To all who have furry friends.

[Are_grits_groceries]

I found this poem in a book by Willie Morris. He wrote "My Dog Skip." He also wrote a great book about a feline, "My Cat, Spit MGee."

I have always thought that this verse sums up our love of our friends who unfortunately have shorter lifespans than we do.

“We who choose to surround ourselves
with lives even more temporary than our
own, live within a fragile circle;
easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps,
we would still live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only
certain immortality, never fully
understanding the necessary plan.”
― Irving Townsend

[KittyWampus]

1. So true, our fur babies don't live long enough. And yet, they live as long as they can.

When my beloved cat was ready to pass I told her with all my heart she was a good girl and her work was all done.

I think pets feel an obligation to their humans.

I wish more owners thought twice before taking on the responsibility of a pet.

[Cleita]

2. We had a family scare yesterday when we couldn't find our

most elderly cat, about eighteen years old. We were afraid he had died because he hadn't shown up for his supper, something he never fails to do. We went to bed sad. He came home this morning chatty and looking well. You can imagine how happy and relieved we are.

[Skittles]

4. aw sheesh

actually I can imagine

[Skittles]

3. omg the last scene in My Dog Skip

[secondvariety]

20. That actually brought a tear to my eye.

My sweet girl Lealue is 15 and doesn't have a lot of time left. I sure hope she goes as peaceful as Skip.

[DreamGypsy]

5. Old dogs

We welcomed our first canine companion about 20 years ago, and our second 6 months later. I was in my early 40s and had recently gone through some work upheaval that caused a lot of stress and worry. I fairly quickly realized that the dogs were going to change my attitudes. They taught me some important things about living - to relax, to enjoy the daily routine, to be accepting, to play. Our dogs were large breeds and I also realized that, in all likelihood, they would instruct me in other equally important lessons - about dying. We share our lives now with our fourth and fifth big dogs. My days would seem empty without them.

[get the red out]

7. Nothing more wonderful than fur-angels

I simply love them because they ARE love.

[Wolf Frankula]

8. If I Could Have Two Superpowers They Would Be

That I could get cats to live as long as people, and that I could heal animals by touch.

Wolf

[calimary]

14. Those are excellent superpowers! I'd want those myself!

People can always tell you how much they hurt. Animals don't have that ability - well, maybe not in the manner that most of us bipeds can understand.

[totodeinhere]

9. My beloved cat Judy turned 16 recently. She adopted my family when I was eleven years

old and she was about six months old and when I left home to go out on my own she came with me because she and I were so close.

Here's wishing her many more good years.

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[Arugula Latte]

11. OMG I love her!

So beautiful! And she looks so pretty in her pink collar!

[shenmue]

10. Thank you

I lost my dog a week ago today.

[alsame]

12. I'm so sorry. I know what

you're going through and will offer you a hug

[RebelOne]

15. I feel the pain. I have lost 3 doggies in the past 13 years,

and the pain never goes away. It is like losing a child. They were my fur babies.

[calimary]

13. My condolences. It really is losing a loved one.

Mine's sitting here at my feet. I just hosed her down outside and dried her off to cool her during this horribly hot day. She seems more comfortable already.

I don't know how we function without them.

[MoonRiver]

17. So sorry for your loss.

I'm dreading the day, not far off, that I lose my furbaby.

[MoonRiver]

16. My doggie is 15 1/2. Those words so resonate with me.

Thanks grits.

[Delphinus]

21. Mine is a year younger

and I understand so fully.

[heaven05]

18. thank you

sums up 40 years of furry buddies. cats and dogs.

[Iliyah]

19. I see you like cats!

I love all creatures although I'm leary about snakes - LOL

My family has had good luck with animals living pass 15 - 20 years especially cats who hang out doors until night fall and then come into the house until morning except for Greyghost who is solely a out door cat. Pretty Girl the Pomeranian is an in door dog and Daisy the Rabbit who is in doors as well.

Thanks for the poem!