Your Pet Tributes

by Mary Smith
(Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

You came into my life when I needed you the most. You have been the most important thing in my life since that day. My life always revolved around you. People could never understand my total commitment to you, but that's what it meant to me to have you in my life. Total commitment.

Your unconditional love was always there, even when you were a little mad at me. Like the days you wanted to go for longer walks in the big field, and I didn't want to go. I regret that now. If I had kept all that up, things might have been different for you.

I remember the day that you fell off the bed, and I thought the house was falling down. You were so embarassed and mad at me when I laughed at you. You were always there. When I would come home from work you would be waiting at the front door. You kept all the evils away, but you always had that smile on your face for me.

You always wanted to be close to me. Keeping me in your sight, following me everywhere. Only when I would settle down would you wander off to nap. When I cried you were here, when I sang you complained, and when I danced you wanted to join in. When I was sick you were always there, you went through all my recoveries with me. There will never be another like you.

People often wondered if you ever barked, but I guess you didn't think you really needed to. We communicated in our own way. For two creatures that did not speak the same language we certainly did communicate. I knew by your looks what you were telling me.

People told me that you were spoiled, and I agreed, but that is how it should be. You deserved all of it and more.

My biggest regret is that I did not take as many pictures as I thought that I had. I look around the house now and I realize how much this house was really ours together. Every room I look at has you in it. It's going to be a long time before I can accept that you are gone.

My life was fuller with you as part of it, and I am not looking forward to your absence. Already I feel the loss of our routine, and your steadying presence in the house.

There is so much that I want to say to you. Wondering if my decision was too quickly made. I will beat myself up for a long time wondering if I should have gone for all the surgeries, and all the medications. But I was no longer seeing the little puppy that you had always been, that light seemed to be overshadowed in your eyes. I wondered how much more you could take, and I didn't think that the coming year would be fair to you. I couldn't see you walking in pain anymore.

So my little love I let you go. It has been the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life. I hope you are playing with some of the other best friends I have had in my life. Eventually the pain will lessen and someone else will come into my life, but I will never forget you. I feel your spirit with me.

So little one until we meet again know that I love you so much, you're a part of me, like I am a part of you. Take care of yourself in a happier place, and thank you for allowing to me be a part of your much too short life.