For anyone who lost a pet, or has had to make the decision to put them down:
The Last Battle
If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this - the last battle - can't be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me until the end.
And hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree,
It is a kindness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close - we two - these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.
I copied this from the website of Dr. Joy Browne.
14 comments:
Thank you for sharing this, Judy. Melissa Bartell from missmeliss.com e-mailed me barely an hour ago with the sad news that their beloved Zorro passed away suddenly this evening.
I had just finished an e-mail to her when I read your entry. Karma.
(And I finally got off my duff and added you to my "follow" list. Sorry it took me so long. I'm woefully behind on that front!)
Oh, I nearly cried when I read that! Two lovely dogs we have had the privilege and pleasure of giving a home to, and are now no longer with us. Number three is busy demanding a walk - I vowed we would never have another dog after the first two, but he's here now!
My eyes are still smarting. Such a wonderful view on euthaniasia. It is now properly saved. Thanks.
I couldn't even make it through the poem, lovely as it was. I sure hope I don't have to face this with my Charlie anytime soon!
This made me cry. My beloved Sadie was put to sleep last September. I miss her so much.
"putting down" an animal is one of the hardest things to do, even when it's the right thing to do.
Never had to do it. This is our first pet, dog Jasmine, inherited from my son Dylan. I already dread her getting old because I can see the start of it.
I could happily use that myself - without the 'tail'.
Oh I dread this day. It's many wonderful happy years off still, but I dread it all the same. I've been down that road before, but experience doesn't make it any easier.
'Scuse me now I need a Tonka hug.
I love this. Thanks for sharing it. I am going to send it to someone who could use it right now...
Back when most people farmed and had livestock of some sort, they put animals down frequently or killed them to eat. I suppose they got used to it, but I probably would have been one of those who made a pet out of every runt and cried whenever a chicken's neck was wrung.
I do not equate a pet with a person, but I know that our family pets have been members of the family. When a pet dies, a family truly mourns, and having to decide to put a pet to sleep is an agonizing decision.
This poem really tugs at the heart.
Sadly, timely.
Oh how I wish we were as humane with each other as we are with our pets.
Lovely poem, my dear.
I put this on my tribute to my late sweet heart Max.... Over a year now, but I still cry when I read it... and when I think of all the North Carolina dogs that are dumped in the gassing animal control facilities... most gas once a week and some every day.... the owner surrenders have the worst luck... they don't even have to be held for three days.
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