A Tribute To My Best Friend, My Dog Shilo
Posted: Sunday, June 28, 2009
by Gary W. Halsey Sr.
All Season Karaoke and D.J.
I really don't think that there is a better friend than your dog. Loyalty, undying and true, along with unconditional love is the glue that binds man with his best friend. I have written about my dog Shilo before, but in this story, there is a different tone that is taken. I am about to lose him. He is getting so old, like me. We both share the same feelings, and the same emotions of growing old. He is my best friend. As I sat outside this morning, sipping on my coffee, he was looking up at me with his arthritic ridden body, not moving his head, just his eyes would move, he would look up at me as if to say, "I know my friend what dilemma you must be going through, but threat not my friend, for we all have our place in paradise". My wife Christine thought I was yelling at her last night as I was frustrated with my best friend, because he had 3 accidents in the house, which he had never done, and my frustration was not with her, but myself. There is nothing I can do about it. The Vet told me that this day would come, and I have dreaded it since he told me. He said "All you can do is make him comfortable, take this medicine and see if it helps with the pain", but it didn't. The raising of my voice was not at my wife, but with me. I remember the day that I rescued him from under a trailer, he was thin, all bones, riddled with worms from living on his own after someone had dumped him in the desert to die, no water, his foot pads were damaged from the heat of the desert floor, and he was very close to death. My wife and I had brought him back to good health, eventually he was going through the slow process of trusting humans again, and eventually he became a member of our family.
It kills me to think that I have to let him down; that I can't fix what is wrong. It kills me that I now am faced with a decision that I do not want to make. Should he live, or should I put him down. It is hard to make that decision, when he is looking up at me with one eye of brown, the other of blue. Our days of living in Colorado were filled with wonderful days as he would sit in my truck, and want to go everywhere with me. I can't do that here in Arizona, as he would die of a heat stroke. So he stays home and waits for me. He loves my wife also, and I know she loves him as well, and I keep saying over and over again in my mind, "God, give me the strength to make the right decision, and once I have made it, give me the strength to get through it". I don't want to loose my best friend. His memory is just not good enough, I want him to stick around for the next 10 years, or until I die. Is that too much to ask? I'm sure allot of you folks might think that this is silly, or that I should "Man up" to the idea to accept what is, but I'm not sure I can. If any of you can remember, Elvis Presley sang a song, (I don't think he was the original singer of the song, but the name of it was "Old Shep"). The words to that song keep running through my mind, "With hands that were tremblin', I picked up my gun, and aimed it at Shep's faithful head, and I just couldn't do it, I wanted to run, I wish they would shoot me instead". But at the end of a song, it had a good ending and I quote, "If dogs have a heaven, there's one thing I know, Ole' Shep has a wonderful home".
Shilo, I love you more than you know, losing you is like loosing a part of me, and my family, and I will miss you more than you know. You and I have always been the best of friends, and with your unconditional love, you have always been at my side. You will always be in my heart, and in my thoughts, and I will keep the biscuits in the truck ashtray, in remembrance of you. Remember when we would take a trip in my big old Chevy truck, you knew right where I kept the biscuits, and you would either flip open the ash tray, and steal all of the biscuits, or you would look at me as if to say, "Well, ya gonna give me some or what"? Then you would tilt your head, and make me laugh, and of course I would give in, and give you those biscuits. Well buddy, they will always be there for you. I will miss you my loyal friend.
Shilo, I love you more than you know, losing you is like loosing a part of me, and my family, and I will miss you more than you know. You and I have always been the best of friends, and with your unconditional love, you have always been at my side. You will always be in my heart, and in my thoughts, and I will keep the biscuits in the truck ashtray, in remembrance of you. Remember when we would take a trip in my big old Chevy truck, you knew right where I kept the biscuits, and you would either flip open the ash tray, and steal all of the biscuits, or you would look at me as if to say, "Well, ya gonna give me some or what"? Then you would tilt your head, and make me laugh, and of course I would give in, and give you those biscuits. Well buddy, they will always be there for you. I will miss you my loyal friend.
This Article has been viewed 3,582 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)Gary, I have been through the aging process with 3 beloved dogs. I may have let one dog live in pain a little too long, but only I could make the decision as to when it was "time".I knew that I gave them good lives and loving companionship but I cried during the decision process, on the way to the vet, on the way home, digging the grave and many days after. I stayed with each pet (including cats) while they were euthanized, and it is the best gift you can give a friend after the decision has been made. Know your vet, make sure your vet knows your dogs weight and then talk to him and pet him calmly the way that has always comforted him.Then honor Shilo and your bond with him until you feel ready to give another struggling, lonely, deserving dog a similar life. It will not be the same. It will not be replacing. It may be God giving you another challenge or another blessing. God bless you.Thank you so much for your kind words Anonymous, I am thankful to have the time that I have spent with him, and I am still praying that I won't have to put him down, but he can barly walk, I just don't know...We are having the vet look at him on Wed, then the decision will be made, and his vet is a very good one. I will do whatever he suggest, and I know it will be the best for Shilo. I am sorry to hear of your dogs and cats as well, but you know, once your retired, your kids are grown and gone, your pets take their place, and it is like loosing one of your kids. Again, that you so much for your kind words, and I will surely heed your wonderful words of wisdom...thank you for reading the article, and for you kind response, you friend in pen, Gary
Sorry that you're going through this with Shilo, Gary. I hadn't been much of a dog person until 4 years ago when I got a dog for my family that turned out to have exactly my personality. He's been my friend and my partner in protecting my family ever since. He knows my likes & dislikes, and they are his.
Two weeks ago we though we were going to lose him, but it turned out he just had a stomach bug for a few days. I actually said good-bye to him before he turned around. I would never have guessed that I would have become so emotionally attached to a dog.
All my best to you as you go through this period of time.Thanks so much Bruce for your kind words and wonderful thoughts. As you can tell, I love him dearly. Isn't it great that you can find a animal that has your personality, it will be hard one day for you to have to put him down. It's not an easy task for anyone really. I am sorry I have been gone for awhile, but I have been working on my book, and doing some stuff for a local newspaper.....Glad to be back amoung the elite!!! Thanks for reading my article, and for your kind words, your friend and fan Gary.
Great article...been there, done that--I felt every word you wrote. My best to you...Steve, thank you so much for your comments, and if you have been there and done that, then you know what I feel. Thanks for taking the time to read this, I really appreciate it, your friend in pen, ..........Gary
Gary,Great job!!!. All the best with you pet. I hope God will grant extension for your pet and enjoy every moment.Sincerely,LawrenceLawerence, I really appreciate your kind words, and I really appreciate the time you took to read it, This is something that everyone I'm sure can relate too. God bless and thank you for your comment, you friend in pen, Gary....
Gary,
I cried when I read your story. You described this very special bond well. It is hard to explain this gift of love we receive from our furry angels to people. Those of us who have been blessed to have loved and been loved by their pet know how deep this friendship is. I fear the day I will say goodbye to my precious friend and can not imagine my life without her. God has blessed us with these faithful, pure spirits. We can learn so much from them. They do not dwell on the past or worry about tomorrow. They are grateful and incapable of the malice and deceit humans can exhibit. God Bless You!!Shilo's picture still remains on my cell phone, and on my computer desktop, I will never forget my best friend, and I will forevermore love him. Your beautiful poem says it all, says all that I feel. Some folks think that "He's just a dog", but tis not true, he is also my best, and most loyal friend, for better or worse, in sickness and in health, and forever he will be in my heart as well as in my mind......thank you for your kind and loving words, I certainly do appreciate it, as I appreciated my best friend........I miss him so. Thanks again......your friend in pen.....Gary W. Halsey Sr.
Gary , I lost my truest and most trusted and best friend last night he was hit by a car speeding at nearly 100kmh in front of my house. He had followed his female friend across the road something he never does he is so good with traffic...He just waited for the one car they told me then bolted he almost made it...but almost wasn't enough..my dear , sweet boy he was my protector he protected me from an abusive ex husband , he was a black lab turning 7 Dec. 2 this year ....Dog bless his soul....My poor boy the pain is so fresh it hurts me to the very core of myself I'm lost now my shadow is gone, my protector is gone. I made the decision to have him sent to the taxidermist not many would but I can't and I won't bury him it hurts too much ..He deserves better than that. I still look for him everywhere..she misses him too...I cried when I read this , it's so hard for me. How will I heal ? time can't heal this wound. He saw me at my worst and he still loved me. He never judged me , never, ever. The song you are right my boy was older and he was sick his vet appointment was in four days I still think he spared me the pain I somehow can't stop thinking he did it on purpose he just didn't want me to have to make the decision.. He was the most beautiful , glistening black lab I had ever seen...I know it will get easier with time but I will forever feel the loss , a void so deep no man nor material item could fill. I love you Coda , the cold gust of wind I felt it buddy I did, thank you for holding on for me , you can let go now handsome.Thank you for letting me know how I feel is ok and someone else understands my pain...my dog has given me so much . He was with me he knew I was about to lose my baby in October he crawled up into my lap and lay his head on my stomach careful not to step there ....he didn't leave me a second and the next day , it was over. He was very close to me to say the least he helped me through it no human could. I am so sorry for your Shilo. My deepest, strongest sympathies to you. Thank you for your wonderful writings.This was so heartfelt, that I couldn't help but cry for you. I am so sorry it has taken me awhile to read this as I have been so busy that I haven't written. I miss writing so much. I am extreemly sorry for your loss, and I too feel your anguish. They are, and always will be our friend, both here and above. The unconditional love that they afford us can never be measured in human terms, there are no words "big" enough, to define their devotion. I really appreciate your reading my ramblings, and I wish you blessings. I am so sorry that you lost a child, I lost a grandson, and miss him so. God bless and keep you and your loved ones in your heart forever. Your friend in pen.....Gary.
Gary, I too had to let my boy Harley go, 6 months ago today. I came across your story quite by accident...was searching for something related to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.Your story made me cry, as well as remember that I am not alone in my feelings. Harley was my child, my best friend and my soul mate. I am 100% positive (with proof from him) that although they are gone from this earth they NEVER leave us! Please take comfort, as I do, that he is and always will be with you!!!Thank you so much sweet Cheryl for your loving and kind words about our best and most devoted friends. I am glad that I share something in common with my fellow writers about our most loyal companions. I love the fact that you confirmed that there is proof from him, that he is still with you. Thanks again, and I am so sorry that it took me so long to respond, I have been so busy with my book(s), I am hoping I will finish them soon, and publish. God speed with you, and again ......thank you. Your friend in pen......Gary.
I've lost 3 dogs that were my best friends. Dogs are noble, loyal creatures that possess wonderful qualities humans can only aspire to.I certainly agree with you on this one Anne. Thank you for honoring me by reading this...It means allot to me, and I too think they are very noble and loyal creatures. God Bless you, and thanks for writing me this note....Your friend in pen.....Gary W. Halsye Sr.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.