Rainbow Bridge Poem - The Loss of a Dog
The loss of a dog or any precious pet is one of the hardest things we have to go through as pet lovers. For many people, losing a beloved pet can be harder to cope with than losing a friend or even a family member. It's strange how the grief we experience isn't as socially acceptable or acknowledged in the same ways. Except with the closest friends and fellow pet mums and dads of course. And even when you've been through it before, you can never prepare yourself and it's never the same. They all have a special and very different place in your heart.
Anyway - for anyone else out there that is grieving the loss of a cherished pet, just acknowledging how hard and how heartbreaking it is. And a reminder that we have to treasure every moment they're with us - they are always gone too soon. I came across this beautiful poem this morning and wanted to share...
They tell you not to cry.
They tell you that it's just a dog, not a human being.
They tell you that the pain will be over.
They tell you that the animals don't know that they have to die.
They tell you that it's important not to let him suffer.
They tell you that you can have another one.
They tell you it's going to happen to you.
They tell you that there is more pain.
But they don't know how many times you've looked into your dog’s eyes.
They don't know how many times you and your dog have looked into darkness alone.
They don't know how many times your dog was the only one who was by your side.
They don't know how much fear you have at night when you wake up with your grief.
They don't know how many times your dog slept near you.
They don't know how much you've changed since the dog has become a part of your life.
They don't know how many times you hugged him when he was sick.
They don't know how many times you've acted like you didn't see his hair getting whiter.
They don't know how many times you've talked to your dog, the only one who really hears.
They don't know that it was just your dog who knew you were in pain.
They don't know what it feels like to see your old dog trying to get up to say hello.
They don't know that if things went wrong, the only one who didn't go is your dog.
They don't know that your dog trusts you every moment of his life, even in the last.
They don't know how much your dog loved you and how it is enough for him to be happy, because you loved him.
They don't know that crying for a dog is one of the most noble, significant, true, purest and warmest things you can do.
They don't know when the last time you moved him with trouble... making sure it didn’t hurt him.
They don't know what it felt like to pet their face in the last moments of their life....
In Memory of all those who went over the rainbow bridge. You all have a place forever in our hearts.
Author Emanuele Spud Grandi
Photo by Laura Stanley