Fee Posted August 22, 2007 Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 (edited) Posted on behalf of Steve, Henry's owner. Steve's poem 'Enery' was the winner of our Valentine Poetry competition, and was a lovely tribute to a much loved dog. Run free Henry, you were obviously a very special boy Hello folks, Henry was the subject of the winning Valentine's Competiton ("Why I love my oldie".....). and I thought I would copy the details from an email I sent to the "staffy" e-group that I am a member of (Northern Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue) for your information. Thanks. "......with tears and heavy hearts, yesterday Monday 20th August, we faced the day we didn't want to see and we had to say goodbye to our lovely old boy Henry. We had seen his deterioration over the last few weeks and over this last weekend and felt that it was time to let him go as he was in pain and his quality of life had gone. We thank God we had four precious years with him after Steph (in collusion with her sister) persuaded me to say "yes" to having him when he was taken into kennels down south when his owner died in hospital. When the time came, Henry was outside sunbathing/sleeping in the back garden - one of his favourite places. The vet saw to him out there and it was very peaceful and now he is free from pain. We know Daisy will miss him too - she loved him. We have loads of happy memories and the night before we met a couple from Cheshire on our walk down the shore at Hest Bank who were in a camper van and had almost identical staffies. They too, are going through a difficult time with their oldie who they got from Bob/NSBTR called Coppella. We were able to offer suppport and comfort to each other. It took some persuading for me to get a dog in the first place and Henry was my first introduction to the ways of the Stafford and I feel privileged to have had him as part of our lives. We feel a part of us has died too and we feel raw and fragile but we know that Henry was such a character and very much loved by our wider family and friends. We take comfort in the fact that we were able to offer him a nice little retirement when he was in a hopeless situation. Group members may be aware that I expressed my feelings about "Our 'Enry" in a poem when I wrote for (and won!) a competiton run by the "Oldies Group" on "Why I love my oldie staffy", We recently went on a holiday camping in Northumberland and as we had nearly lost Henry seven weeks ago on the operating table, we are so thankful we were able to have some "extra, extra time" with him and he was able to be with us and plod (with occasional spurt) along enjoying the lovely beaches etc. Bless you lickle boy. We will miss you so much and thank you for the joy you have brought us. You have, and always will have, a special place in our hearts." Steve (+ Steph and Daisy). Edited August 22, 2007 by Fee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoT Posted August 22, 2007 Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 Oh no! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobean Posted August 22, 2007 Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 I'm so very sorry to hear this. He was a very much loved little boy. My heart goes out to Steve who is a lovely gentle man himself. Run free sweetheart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fee Posted August 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 In case anyone missed it, this was the winning poem: 'Enery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundaygirl Posted August 22, 2007 Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 The poem brought tears to my eyes knowing how much this lovely boy will be missed. Hugs to his family, i hope one day they can smile again at the happy memories. Run free at the bridge gorgeous boy. x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted August 22, 2007 Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 (edited) With sympathy to all who knew & Loved "Enery" If you ever love an animal, there are three days in your life you will always remember... The first is a day, blessed with happiness, when you bring home your young new friend. You may have spent weeks deciding on a breed. You may have asked numerous opinions of many vets, or done long research in finding a breeder. Or, perhaps in a fleeting moment, you may have just chosen that silly looking animal in a shelter - simply because something in its eyes reached your heart. But when you bring that chosen pet home, and watch it explore, and claim its special place in your hall or front room - and when you feel it brush against you for the first time - it instills a feeling of pure love you will carry with you through the many years to come. The second day will occur eight or nine or ten years later. It will be a day like any other. Routine and unexceptional. But, for a surprising instant, you will look at your longtime friend and see age where you once saw youth. You will see slow deliberate steps where you once saw energy. And you will see sleep where you once saw activity. So you will begin to adjust your friend's diet - and you may add a pill or two to her food. And you may feel a growing fear deep within yourself, which bodes of a coming emptiness. And you will feel this uneasy feeling, on and off, until the third day finally arrives. And on this day, if your friend and God have not decided for you, you will be faced with making a decision of your own - on behalf of your lifelong friend, and with the guidance of your own deepest Spirit. But whichever way your friend eventually leaves you, you will feel as alone as a single star in the dark night. If you are wise, you will let the tears flow as freely and as often as they must. And if you are typical, you will find that not many in your circle of family or friends will be able to understand your grief, or comfort you. But if you are true to the love of the pet you cherished through the many joy-filled years, you may find that a soul - a bit smaller in size than your own - seems to walk with you, at times, during the lonely days to come. And at moments when you least expect anything out of the ordinary to happen, you may feel something brush against your leg - very very lightly. And looking down at the place where your dear, perhaps dearest, friend used to lay - you will remember those three significant days. The memory will most likely be painful, and leave an ache in your heart. As time passes the ache will come and go as it has a life of its own. You will both reject it and embrace it, and it may confuse you. If you reject it, it will depress you. If you embrace it, it will deepen you. Either way, it will still be an ache. But there will be, I assure you, a fourth day when - along with the memory of your pet, and piercing through the heaviness in your heart - there will come a realization that belongs only to you. It will be as unique and strong as our relationship with each animal we have loved, and lost. This realization takes the form of a Living Love - like the heavenly scent of a rose that remains after the petals have wilted, this Love will remain and grow - and be there for us to remember. It is a love we have earned. It is the legacy our pets leave us when they go. And it is a gift we may keep with us as long as we live. It is a Love which is ours alone. And until we ourselves leave, perhaps to join our Beloved Pets - it is a Love that we will always possess. When I lost my own dear girl, Jo I found these images brought a little comfort to me. May they now do the same for you. http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html http://www.dogdied.co.uk/Dog_Dogs_Rainbow_Bridge.htm Edited August 22, 2007 by Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReikiAnge Posted August 22, 2007 Report Share Posted August 22, 2007 Oh no! Sleep tight Henry My thoughts are with his family Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babsc71 Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 Sleep tight, Sweet Henry xx to Henry's family xx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clint Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 So sorry to hear this sad news all our thoughts are with Henry's family. Sleep tight Henry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flukespad Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 What a fab poem and a loving life he had with you. Sleep tight special lad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houndzrus Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 So sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staffymad Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 I was fortunate enough to meet 'Enery' this April on the NSBTR sponsored walk when he and Steve came and said hello at the OC stall. He was a very special boy. STeve, Steph and Daisy are very much in my heart and my thoughts at this sad time. Run free Enery and have fun at the summerlands of rainbow bridge Cindy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranirottie Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 so sorry. Sleep peacefully Henry. x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toddsmum Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 So very sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greytgirl Posted August 23, 2007 Report Share Posted August 23, 2007 Oh that poem, it and he deserved to win Im so very sorry, God bless ya Henry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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