The Passing of a Friend

[Rolfe 2]

SHEEP DOG PASSING

 

by Alan Chesterfield

 

 

 

He said "You needn't wait

 

if you'd rather." and called the nurse.

 

"It's for the best." he said.

 

Whose best I'd like to know.

 

It's all very well for him,

 

all glass and stainless steel.

 

"It will be very quick." he said

 

and filled the syringe.

 

"There will be no pain." he said.

 

and clipped the hair above the vein.

 

Holding her, she licked my hand and

 

understood: anything would be a piece of cake

 

after nights of blizzards on the moors,

 

to pinpoint buried sheep, and rescue lambs.

 

Or, to a whistle in the noontide heat

 

outrun, collect and fetch far flocks.

 

From hills to lusher lowland grounds.

 

Her eyes reminded me of little things, shared

 

times to treasure, garnered over half a life.

 

"It's done." he said

 

and dropped the needle in the stainless bowl.

 

At peace she watched me, sighed, and slept.

 

Him, his glass and stainless world

 

said there would be no pain:

 

But he was wrong.

[Guest JohnGalway]

So very true

[Rabbithunter 456]

it hits home hard.... I dread the day when/if i have to have one of my furry friends P.T.S

 

The first dog i had, got a very bad injury. I had three choices

 

Put to sleep

£1000s in operations etc..

re-home

 

I was all set for having him PTS as i didnt want him to live life, Not being able to do the thing he loved.

 

I changed my mind, when someone said to me - "do you want to hold your dog, while he is killed"

 

and re-homed him (which i regret to this day)

 

very tearful

[IanB 0]

Been there a few times its not nice, but the memories last forever...

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Oh f*cking hell, Rolfe! That last line and I f*cking near burst in to tears! Choked to death as it is now.

[Guest little lurcher]

how very true

[sue 1]

so very true and great memories last forever in our hearts

[harrycatcat 31]

I have had to do this three times now in my life and all three times the dogs were beyond repair and being eaten with cancer or had tumours.

 

I can tell you it gets no easier

[Guest traceyg]

Thank god i have been lucky and not had that to do.I still have memories of loosing my family dog as a very young child not very nice .thank you rolfe made us all think how much we love our dogs

[ferretess 230]

Brings back very sad memories

[midnight walker 8]

i have had to do it twice and each time a part of me goes with them some times the hardest thing in life is making the right choice

[Coney 3]

So very true.

[Guest pip]

Only fellas with a real appreciation for a good dog can understand that,shit feeling and you can never prepare yourself for it.

[mole catcher 1]

wells thats torn it, having a lovely day in the sun making nets, popped in for a cuppa and feeling good with the world and just read this............

 

 

someone pass me a sharp knife please, i need to slit my wrists

[DIGZY 4]

 

I had a border collie when i worked on the farm great dog done everything ever asked of him .

 

Then i started work at a factory and the dog was in the kennel all day so i phoned a farmer friend up and asked him if he had any space for the dog as he was really missing working . about 2 month after he had the dog on the hill working some sheep when he was run over and killed

 

 

still blame myself for letting the dog go