I served with Niel. He'd found a way with words, someone we both knew sent this to me this morning. I found it both moving and a tribute to a dear friend. I'm not sure if the language will pass muster, but I am not going to edit this.




Just a Dog

He was not much more than a pair of big eyes, scraggly reddish coat, and a friendly wiggle when he crawled out from under a piece of scrap lumber I had accidentally moved while inspecting a construction site.

Barely old enough to be weaned, with no other dogs in sight.

I picked him up and asked him where his folks were, he licked my hand.

The Project super looked at him, "Hell man, it's just a dog."

I took him with me, as if I needed another pup.

Thus came Rufus into my life, 14 years ago.

He ate like a wolf, played like a pup and grew like a weed.

In three months his paws were too big for his legs.

His head outgrew the rest of him, he couldn't understand why I got upset when he chewed on everything.

I'd get that puppy dog round eyed look ... but it's so much fun!

My then-wife couldn't understand why I wouldn't beat the hell out of him, "It's just a dog."

A year after I found him, the parts that got left behind caught up.

He became a beautiful red-coated mutt.

After the terrible teens, he calmed down, spirit not broken, just contained with maturity and education.

We taught each other how to play with a frisbee, the joys of walking on the beach and what not to roll around in out in the woods.

His enthusiasm for life infected me constantly, the days I was down he pulled me back up.

But most of all, we learned friendship and mutual respect for each other as living brings.

We shared all sorts of things, but mostly we shared the simple joy of existing as creatures of the earth.

My business partner hated him being in the office, "Goddamn man, it's just a dog."

Later, that business partner was gone, but Rufus remained.

We had many years of joy, but as in all things, comes an end.

He began to slow down bit by bit, his passion cooled, his pace on the beach measured and steady.

I watched as his muzzle began to slowly take the frost of winter.

I walked slower with him, we strolled along at his pace.

People wondered why I didn't leave him at home "Jesus you take forever, it's just a dog."

But, his loyalty to me never failed, he would always greet me with a wag and lick.

My loyalty to him remained equally as strong.

I knew the time was close, I thought I was ready.

This morning I set his food down and the floor, calling him.

He never came, his place on the sofa was empty.

I found him under the foot of my bed, curled up, asleep.

Forever.

I lay him down today near the water, close to his favorite place.

And came home to a home full of echos and memories.

The world didn't take much notice, no lengthy obituaries, no weeping and wailing in the streets.

It wasn't in the news, for crying out loud, it was just a dog.

Yes, it was just a dog.

Thanks for listening.
Niel

 

Everyone who has had a pet at one time or another has gone, or will go through this.

Been through it a few times. It can be tough.

Yea, it's just a dog.

 

Beautiful Tribute to Man's BEST Friend

 

"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." - Anonymous

 

Beautiful: Total unconditional Love. That's what I get from my dogs.

 

I can't stop thinking about this, Niel was one of a kind. I learned that fairly quickly when I met him.

For years you'd see him up where he lived, driving an ancient pickup, that dog hanging out the passenger's window. He had a new car, bought one every two years, but he'd drive that rattletrap most of the time. Rufus hanging out the window, they were nearly inseperable, I can barely understand how much it affected him when Rufus died.

Two years after he wrote this Niel went to his own reward, I'd like to think they are giving that frisbee a good workout somewhere the sun always shines.

Thanks you guys, I knew you'd understand. Richard.

 

wow.......may i send it to my stepson? he recently lost his dog

 

Well, you're right about one thing- we do understand. Thanks for posting that.

 

For a true animal lover those words just about sum it up.

 

Hits me right where I live...

 

Alright, a grown man is about to drop tears over that one. I hate to even think about losing my bud.

Very nice though.

 

"We don't ask, because it is not a question.
We accept it - because it is.
We like one another, because we can.
We put up with our differences - because a dog is different from a man.

We know one another, it is no mistake.
We are the same somehow
Even if we are not
One without the other is not complete

Humans laugh
Puppies grin
Time goes on
We grow thin

The clock always seems to run out
Before we want it too
Before you are tired of me
Or I with you

And in the eye of my mind
We travel together still
As if we had joined together our souls
Our spirits, and our will

We will never be alone again..."

 

So true........

 

I just dropped two tears. One from each eye. No, I'm not kidding.

 

I agree with Rouch. I had to put my dog down in Oct, after 12 years. I cried like a little school girl after the vet pulled the needle out and I no longer saw " Jake " breathing anymore. Dammit I'm crying trying to type this. He was my first dog, never had one as a kid, and he won't be the last. I had him cremated and just by myself went and poured his ashes into the lake where he loved to swim. Said a little prayer and just watched the lake for a few hours........Thanks for those words RNE they were wonderful.