The following is a cross-post from Anita's forum:

Where to Bury a Dog

by Ben Hur Lampman

From the book Old Dogs Remembered, edited by Bud Johns

We are thinking now of a setter, whose coat was flame in the sunshine and who, so far as we are aware, never entertained a mean or unworthy thought. This setter is buried beneath a cherry tree, under four feet of garden loam, and at its proper season the cherry tree strews petals on the green lawn of his grave. Beneath a cherry tree, or an apple, or any flowering shrub of the garden, is an excellent place to bury a dog. Beneath such trees, such shrubs, he slept in the drowsy summer, or gnawed at a flavored bone, or lifted his head to challenge some strange intruder. These are good places, in life or in death.

Yet it is a small matter, and it touches sentiment more than anything else. For if the dog be well remembered, if sometimes he leaps through your dreams actual as in life, eyes kindling, questing, asking, laughing, begging, it matters not at all where that dog sleeps and at last. On a hill where the wind is unrebuked, and the trees are roaring, or beside a stream he knew in puppyhood, or somewhere in the flatness of a pasture land, where most exhilarating cattle graze. It is all one to the dog, and all one to you, and nothing is gained, and nothing is lost - if memory lives. But there is one best place to bury a dog. One place that is best of all.

If you bury him in this spot, the secret of which you must already have, he will come to you when you call -- come to you over the grim, dim frontiers of death, and down the well-remembered path, and to your side again. And though you call a dozen living dogs to heel they should not growl at him, nor resent his coming, for he is yours and he belongs here. People may scoff at you, who see no lightest blade of grass bent by his foot, who hear no whimper pitched too fine for mere audition, people who may never really have had a dog. Smile at them then, for you shall know something that is hidden from them, and which is well worth knowing.

The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master.

Where to Bury a Dog

To Bootsie, DJ, Catfish, Ashie, Carmen, Gordie, Bingo Jr., Frankie and those canine companions yet to enter my life & touch my heart - thank you for your unconditional love. May it be true I have given to each of you as much as I've received.

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), October 30, 2000

Answers

This one may have been lost in the multitudes of political threads...so...off to New Answers she goes.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), October 30, 2000.

Nope, didn't get by me :-) It's very sweet (especially your closing sentiment). It brings back some memories of the one dog we had to have euthanized and another we had to give away.

Both equally sad occasions.

We have given them as much as we've received in return. We give them the same unconditional love they give us, and we give them the same happiness just by petting their heads as they do giving us a kiss. Is there any better feeling than coming home from work and seeing all the little tails wagging a mile a minute? (Well, a couple I can think of, but that's not the point :-))

Dogs are a person's best friend.

(Just curious: Your dog, DJ; did that stand for something? I had a classmate in grammar school who had a dog -- beautiful, white German Sheperd -- and they name him "Dog". Well, he died and they got another just like the first -- and named him DJ, Dog Junior. Thought it was kind of neat.)

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), October 30, 2000.

My cat, PC, is short for PussyCat.

DJ was an incredible chihuahua (sp) mix that graced my sister for more than 14 years. They were the 1st initials of her fiance (D) & her (J).

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), October 30, 2000.

Bingo,

Thanks. I am afraid that this is something that Mrs D and I will have to face soon. Washington is 15 years old, mostly blind, nearly deaf, and somewhat senile. Ok, he is a lot senile. But he is and was such a good boy, your post is tugging at my heart.

*sniff*

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), October 30, 2000.

Hey Unk, we have one who's about 16 or so. She's arthritic, has tumors, doesn't hear and/or see very well, not many teeth left..... She's got a face that looks like a baby harp seal (big, round, black eyes), and the sweetest disposition. She's still as spunky as she can be, though.

double **sniff**

-- Patricia (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), October 30, 2000.

I really wish dogs were as long lived as sea turtles. I want Bingo Jr. with me until I die. Actuarial tables say that's not a good bet.

The tough part is I can't bring a puppy into the house right now, though Bing would be a marvelous teacher. If I wait much longer Bing will be too old to maintain alpha status once the pup becomes an adult. She's pure alpha. I won't put her in the position of having to fight for position.

Your dogs, Unk & Patricia, have had full lives in good homes. Hopefully they'll let you know when the time is right for them to go.

My cat Samantha did just that. Had her from ages 7-24. I awakened from a sound sleep after midnight. Looked towards the door, there she was. It was time. I can still see her outline in the darkened bedroom doorway. She stood there, drooling, an apparent stroke, but was able to let me know it was time. Telepathy, plain and simple. It was time.

Go spoil the hell out of your companions. I have a great biscuit recipe if you are interested. Easy to make and guaranteed to please.

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), October 30, 2000.

Oh, the memories...but not tonight.

Do share your recipe for biscuits if you will Bingo. Miss Molly will appreciate it!! Thanks in advance!!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), October 30, 2000.

So many beloveds over a lifetime...each with their own unique personality having touched your life experience and a part of your soul where no one else may enter. The secrets, joys and sorrows that you shared give them such a special place in your heart. I pass this verse on for those that believe, which was given to me last year, on the passing of my 16 year old beloved Joshua, a Welsh Springer Spaniel:

The Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Valley Far away, just this side of Heaven, there is a beautiful valley of lush green grass and fragrant flowers. The birds sing sweetly in the warm sunshine and the soft breezes gently rustle the leaves of the stately shade trees; and from this place, called Rainbow Valley, there is a Rainbow Bridge leading to Heaven. When your beloved pet dies, he is taken to Rainbow Valley to join the others who have gone before him. If he is old and infirm, he is made young and strong again. If he is injured and hurts, he is made whole again. If his coat is matted and bedraggled, it is made clean and glossy again. There is good food and sweet, fresh water for all, and there are treats and toys and games to play. The pets are happy and content as they frolic together. But they each miss that special person that they had to leave behind.

Then, as time goes by, occasionally one of the pets will leave the rest, listening intently and gazing off into the distance. Suddenly, he begins to bark or meow rapturously, his body trembling with excitement. He has seen you, coming to join him at last. He runs to you and as you once again stroke and caress his beloved head and body, he rains wet kisses upon your face to mingle with your tears of joy. As you look into his trusting, loving eyes, you know that, although parted for so long, you have always been in each other's hearts.

Together, you stroll through Rainbow Valley and cross the Rainbow Bridge, secure in the knowledge that you will never be parted again, as you enter into Paradise.

* *Author Unknown* *

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), October 30, 2000.

I'll post the biscuit recipe later tonight.

WARNING - Airie/faerie philosophizing ahead:

As I'm partial to the theory of reincarnation, I work hard to keep at least a portion of myself detached from Bingo's soul at all times. One's attachments can influence others on levels beyond the physical. My belief is Bingo will move up into a higher form in her next incarnation and I would not want my strong desire to have her come back to me again as a dog in her next life to be an obstacle to her progress in any way, or keep her here beyond her time.

Paramahansa Yogananda related an experience of his with regards to attachment and a pet deer in his Autobiography of a Yogi.

Anita, I wish you would take a few minutes and try to reconstruct the post you lost the other day on the dogs in your life. (Boy, is that ever a big opening for somebody with a modicum of wit)

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), October 31, 2000.

Bingo1-- Thanks so much,the timing couldn't have been better. We just found out our dog Ruby has a tumor on her rib bone and it is going into her lung. The vet said we have maybe 2-4 months left with her.She is still feeling pretty good, so we are really spoiling her now.We had the hole dug for her in case she goes when the ground is frozen and had a box made for her. And yes, the hole is dug in a corner of the garden under a big ole pine tree!

-- Dory (crtwheel@eburg.com), November 01, 2000.

Bingo1/Rich,

Please notice in my previous post I said "for those that believe". I was attempting to share some prose for those who pets/family members are nearing their release into the cosmos.

I am still waiting for the biscuit recipe.

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), November 01, 2000.

Dory, glad the post helped you in some small measure. Ruby is blessed to have you, as you are she. Good luck with the transition.

AB, as you can see, I forgot to look up the recipe last night. I'll try again this evening.

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 01, 2000.

How LONG does a bearded dragon live?

2 cats, one newt, a baby frog, and a bearded dragon.

PS, IF those kids bring anything else into the house, I'm gonna scream.

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), November 01, 2000.

Sounds like you could open a witches apothecary.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 01, 2000.

Hee hee, your right Bingo.

But I STILL believe a Dog is Man's Best Friend.

When my kidz are gone, I 'might' get to find out...providing they take the 'pets' with them.

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), November 01, 2000.

It appears the book which lists the dog biscuit recipe is packed away in a box. The following is a link to the book in question, which I recommend highly.

Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats

Rich

-- Bingo1 (howe9@shentel.net), November 01, 2000.