes time.
![[IMAGE]](gsd.gif)
A Pets Prayer
Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world
is more grateful for kindness than mine.
Do not break my spirit with a stick, for although I should lick
your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will teach
me more quickly the things you would have me do.
Speak to me often for your voice is the worlds sweetest music, as
you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when I hear your
step.
When the weather is wet and cold, please, take me inside for I am
a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements, and I ask
no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet.
Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I shall not
reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.
Feed me clean food, so that I may stay well to romp and play and do
your bidding to walk by your side standing ready to protect you
with my life should your life be in danger.
And master, when I am very old, if the Greatest Master sees fit to
deprive me of my health and sight, do not turn me away. Rather see
that my trusting life is taken gently, and I shall leave you
knowing with the last breath I draw, my fate was always safe in
your hands.
![[IMAGE]](gsdmov_1.gif)
There is one best place to bury a good dog. If you bury him
in this spot, he will come to you when you call -- come to you
over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the
well-remembered path, and to your side again. And though you call
a dozen living dogs to heel, they shall not growl at him nor
resent his coming, for he belongs there. People may scoff at you,
who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his footfall, who hear
no whimper; people who may never really have had a dog. Smile at
them, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and
which is well worth the knowing. The one best place to bury a
good dog is in the heart of his master.
Ben Hur Lampman
===============================================================
OUR DOG
Please God, if you should hear a scratch
On Eden's gate tonight,
A gentle whine, a muffled bark,
Have Peter take a light
And open up the pearly gates
And call her spirit in,
For I think she lived in Heaven once.
Please, take her back again.
She may have been a mongrel
Without a pedigree,
Yet she was noble, kind and good.
I think you will agree
That she'll be very useful
Where the souls of children play.
She'll romp with them, and see, dear God,
They do not go astray.
Just tell her that we're sorry
That we could not pat her head,
And whisper how we loved her
Ere her spirit fled.
I pray that when death beckons,
And my soul surmounts life's fog,
I'll rate a place in Heaven,
Dear God, beside our dog.
***********************************************************
Hello. I've been expecting you for quite some time.
Here sit beside us for awhile and let me tell you about this old friend of mine.
She might look tattered or maybe old
But she has been the best friend I've had and I'm not ready to say goodbye until you've been told.
She had the brightest eyes I had ever seen
She wore the most beautiful fur coat that would out shine a queen
She was never prissy but walked with an aire
And oh so polite you could take her anywhere
She could run like the wind and could catch anything she chased
But she protected and sat with me when I had problems to face
You could not find a friend so dear
No matter the trouble she always was near
She has never asked for much from me
Just to love and respect her and I think you'll agree
That to give her a good meal and a warm bed is not much to ask
When she has given me more love than most anyone...to her it was not task
Now I understand you have a schedule to keep
But I have a small favor before she nods off to sleep,
Please fold your wings around her and let her feel young without any pain
Dear Guardian Angel of Pets keep her safe and happy until I see her again.
AUTHOR: GJP1WCP2
![[IMAGE]](milkbo_1.gif)
I made this page for those who are grieving. It is very dificult to lose a pet for whatever reason. I hope that this page will help others. Please feel free to E-mail me if you want me to add something.
Jennifer alphahowl@aol.com
This is something my Father asked me to read at his funeral. That day came and I did.
The One Who Stays
Past courage, past pain, past tears,
W few will remain, unable to leave,
For love of God and man.
Am I my brother's keeper? God alone knows.
Past fear, past hate, past blame,
A few will remain, caring, for others.
Blaming no God, man or the world,
I answer to God alone.
I am my brother's keeper.
The test of God is the trial of man,
The balance in which the heart is tried.
Will I be found too light?
How can I not serve and care?
How can I not stay and love?
Though as human as any who suffer,
I must care for man to win my soul.
Other men may fear, so do I.
Yet, I know that I cannot leave this place.
For God watches over all,
And I will know my worth.
God always seems to demand much.
Manyface the challenge, few stay.
No blame to them who cannot hold,
Their faith and love are weak.
The chains that bind us to tohers,
For some, are gossamer,
Fragile threads, easily broken.
For a few, strong enough to hold the world.
The infinately small chain of nucleic acids
That binds so many in death
Shows the weakness of the ties to others,
Strengthens the one who stays.
The one who stays may not hold back the darkness,
But he gives light to other soulds.
With love, patience, care and service,
He walks within the sight of God.
The one who stays does not judge,
Does not hear the bray,
Of demagogues or hate -mongers,
But listens to the voice of God.
He sees, in each suffering body,
The image of God.
He hears, in the painful whispers,
The voice of God.
For many, it is too much.
For the one who stays, it is light.
Each of us must weigh our sould,
Before the eyes of God.
The one who stays may fear and suffer,
But, he walks with God.
(from the sermon of Panaloux, The Plague by Camus0
"Each of us, my brothers, must be the one who stays."
************************************************************************
In Memory Of
Col. (Ret.) David Harely Leeper, M.D.
Born January 11, 1939
Departed This Life
November 22, 1996
**********Full Military Honors**********
Dear God, may my Dad finally rest in peace
I miss him so much, but you know what is best.
He claimed he was a lousy father,
but you and I know he was wrong.
As I held him that final night,
and he cried in my arms,
claimed he made a terrible father.
I held him close and said,
"No, I think you are the best I could have ever hoped for."
Thank you for being mine and giving me life.
I know you named me and it was fitting.
There are so many things I wish I could say,
but we are running out or time.
So, my loving Father, remember this well.
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!
I will not say Good-Bye to you
because that is so final.
Just, I will see you later and I LOVE YOU.
You were there when I needed you to be
and I pray you always will be.
I feel the pain you are in and I know you are scared.
I know you think that you have killed me
Please do not worry about that,
It justs means I can join you sooner.
I have learned to accept each day
and will continue too.
We are linked together as Father and Daughter
we share the same pain,
but we also share the love.
I will not say Good-Bye to you
because that is so final.
Just, I will see you later and I LOVE YOU.
You make a GREAT DAD!!
Thank You So Very Much
*************************************************************************************************
![[IMAGE]](dadunifo.jpg)
MEMORUM TO BENTLEY
Name withheld by request
I HAVE WANTED TO WRITE THIS FOR SOME TIME, JUST COULD NOT]GET MOTIVATED......
FIRST THINGS FIRST:YOUR HOME PAGE BROUGHT TEARS TO ME EYES.
I HAVE HAD DANES 30 YRS. OWNED, BRED AND SHOWN HARLEQUINS
I HAVE NEVER HAD A DANE LIKE BENTLEY.....I GUESS YOU COULD
SAY HE WAS RESCUE LADY MOVED AND DANE CLUB NOTIFIED
ME ABOUT BENTLEY........HIS PERSONALITY, CHARACTER WAS ONE
OF FRIENDLINESS.....VERY LOVING AND AFFECTIONATE......I LOVED THAT
DOG MORE THAN LIFE.............THIS STORY IS SOMEWHAT CONDENSED
BECAUSE THE EVENTS ARE NOT PRECISELY IN MY MEMORY.
BENTLEY STARTED DRINKING WATER, CONSTANTLY...I BEGAN TO WORRY
VET SAID HE IS ONLY CLEANING HIMSELF OUT. IT CONTINUED........
FINALLY VET CAME OVER AND TOOK BLOOD. SHE CALLED BACK
SEVERAL DAYS LATER AND SAID HIS CALCIUM LEVEL WAS VERY
HIGH.......7 DAYS LATER SHE TOOK MORE BLOOD AND FOUND
ALUMINUM IN HIS BLOOD WOW. WE THOUGHT WE WERE
HOME SAFE........THAT NITE THE NITEMARE BEGAN........HE WAS
ON THE COUCH AND STARTED TREMBLING.........HIS TAIL WAS TUCKED
UNDER HIM (PAIN???).......I KNEW SOMETHING WAS TERRIBLY WRONG.
ICALLED THE VET AND SHE CAME OVER(22 MILE ROUND TRIP)AT 11PM
SHE XRAYED AND FOUND NOTHING ..........NEXT DAY SHE GAVE HIM
BARIUM IT DID NOT PASS SO, EXPLORATORY SURGERY
WAS IN ORDER.......THE DR. REMOVED ONE KIDNEY THAT HAD
CRYSTALIZED(AS IN ANTI FREEZE, PROVED NEGATIVE) HE CAME
BACK TO THE CLINIC IN BYERS AND STAYED SEVERAL DAYS AND,
WE THOUGHT HE WAS DOING FINE, IN IV.S BROUGHT HIM HOME
AND, HE WOULD NOT EAT AND WAS VERY LETHARGIC VET PICKED
HIM UP AGAIN FOR OBSERVATION AND,,,,,,,,,,HIS URINE WAS WHITE,
NOT YELLOW THE OTHER KIDNEY HAD NOT KICKED IN........SHE
TRIED EVERYTHING INCLUDING A CATALYST TO GET THAT KIDNEY
TO WORK NO SUCH LUCK ALPHA, TILL I GO TO MY GRAVE
I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL THAT SHE SUGGESTED I BRING HIM
HOME, TO BE WITH ME AND HANNA(HIS GIRL)YOU COULD TELL HE
WAS GETTING WEAKER THEN, NEXT DAY, THANKSGIVING DAY
HE COULD HARDLY GET UP................MY NEIGHBOR, WHO DEARLY
LOVED BENTLEY CAME OVER, ALBEIT HE HAD A HOUSE FULL OF
HOLIDAY GUESTS......HE SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY HERE AND, SO
HELP ME I DO NOT THINK HE HAD A DRY EYE ALL DAY.
AT 5 PM BENTLEY WAS ON THE LIVING ROOM FLOOR AND,
HE DIED. (THERE NEVER WAS PAIN) HOW I LOVED THAT
DOG AGAIN, DANE CLUB CALLED AND HAD ANOTHER
DANE, A MALE THAT WAS 11 MONTHS OLD, 36 INCHES AT WITHERS
AND,,,,,,,,,,180#........THE OWNER BROUGHT HIM OVER AND, I KEPT
HIM 4 DAYS AND CALLED.....TOLD THE OWNER, HE IS JUST TOO
MUCH FOR ME TO HANDLE..............SO, OWNER PICKED HIM UP
AND, THAT NIGHT I GOT TO THINKING,,,,,,I HAVE NEVER REFUSED
A DANE IN MY HOME.....I CALLED OWNER AND SAID BRING HIM
BACK,,,,,,ALTHO IT WAS SNOWING TONY CAME BACK AND, I
WILL FOREVER BE THANKFUL.......AS ONE BREEDER FRIEND TOLD
ME.....TONY IS THE CARBON COPY OF BENTLEY AND,,,,,,SHE IS
CONVINCED THAT HE WAS A GIFT FROM BENTLEY........I BELIEVE
THAT TO BE TRUE.................I LOVE HIM SO MUCH.....
NOW, I WILL TELL YOU WHY I HAD MISGIVINGS,,,,,,,,,,NO ONE KNOWS
THIS ONLINE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE FRIEND.
IN THE PAST 3 YRS I HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED 15 TIMES. 10 PNEUMONIAS
2 COLLAPSED LUNGS,,,,,,2 CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURES AND, THE
LIST GOES ON........I WAS NOT CERTAIN I COULD HANDLE TONY.
IN ADDITION, I AM ON OXYGEN(OFF AND ON)WITH EMPHYSEMA AND
COPD...............THERE YOU HAVE IT..........IN MY GOSPEL OPINION,
I HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN EXTENDED LIFE BY GOD, FOR SOME REASON
I DO NOT KNOW
VONKANT DANES
Let me know what you think about my page. Send mail by clicking here.
<-<<-@ Little Things In Life @->>->
Too often we don't realize
what we have until it is gone;
Too often we wait too late to say
"I'm sorry - I was wrong."
Sometimes it seems we hurt the ones
we hold dearest to our hearts;
And we allow foolish things to tear our lives apart.
Far too many times we let
unimportant things into our minds;
And then it's usually too late
to see what made us blind.
So be sure that you let people know
how much they mean to you;
Take that time to say the words
before your time is through.
Be sure that you appreciate
everything you've got'
And be thankful for the Little Things
in Life that mean a lot.
I wish you......
I wish you joy and laughter,
No doubts or times of fear
Love forever after
Through all your many years.
I wish you sunshine and roses,
blue skies every day,
And, as each day closes,
Starlight to grace the way.
I wish you friendship's warming hand
.....doors that never close,
rolling tides and silver sands,
God's blessing....all of those.
I wish you moonlight and rainbows,
A prayer to wrap around your day.
and all of the good things,
Heaven knows.
In Memory of a Shadow
Have you ever tried to get away from your shadow?
Have you ever tried to step on your shadow?
Everybody's has one and, I beleive,
everybody needs one.
I had one and he was named Shadow.
He did exactly that and you could not get away.
He was never far away and even when you looked
you could see him closely watching you.
He was my babysitter, my protector,
and my best friend.
He was always there.
He kept me from trouble and guided me through childhood.
Yes, everyone has a shadow and everyone needs a Shadow.
In Memory of a German Shepherd Dog named Shadow
![[IMAGE]](gsdbac_1.gif)
This is of course where you are now: AlphaHowl's Home Page 2
This will lead you to page three: AlphaHowl's Home Page 3
New Page: AlphaHowl's Home Page 4
Thanks for stopping by, email me if you want something added. alphahowl@aol.com
Let me know what you think about my page. Send mail by clicking here.
My Gratitude and Appreciation to Sherry Morgan: "Some GSD Graphics Courtesy of GRRRfix" smorgan@telusplanet.net
GRRRfix Graphic and Web Design![[IMAGE]](emboss_1.gif)