OT A Gentle Dog

Barnaby Cleveland 1993-2005

http://fishskicanoe.tripod.com/geopi...50/barnaby.jpg
A Few Months Ago

http://fishskicanoe.tripod.com/geopics/horiztshirt2.jpg
In Ely 2002.

Honestly, I often thought of Barnaby as dumb. But once and a while he
would pull a prank on Frodo and I swear you'd catch a gleam in his eye
and grin on his face. He certainly was one of the most gentle dogs
I've ever met unless you were a racoon or a mailman. The racoons in
particular changed him from a very placid animal into a ravening
beast, a truly frightening transformation.

But usually he was a "sweety".

He was my son Sam's dog. He came into our lives during a rough spot.
Coming from the pound his age was approximated at 2 years. Love at
first sight is an appropriate term to apply to their first meeting. He
almost invariably slept with Sam and I 'd often glance into Sam's room
and see Sam playing video games with his head pillowed by Barnaby's
large (90lb) body.

The last month it became obvious that he was fading. His appetite
failed. His food changed from dry dog food to wet dog food to human
food to, in the last few days, water, ice cubes and the occasional
popsicle. He was scheduled to go to vet tomorrow. We expected that he
would be given an injection and we'd have to make the sad trip to the
creek where my little springer Fannie was buried 4 years ago. Instead,
last night about 8 Jacci tried to give him an ice cube as he lay on
the floor by this keyboard. He refused. Jacci gave him a small pat and
then sat down in front of the computer. A minute or so later she
turned around and he was gone.

This morning Sam and I loaded him into the van and made the drive to
the creek. We crossed the water and worked, digging, the sandy soil
easily giving way before our shovels. We then returned to the van and
lifted his still body from the back and then waded the stream and laid
him into the earth. Over him went his favorite blanket and over that
the tan sandy soil. A few yards away my Fannie dog's grave lay,
covered with a low layer of moss and grass. Soon Barnaby's will look
the same.

We live in a small house. But tonight it seems too large.


g.c.

Condolences,George. Nice piece of writing describing what is always a sad
occaision.......all the best to you, and Sam.
Tom

"George Cleveland" wrote in message
...

...We live in a small house. But tonight it seems too large.

Perhaps the best indicator of hope for humanity is that a good dog will
consent to stay with us for a time. They never stay long enough.

Wolfgang

George Cleveland wrote:
Barnaby Cleveland 1993-2005

Sorry to hear about this, but at least he gave you his love while he had
it to give. I spent the latter part of this evening watching the ball
game while stroking our aging Cairn Terrier, so I can empathize with
your plight.

Nicely written thoughts, George.
--
TL,
Tim
---------------------------
http://css.sbcma.com/timj/

"George Cleveland" wrote in message We
live in a small house. But tonight it seems too large.


g.c.

My thoughts are with you and yours. I and so many others know all too well
the sadness of your families loss.

Take care as best you can.

Mark

Years ago, after someone on ROFF lost a beloved dog, this poem was
posted. I found it very moving:


"Dream That A Man" by Ross R. Whitney

Fold forefeet beneath your chest, incline
your head, and dream that a man cherished you.
Chose you above all other siblings, held
you to his face, and whispered. Prepared
your first solitary bed, but lifted you from it
before dark. Dream that he open doors,
and, like a god, observed your coming
and going. Fed you from his palm, smiled
that you neither toiled nor spun. Praised
your breathing, hunting, procreating, sleeping.
Gave you his surname. And when life hurt more than
death, let you die in his lap. Dream
that a man's children made your last solitary
bed under a tree. That he showed them
life blooming above. And when asked
if you would awake, said he did not know.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Sorry for you loss. They leave such a huge hole in the soul after they
are gone. I have two Gordon Setters. Webster is ten plus now and I am
counting the white hairs on his muzzle. Megan is going on eight years.
It seems that each loss leaves an increasingly large sense of
emptiness. I'll get Webster out this season for the Grouse in the Upper
Peninsula if it's the last thing I do. This time it will be for him.
Yes I know they call 'em *Patritges* or whatever up that way as they do
in northern New England. I call the Rough Grouse. I prefer their noble
proper name.

The cure? There is none I don't think except perhaps having another
one. I for one tend to think, that for me anyway. a dog is the magic
elixir of immortality - I'll hang in there not leaving one behind me
when I give up the ghost. And that's one hell of a motivation.

Be well and again my sincere condolences. They give us everything they
possess don't they--unqualified love and devotion and they look at you
when you speak as if you were the wisest, greatest intellect in the
entire world and they ask for nothing in return.

David Napierkowski

On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 20:31:02 -0500, George Cleveland
wrote:

Barnaby Cleveland 1993-2005

http://fishskicanoe.tripod.com/geopi...50/barnaby.jpg
A Few Months Ago

http://fishskicanoe.tripod.com/geopics/horiztshirt2.jpg
In Ely 2002.

Honestly, I often thought of Barnaby as dumb. But once and a while he
would pull a prank on Frodo and I swear you'd catch a gleam in his eye
and grin on his face. He certainly was one of the most gentle dogs
I've ever met unless you were a racoon or a mailman. The racoons in
particular changed him from a very placid animal into a ravening
beast, a truly frightening transformation.

But usually he was a "sweety".

He was my son Sam's dog. He came into our lives during a rough spot.
Coming from the pound his age was approximated at 2 years. Love at
first sight is an appropriate term to apply to their first meeting. He
almost invariably slept with Sam and I 'd often glance into Sam's room
and see Sam playing video games with his head pillowed by Barnaby's
large (90lb) body.

The last month it became obvious that he was fading. His appetite
failed. His food changed from dry dog food to wet dog food to human
food to, in the last few days, water, ice cubes and the occasional
popsicle. He was scheduled to go to vet tomorrow. We expected that he
would be given an injection and we'd have to make the sad trip to the
creek where my little springer Fannie was buried 4 years ago. Instead,
last night about 8 Jacci tried to give him an ice cube as he lay on
the floor by this keyboard. He refused. Jacci gave him a small pat and
then sat down in front of the computer. A minute or so later she
turned around and he was gone.

This morning Sam and I loaded him into the van and made the drive to
the creek. We crossed the water and worked, digging, the sandy soil
easily giving way before our shovels. We then returned to the van and
lifted his still body from the back and then waded the stream and laid
him into the earth. Over him went his favorite blanket and over that
the tan sandy soil. A few yards away my Fannie dog's grave lay,
covered with a low layer of moss and grass. Soon Barnaby's will look
the same.

We live in a small house. But tonight it seems too large.


g.c.

Brought a tear to my eye. Sorry for the loss.

Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: lid (strip the .invalid to email)

My best wishes at this heart-breaking time, George.

vince

George Cleveland wrote:
Barnaby Cleveland 1993-2005
snip

Our condolences on your loss.

--
Ken Fortenberry