I remember the day you came to us,
It was a time when I could still see.
You were tiny and bedraggled and wet,
You limped your way up to me.
And on my knee you placed your head,
And gazed at me lovingly.
A little whimper escaped from you,
You were lonely and terrified too.
You wanted a friend, someone to play,
Someone to take you home at the end of the day.
We washed you and dried you and combed your fur
out.
You were a beautiful dog, without a doubt.
We were best friends right from the start,
You loved me with all of your heart.
Everywhere I went, you were my Shadow,
Everything was fine until my sight began to go.
When you were one year old, I couldn’t see a thing,
I needed someone to guide me everywhere; I was
a puppet on a string.
You didn’t understand what was happening, how
could you know?
You didn’t understand why I disappeared and where
I had to go.
I went to get a guide dog, but that dog didn’t
do,
I didn’t want another dog; all I wanted was you.
I convinced them to take you and train you alone,
They had to find you a temporary foster home.
It broke my heart to see you go,
You were bewildered and confused and rightly
so.
They loved you and cared for you but I missed
you so much.
Nobody to comfort me, no furry head to touch.
You came home six months later, more sensible
and sedate.
You were my guide now, no longer just a mate.
You took your job oh so seriously,
My life depended on your eyes because I could
not see.
Then came the freak accident and you suffered
the most strife,
I was in a hospital for a week but you gave up
your life.
Now your shadow walks beside me,
Forever by my side.
Still there to guide me.
Even though you’ve died.
When you were here upon this earth,
Your body was permanently next to me.
Now your body’s gone but I feel your spirit,
Although still I cannot see.
The day you left me on this earth.
Is a day I can’t forget
Although my life, and time go on,
My heart is breaking yet.
The pain I try to live with,
The tears I never show.
The loneliness without you here,
No one will ever know.
When I walk through a deadly storm,
I’ll hold my head up high.
Although without you there, I’m afraid to go
on.
But I promise that I won’t cry.
And I won’t be afraid of the eternal darkness,
For at the end of the storm is a golden sky.
The best dog trained, for all to see,
You’ll stay in my heart for eternity.
Other dogs will come and go,
But you and I both know,
That you are one they can’t replace.
Was the sunshine on my face,
Warmer when you were in this place?
Was my world less scary and dark,
When you were here to protect me with your bark.
Your loving heart so full and true,
I knew every inch of you.
Your bark, the sound of your feet upon the floor,
When you wagged your tail, never asking for more
Than all the love that filled me inside,
You were my life, my friend, my hopes, my guide.
By Moya
Muldowney, 15
Between the 28th and 30th July 2001
I peered into the yard through the glass,
There appeared to be the same old dogs in the
same old place.
But then I heard a familiar snuffling at the
door,
And looked down to see your smiling face.
Your coat was matted beyond repair,
But we could get it perfect with a bit of loving
care.
Your eyes were solemn, a little bit scared,
But remember little dog that it's because of
the way you were reared.
Your little curly tail wagged with pleasure and
with glee.
You thought that I had come to adopt you and
take you home with me.
That very same tail drooped right down to the
ground,
When you saw me step away and turn around.
You jumped up against the door,
Your claws scrabbling, desperately trying to
get out.
I heard you sniffing in that Bichon way,
When I looked under the door, I could see your
little snout.
Oh little dog, you'll never know how hard it
was for me to walk away.
Oh little dog, you'll never know how much I wanted
to take you home that day.
I don't think we'll be able to buy you and bring
you home for good.
Because we have so many pets, although we really
should.
You haven't got a master now, to that I must
agree.
But I'll do everything I can to take you home
with me.
Or maybe we could foster you and find the perfect
home.
A home where you'll be loved forever and where
you'll never be alone.
I'll do my best, you know I will,
I only hope that my best will do.
I'll never forgive myself if they put a needle
into your skin,
And uncaringly take your life from you.
Little Bichon Frise, what are you doing now?
Are you lying in the cold stiff yard trying desperately
to keep warm?
Are you glad to be off the streets?
In a place where you'll come to no harm?
Unless of course they take your life from you,
That's the worst that anyone could do.
I swear to you on my very own grave,
They won’t kill you or turn you into a slave.
I only saw you once, was only talking to you
for ten minutes.
But something passed between us, something I
won't forget.
I'll always remember your smiling face, your
eagerness to get out.
And I know that you'll make someone the very
best pet.
By Moya
Muldowney
17 April 2001
For the little Bichon Frise that I saw in the
Cork Dogs' Home today,