To anyone who has ever lost their best friend, their canine confidante, their fur coated soul mate or their fur baby. I dedicate this poem to you, written from the heart in the hopes that it may help you to cry, to grieve, to understand that it is entirely reasonable to mourn the loss & love your pets. There is some one else out there who feels the same, who felt the need to cry alone in the dark, and this is my gift in grieving to you.....

To Chief, 80kgs of love & loss, you meant the world to us. Our lives were all far richer for having you in them. All our love, Danni, Brooke & the paw brigade (Keiana, Kavik & Koda).

An Ode To My Canine Soul Mate.

The hardest choice a soul must make,
The one we must not regret,
Is the choice we make to save the pain,
Of our much loved pet.

They say that broken hearts will mend some day,
We should give it some time,
But no-one really understands,
They all think we'll do just fine.

But the pain I feel is so intense,
I still wish you were here.
Six months have passed and still I cry,
I'd give it all to have you near.

To have you here beside me,
To once more feel your fur,
To see you looking happy,
Once more to hold your paw.

Sometimes I feel you breathe on me,
I still think I'm in denial.
And though your bed it isn't empty,
It's still going to take a while.

A while to not feel so empty,
For me not to feel alone,
Though I know I'm not the only one,
To feel a pets loss to the bone.

To me though you were more than that,
For you were my true best friend,
Your loss still has me gutted,
For you loved me right unto the end.

I swear you spoke to Kav that day,
He seems to have your smile.
And Koda seems to understand,
For they come now when I cry.

Keiana howled for three days straight,
I feared I lose her too,
We took comfort in each other,
And so far we have pulled through.

I know that most people think I'm barmy,
They just don't understand,
Snap out of it, come now just move on they say,
As if they could ever know!

Know that when you find your soul mate,
It isn't always as you'd plan,
Sometimes they just aren't human,
And some gals just don't need a man!

A dog is man best friend they say,
But we women know it best,
We know that our dogs are savvy,
They love us unconditionally best!

We never doubt their loyalty,
For we know they love us best,
We know exactly where we stand,
For our love they just don't test.

A dog can know your heart so well,
And he doesn't even have to try,
And Chief you knew me better,
So much better than any guy!

I will never fear the storms again,
That were your greatest fear,
I still expect to hear you whimpering,
When those summer storms loom near.

I will never hear your thunderous paws,
Tearing hell-fast down the hall,
Nor will I ever touch your thick black coat,
Or hear your deep bark again.

My life will never be the same,
I want you back, I know its wrong,
But I wish you'd never left me Chief,
I wish you'd never gone.

My Chief he was my man you see,
I'm sure he had me from the start,
And no living man could ever mend,
The gaping hole within my heart.

My heart was yours my buddy boy,
I shall never call it back.
Your friendship meant the world to me,
And without you my world is black.

This hole is now my lesson,
One I always had to learn,
That love is better lost you see,
Than never felt at all.

Written by Danielle Atkin.
For Chief, August 4th, 1999 -- May 27, 2008.