Upon the Path of a Dogs Passing

Awoke tearful this morning, having had a lucid dream of Roxy, our Pit Bull, where she ‘spoke’ to me without saying a word. I am compelled to write down her thoughts as she conveyed them — and to do so before I am fully woke and forget her canine colloquy…

“They tell you not to cry – it’s jus’ a dog, not a person, that animals don’t know they have to die, that the important thing is not to let me suffer. You’re told that you can have another, but they don’t know what or how you felt when you held me during the last moments of my earthly life.

Tom, you were so gentle — as always — and I could hear your soft voice, smell your scent and feel your hot tears. I know you truly loved me.

No one knows how many times you’ve looked me in the eye and knew that this ‘animal’ would never judge you, or the number of times I was the only one by your side or how much you’ve changed since I became a part of your life. They can’t know how many times you spoke to me as if I were a human, and that I was the only one really listening, and though I didn’t understand all your words, that I was the only one who knew you were suffering and that when things went wrong, I was the only one who refused to leave your side.

Nor do they understand that crying and mourning over my passing is one of the most noble and sincere things you could do. For me, knowing that, leaves my heart full in the knowledge that you are a good and loyal friend.

Oh, the things some people don’t know – I’d stack up against what this dog understands and does so without words but through my eyes, the wag of my tail, a lap of a moist tongue and the touch of a paw at all the right moments. You did right by me, thank you and now, let your mind be at peace and your anguish be put to rest in knowing that I’m patient and will be waiting for you when that time is right, my dear, good and loving human.”