I Knew A Musky Cradle Is Good For Something

[KUP]

From Dante, to Don & Family:

I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep.

I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
"It's me, I haven't left you, I'm well, I'm fine, I'm here."

I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea.
You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me.

I was with you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore.
I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
I want to reassure you, that I'm not lying there.

I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said "it's me."

You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.

It's possible for me to be so near you everyday.
To say to you with certainty, "I never went away."

You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew,
in the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

The day is over... I smile and watch you yawning and say "good-night,
God bless, I'll see you in the morning."

And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
I'll rush across to greet you and we'll stand, side by side.

I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.
Be patient, live your journey out ... then come home to be with me.

[Don Wittenberger]

Thanks so much, KUP. That helps a little. This is a very empty house tonight. Dante came to us from a group called Dane Outreach. Their web site has this posted on their memorial page:

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

-Author unknown

[tmusky1]

Don, first off, I'm very sorry to hear about the pulmonary disorder you MAY have. Just please keep in mind "you may have it" is another way of saying, "you may not have it". Your situation with your Great Dane made me think back to my first dog. Yes he was also a Dane. I got Winston as a puppy when I was 7 years old and lost him when I was about 15. They hold a very special place in your heart and trust me, you never forget them.

[Don Wittenberger]

I have something. Believe me, I get more easily winded than I did just a couple years ago. And I have a long history of bronchial infections. I definitely have a chronic pulmonary condition of some kind, and I don't think it's asthma.

I read some stuff on the internet last night about bone cancer in dogs that said certain large breeds (dogs over 75 lbs.), including Danes, are 60 times more likely to get it. That got me to thinking again about Dante this morning, and about the strange paradox of her breed -- they are wonderful, loving, and loveable dogs, yet they are so vulnerable and many Danes die young. Their susceptibility to this devastating disease is at least partly genetic. Why is something so good taken from us so arbitrarily? And then I realize we don't own them at all; they belong to God, and He just lends them to us for a brief time, and cannot Himself bear to be parted from them for very long, so He takes them back.

[Don Wittenberger]

Our dog was a rock star, and I can't believe the outpouring of condolences from our neighborhood. Cards and flowers have been arriving all day, and our living room now resembles a florist shop. There's even a card from Muskies Inc. Chapter 57! Thanks, everyone. The Mrs. is already talking about bringing another rescue dog into our home.

Another neighbor was just over here dropping off flowers. She came over earlier today asking about Dante, and burst into tears when I gave her the sad news. She's recently had her own tragedy. She bought the house in front of ours and was fixing it up. On Christmas Eve, her husband beat her up, locked her two dogs in the house, and set the house on fire. The dogs died in the blaze. She brought her new dog over tonight, an energetic little Schnauzer she named "Phoenix" (because, she explained, he rose from the ashes) who leaped on my lap and licked my face. We talked about legal stuff, such as how to put the screws to the deputy prosecutor who wanted to offer this guy a plea bargain of 36 to 48 months. She's new to our state, so I explained that folks around here don't take kindly to mistreating animals, and she should make the prosecutor tell the public defender if his client won't agree to 10 years he'll show the jury her photos of the dogs' burned bodies. As some of you may know, I'm a lawyer, and I know a couple things about negotiating.

[panfisher]

sorry to hear about your loss. i just put down our 135 lb rotty mix that we had for over 14yrs for the same reason thursday. took her home and put her next to a few other great pets we've had.it does,nt get easier. we had two great danes when i was younger they were such characters. i

i never used the cradle but have watch them used, certainly would use it on the bigger fish.

[Don Wittenberger]

panfisher, you have my heartfelt sympathy. I'd like to imagine your dog and ours arrived at Rainbow Bridge together, and are playing with each other there.

[Deadeyemark]

Sorry to hear you had to put her down. Never an easy thing to do.