Max

Old dog, why do you stay so near?

Go lie in the sun and drowse.

You needn't follow my every step

And jump up when I appear.

Your joints are stiff,

You've earned a rest,

Lived your life well,

Passed every test.

And now you're very dear.

Old dog.

Why do you stay so near?

You lie close to my side.

Each time I pause,

Head in my lap, alert to hear

Every nuance of my voice. 

And never once looked to the rear.

Old dog.

Why do you stay so near?

What is it that you hear?

A far-off call, coming closer,

That I, too, know is there?

With each day our time together

Draws nearer to its end

Please stay a while, old friend?

by June Goodrich, PWCCA

Rest well, Max, and know that you brought a lot of love to us.  And I still crack up when I think of your first Christmas with me when you peed on Martin's presents under the tree for no apparent reason.

Comments

[Martin]

Well all, we lost Max today. He will be missed. He was blind, deaf, his
hips where bad and he was becoming more and more incontinent. I've been
saying for weeks that I needed to take him to the Vet for the last time and
I finally found the strength to do it today. You would have been proud of
me, I was very brave (at least until I got back to the car anyway). He did
very well I'd had him 14 years in Sept. and that's a great old age for a
dog his size. He was a sweet, patient, loving, loyal, and protective friend
to me and this family through thick and thin. He guarded Dex when he was
here and he never left Mia's side for the first 3 months of her little
life. When I was away he slept with Lisa. It was his job to fill my shoes
when I wasn't here and he knew it. He was never sick a day in his life
until recently and he was such a character as you have never met. Very much the
aloof wolf and yet a big baby at the same time. Max was never "my dog" Max
was always "Max's dog", he kept his own council on what he did and didn't
do, until I told him and then he would do whatever it was dutifully but
grudgingly, and I always loved that spirit in him. I swear he always
thought he was smarter then we were, and he knew better what he should be
doing. Well that's it, I asked everyone that knew him to take a minute and think of their favorite
memory of Max and that will do him the honor he so richly deserves.

Goodbye my old friend, you will be missed.

-M

[dragonlady474]

Okay I'm not the world's best poet but I wanted to do something, here goes.

A new star shines in the sky tonight
Set on course by love’s pure light
Please don’t weep for your faithful friend
He’s running in heaven and will see you again
Until then let your memories help you smile
For life is eternal and this is just his first mile

[Martin]

OMG... More tears, thanks dragon. That was very nice.

- M

[karenancy]

Lisa and Martin,

I'm here, and I'm crying.

[Nadine]

It's so hard to say goodbye, even when you know it's time.
Dragonlady, your poem is beautiful.

[Lisa]

Oh Gawd Dragon.

That is beautiful. Thank you.

[vero]

Oh, God! I always cry over animal stories. I really don't know what to say, except that I'm crying. I'm so sorry that, with all the other stuff you have to contend with right now, this has happened as well.

[Deege]

Max lives on in your hearts, and will for eternity. It's so hard to say farewell to best friends, but somehow they let us know when it's time.

Bless you both.

~hugs~

[Lesa]

Lisa (& Martin),

I am so very sorry. I have been in your shoes more times than I like to remember.

Unfortunately, it is our job to carry out the unthinkable in their behalf. That's what makes us good dog custodians.

I have many waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge. Max is not alone tonight. He is meeting new friends.

Love,
Lesa

[Holly]

Ouch..I can't imagine. I'm so sorry.

[Michelle]

Lisa and Martin, my hearts go out to you about Max. He was such a great dog. Here's some hugs sent your way. XO

[Stacy]

I'm so sorry... I know how awful that is. I'm thinking of you.

[Darr]

Lis and Martin,

I'm so sorry about Max. It had to be an extremely hard decision to make, and almost impossible to carry out. He was a great dog, and we will all miss him.

XO Darr

[Videodrone]

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was just
enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he
was dead. He remembered dying and the dog had been dead for
years. He wondered where the road was leading them. After a
while they came to a high white stone wall along one side of
the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill
it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When
he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch
that looked like mother of pearl, and the street that led to
the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward
the gate, and as he got closer he saw a man at a desk to one
side. When he was close enough he called out, "Excuse me, where
are we?"

"This is heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in and I'll have some ice water
brought right up." The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
"Can my dog come in too?" the traveler asked.

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road
and continued the way he had been going. After another long
walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt
road which led through a farm gate that looked as if it had
never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the
gate he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a
book. "Excuse me" he called to the reader, "Do you have any
water?"

"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there." The man pointed to a
place that couldn't be seen from outside the gate "Come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.

"There should be a bowl by the pump."

They went through the gate and, sure enough, there was an old
fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled
the bowl and took a long drink himself. When they were full, he
and the dog walked back toward the man, who was standing by then,
waiting for them. "What do you call this place?" he asked.

"This is heaven," was the answer.

"Well, that's confusing," he said, "the man down the road said
that was heaven too."

"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?
That's hell."

"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"

"No. I can see how you might think so, but we're just happy that
they screen out the jerks who'll leave their dogs behind."

[Grandmaboo]

Lisa and Martin, just six months ago today I faced the same difficult but necessary decision with Rocket, my male greyhound. I had him for 11 of the his 13 years and he could no longer walk or hold his head up. I should have done it earlier and for that I ask his forgiveness for being so weak and selfish. If some folks have never had a dog for a friend they won't understand the grief you feel. Rocket and thousands of other doggies that have gone before were there to greet Max, I am sure.

[Kris]

Lisa, Martin, and family, I am so sorry for the loss of your dear dog. Others share your heavy hearts and tears. It is so hard to lose a beloved pet. Those eyes just melt the heart. Prayers that your sorrow is lessened by happy memories of Max's life with you.

[Martin]

Thanks SO much everyone, we've shed a lot of tears reading what you have posted in reply. Do please keep in mind that it all helps though. Thanks for all of your kind words about my (our) dear, dear friend that is no longer at our side, or in the way in the kitchen when we try to cook, or protecting his family from what perceived and unknown evil we do not know. He shall and is missed and will not be forgotten.

Thanks All.

- M

[Eric Suter]

Well, that sucks. We have been considering getting Max's old pal B put down as well. But as soon as we get to thinking that, something comes up (A certain issue in Ypsi and etc) so he is still here.

It's an aweful thing to need to have an old pal put down...

You have our deepest regrets (though I still think about when that dog crewed me to bits as a puppy!)

Later--->E

[Eric Suter]

Well that and how he awoke that little spot in the back of my brain when he looked at me from a dark hallway with his yellow eyes... My brain said "Yikes...RUN AWAY". Then it said "Oh, it's just Max. At least he didn't finish off my ACL... Damn Boxers!

[Ellen]

I can only imagine what you are going through at this time. You were blessed with 14 years with Max and he knows that he had a good life. Knowing both of you the way that I do, I would want to come back as your dog...

He will always be by your side.