CRUSSOE

AN OLD FAITHFUL DOG WHO HELPED ME THROUGH YEARS OF ABUSE BUT SADLY THEY DON'T AGE WITH YOU :(

CRUSSOE

For many years at my side you sat.

Your great soft head I would so often pat.

You were my friend, my protector, all

I did need, you asked for nothing in return,

just some warmth, love and feed.

Your shining brown eyes so full of love,

we fit together, like hand in glove.

Then 'that' day came.

We had delayed so long, but your

quality of life had up and gone.

Your legs couldn't carry you, although we had;

from room to room, bed to yard.

This for you eventually became too hard-

that good natured grin had turned to gloom.

You were ready, but for me it was too soon.

We made the call and took you in.

The last part of your journey. we carried you through.

Eyes were streaming. So hard to do.

I stroked that head, like a million times before, as

they took the clippers and shaved your paw.

The light left your eyes, as I looked on.

Your heart had stopped.

Your life was gone.

(Crussoe, 1994-2009)

Author's Note

I had accidently ended up rescuing this most wonderful of dogs..rotweiler cross labrador. In turn, he 'rescued' me many times through a very abusive relationship. He was the best dog a women could ask for.

Reviews

[Inject Positivity]

this was sweet and painful.... their innocence and unconditional love compares to no one else... they always give their fullest for us without expecting anything in return.... a lovely tribute for him.... i can feel how hard the day was for you... well done....

[hcarson]

he was a lovely old boy, one of my second in commands ..always helping me keep the kids in line bless him. thank you for your lovely comments IP :)

[Robert Parlange]

This one hit me hard. It is such a shared experience; the day I had to take my dog, Rocky, to be put down. I asked my nephew to drive us because I knew I'd be a wreck afterwards. I cried like a baby in front of all those girls at the vet. Very manly. There is a picture of Rocky in my photo section.

[hcarson]

its so hard isnt it..my dog i have now just turned 4 and im already dreading 'that' day, especially when a dog has been through so much themselves (crussoe was a wreck when i took him in) and when they have helped you so much. my greatest wish would be that they could age with us instead of being here for such a short time.those girls at the vets would have totally understood your love and tears, he was your most loyal of friends and one of the hardest sighgts to see and experience. dogs really get under our skin don't they. i will go take a look at rocky if you are ok with that, i love looking at images of dogs, i like drawing them a*s well...although that is much in practice lol!!! thank you so much for your comments and sharing your story, means a lot

[hcarson]

oh so cute..was he an old english ?

[Robert Parlange]

Lhasa Apso, but a big one. He weighed 28 lbs. A man's dog. He had miss-matched eyes: one blue, one brown. He was a mutant, but I loved him.

[hcarson]

wow he looks huge in that picture! lovely looking dog!! i love the mixed eyes, i have an american bulldog..(not pitbull as people always assume haha) and their eyes can be prone to that, i love it, unique :)

[Robert Parlange]

Rocky was the last of the litter. Not show dog quality. My nephew and his wife bought his litter-mate, so he was left alone. Nobody wanted him. How could I resist that. He was a good therapy dog for my dad. They became good friends.

[hcarson]

aww wow, thats brillient..they say the runt is usually the best...from the size you say he got to there maybe something in that! we kept the smallest out of our litter and although he isnt the tallest for his breed he is heavy, ten stone the last time he was weighed,all muscle but he is the most docile, gentlest dog i have ever known his nature is unbeatable...poor thing got sent into an epileptic fit when the hamster went for him..(he has suffered with epilepsy for 3 years)..so meek bless him

[V]

So heartfelt, really. Or maybe I am just too emotional... I think I empathize more for animals than for human beings, they are just pure, honest and lovely creatures with abs no bad intentions unlike humans.

[hcarson]

once again you have taken the words straight out my mouth, dogs have this way of getting right under our skin don't they

[V]

Yes. But almost all animals have this effect on me. I have a cat. :)

[hcarson]

you are totally correct...i have a cat also...i adore her so much but she boggles my brain! she is completly mental!! most loving and sweet cat i have ever encounteredd, i thought cats more independent than dogs...not this one. very sweet but wont let me do college work as soon as i start it she runs off with my pens, steals my paper etc...doesn't do it if im writing stories etc but college work is a big no-no for her lol

[V]

Haha that sounds funny. She might hate studying but approves writing artsy stuff such as poetry. Great cat ;) Mine is male and really fresh and energetic.

[hcarson]

mines a female tabby..if you are right then i kinda agree with her logic...why had i not realised that was all she was trying to tell me haha

[V]

;) Sometimes it's too blunt to see. ^^

[DrAnuradha Bele]

Its lovely. A wonderful tribute to the best friend you can have. Saying goodbye to them is always the worst part, they always take a small piece of heart with them.

[hcarson]

so true, they are the most loyal and faithful of beings, as the advert says, we should all be more dog haha. i couldn't be without one. thank you so much for your lovely comments :)

[Sangeetha]

Why do you always make me cry!!! I love your poetry so much it tugs on my heart strings too much.if there's one thing that gets the water works going is a story about true friendship between a dog and a human. RIP little buddy. Other than that you've done it again Girlfriend, another excellent to the heart piece that could save humanity if you will ...haha I wish you didn't have to go through so much pain like that though... Part and parcel of life I Guess.

[hcarson]

oh yes it is definitely part and parcel, the joys of being a dog owner. he was amazing. i have another amazing dog now, blake, he is my shadow but i will never forget that first true, intense relationship as an adult owning a dog if you get me. he will always be super special. thank you once again for your amazing words and thank you so much for taking the time to read my poetry,truely appreciated :)

[Sangeetha]

well im glad you liked it..i think i can also relate to your pain thats also whats holding be back from adopting a dog myself but my moms friend says volunteering at a shelter helps a person see if they are truly up for the task of taking care of a pet. because you would be assigned to duties to care of them.

[hcarson]

your mums friend is absolutely correct!! it also gives you the chance to be around all them pooches without the actual cost haha..expensice little buggers..but so worth it :)

[Sangeetha]

I fully agree have you seen the movie 10 promises to my fog its very similar to your poem its a Japanese movie but they have subtitles its very touching I literally sobbed through my shirt

[hcarson]

no i haven't seen that...im a wuss at dog films so i can only watch happy ones or i end up crying as well haha have you seen marley and me? well i must have watched that film 20 times but never once have i seen the end..i always switch off before a certain point as i couldn't bare to see the end...i knew what happened as i had read the book years before the film and that had me in tears

[Sangeetha]

Yeap I've seen cried on it and I'm never looking back poor poor grandma