Can a prayer hold off the winter?

[Gullivor]

Can a prayer hold off the winter?

February cold chill
Arthritic pain every step
New bed easy rest
Come morning you couldn’t get up.

Vet appointment made
unkept
For once I thanked God I was broke
Prayers answered along came the summer.

Rubbing ears
Scratching hind
Cloudy blue eyes
Slowly go blind

A day off
A bottle of rum
Came upon you
bald, scabbed mange.

Vet huffed
“Lost cause”
I could relate
We were sharing the same fate.

To the top
To the gutter
Somehow you and me
Have held it all together.

You’ve stayed by my side
Without you, more then a few times,
I would of died
You’ve kept me alive.

You’ve stuck with me as a drunk and walked with me as a saint
You’ve comforted the wounded and growled at the proud
God indeed has angles
they come in disguise.

February came
Knocked you down
Prayers answered
Along came the summer

Gullivor,
Can a prayer hold off winter?
Can prayer hold off the winter?
With a prayer we’ll prepare for the winter.

(This is a "ruff" draft).

[Boss]

Gully, your poem reminds me of my Buddy. The vet, growling at the proud, comforting the wounded. He died in winter - July 16 2009. He was 13, an Alsatian. I miss him so. There is nothing like a man and his dog. Thank you for rekindling the memory. You say it is a 'ruff' draft, I say it is bloody good. Give your dog a tickle under his neck for me. Adam

[Cate]

This is a "ruff" draft).

hehe

I hope this is a very long summer for you both, let winter wait. Your dog friend sounds like s/he's been a wonderful companion to you. I hope there is something that can be done for her pain when the weather turns cold and wet again and if, if this is meant to be her last summer, I hope that you enjoy your time together as much as possible.

It's sad how short of a time our pets are with us.

[Gullivor]

Thank you Adam and Cate for your words.

I wrote that poem because his back legs started bothering him again this week and I was taken back to February when we got a cold front here in Florida and his legs started acting up. It's been raining here for about a month now so I was thinking that was affecting him but it would get better like before...at least till winter.
Anyways...
I took Gully to the vet today. She said arthritis and or degenerative disk disease. She also said they can do ex-rays to find out for sure but either way nothing can be done about it at his age (14 too Boss) and this point. She gave me a 7 day supply of Rimadyl to help with pain and inflammation. She says if it helps and I want to keep him on it he needs blood tests because that stuff is hard on the liver especially in older dogs and usually does heavy damage.
I'm not sure If I was given the 7 day supply of pain meds so we can have some good-bye time or if it may help a lot and we will have more time then that. Either way I do not want him to suffer and believe with all my heart in the hereafter. I believe in going home.

Will just have to take it one day at a time,
Paul

[Boss]

I am really sorry, Paul. The depth of love in animals is so beautiful. So many of us do not see it. You can feel so powerless when they get ill. Buddy's back legs went, too. I couldn't do anything just make him comfortable. I know you love Gully. There is a place for him. He will indeed be 'going home'. Be with him, now. His memory will be etched in your heart as long as you shall live. Paul, you are a beautiful soul. I cried for a long time after I lost Buddy. My throat tenses as I write. You have friends here, mate. My thoughts are with you both. And give him another tickle under his neck. Warm regards, Boss

[MarciaLP]

Me, too. We all go home, and they're always with us. They never leave our hearts and we never leave them. That's what matters, in the end.

I liked your poem, and for a "ruff" draft (nice!), it's got so much fine shape. I love your repetitions of summer and winter--it strikes the bone in us, and the last stanza, really brings it all home. (sorry, for the bad pun) And: You’ve stuck with me as a drunk and walked with me as a saint/You’ve comforted the wounded and growled at the proud/, are beautiful. I like the firm, brisk rhyme and lines, the general consistency of the stanzas--it reminded me of a dog's clipping rhythm, faithfulness, alertness, attention, slowing down... the way they are with us, and see us.

(I miss my dogs! By the way, it was a privilege to be there with them at the end, even in horrible worry for them. And I really believe they tell us when it's enough, when it's time for us to let go.)

Bless you and Gullivor,

Marcia

[Cate]

my are fingers are crossed for you that the pain medication will help. It's a terrible decision to have to make Paul, it's good that Gully has a caring companion - it's far to easy to be selfish in these decisions.

[lizzytysh]

I've not commented on your poem, Paul. When others did, I appreciated the things they had said and let it be. Your brief descriptions are graphic and real. I've sadly witnessed and recognized them. You've captured so well the admiration, the loyalty, and the protectiveness of our dogs. To them, we are everything. And if they must, they will take anyone to the mat on our behalf. [It reminds me of the recent, horrific cop's shooting of a loyal dog only concerned for his master.]

My heart wrenches for you, Paul. There are pamphlets, booklets, and books [and info on the Internet] on how to know when to let go. Even so, even with those, I've consulted vets and animal communicators when the/my decision was just too difficult. I've had two of my cats die in my arms. It's so hard to assess and so hard to let go.

I had to use the Rimadyl for awhile with my lab, Andre. The lab tests are important, but the medication is helpful. You may want to look for naturopathic/homeopathic remedies. Praying for relief and more good seasons for Gullivor and you.

[Gullivor]

Good news! The meds seem to be working good. Gully is getting up and down easier and walking with less effort. He took a nap twice in the back yard today before he would only go out to do his business and came back in. So I'll keep him on the meds and follow up with the blood tests along with searching for naturopathic/homeopathic remedies, Thanks for the suggestion Lizzy.

Adam, I agree "The depth of love in animals is so beautiful. So many of us do not see it". I'm grateful we are fortunate to experience it! it like an easy free love, the way love should be. I'm truly sorry for your loss with Buddy and hope this tread didn't bring a "hurtful" sadness to you.

Marcia, I am hopping for that! "I really believe they tell us when it's enough, when it's time for us to let go". I also agree " They never leave our hearts and we never leave them". Inseparable!

Cate, It is "a terrible decision to have to make" and I don't want to be selfish either. I love him and have emotions tied into decision making. I want to make the right decision and am hoping Marcia is right he will let me know. I don't want to make that decision to early nor do I want to make it to late.

Lizzy, I saw the video too with the dog getting shot. I don't like watching stuff like that but curiosity got the best of me and I played it. Most of that video was of the dog owner taking video of the police. I said to myself over and over watching it "dude, mind your own business, get you and your dog in the car and leave. The whole thing was tragic!.. and avoidable.
Back in my 20's living with my mom on and off we had two cats. A mom and son. Phantom and Bow. They were indoor/outdoor cats. The were a big part of our lives. They both lived about 10 years. The mom had gotten older, slimmer less active and disappeared. They say some cats will go the their favorite hiding place when it's time to pass. She use to hang out in an old abandon house behind us but we never found her. The son, Bow, had gotten cat HIV. When he got bad the vet gave him some kind of shot that did wonders...but we had to put him down in the end.
I have read a few things lately on this topic and the one that sounded the best to me simple said "When they are not happy anymore". That makes sense to me. I'm also looking into naturopathic/homeopathic remedies to.

Thank you all very much for letting me share and for the responses given!

[Boss]

Paul, I'm truly glad Gully has picked up. Let's hope he is okay for a long time to come. I have thought more about Bud in the past few days and it has been good for me. No worries in my corner mate, I could take on the whole wide world.

[Gullivor]

I could take on the whole wide world.

Me too Boss, me too, I'm with you.

[lizzytysh]

This is GREAT news, Paul!!!
May the meds serve Gullivor well for as long as possible.

[Gullivor]

Gully took a turn for the worse. He was in ICU for the past 2 days and we let him go to the hereafter this morning. Kidneys were failing him. He wasn't going to get better.

Thanks everyone for letting me share this here.

[lizzytysh]

Oh, no........ I'm so sorry to hear this, Paul.
I'm hoping that these few final days at home with him were good, or at least fairly good, ones.
My heart is with you both with your sad news.
You did everything you could and more.


~ Lizzy

[Boss]

Paul,

Gully is at peace now. He lives on in your heart, and he lives on in God's imagination.

Deep respect,
Boss