My very good friends have recently lost their beloved 13 year old Cocker Spaniel. Their 14 year old daughter wrote this poem and I thought I would share it with you.

                                MY MEMORY AND MY FUTURE.

Before we met I was alone,
There was no-one that I could turn to that with one hug I was better,
Yes it's true I had my family and my friends,
But it's not the same as when you have a pet.
But then you came along and I was happy,
I played with you, I took you for walks, and I was there when you
were ill as you were when I was ill,
And at that point I was no longer alone.

You were always there for me when I was down,
And you took away my frown,
You jumped on the sofa and licked my arm,
You rested your head on me until I was better,
You were always there for me just as I was always there for you,
Whether you were ill, bored, upset or down,
I was always there.
But one day you became ill and there was nothing more I could do for you,
And then you left this world.

After you died I was alone,
After you died I felt so hopeless and pathetic,
I thought I would never get over the grief,
You were always so happy and playful,
But, some people say that they're so sorry that you're gone,
But at that precise moment I realized something,
You're not gone, you're never gone,
You're always here in your bed, outside barking at other dogs or begging for
dinner every moment,
I can't believe that I never realized that you've always been here,
With my Mum, my Dad, my sister and even me and no matter where you are just know this, we're always with you.

We lost our 16yr old welsh border collie when I was 16 (more than 30yrs ago!!!) He had always been there for me and I think the poem is lovely--it really sums up what I felt at the time. Thanks