When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!);
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone–wherever it goes–for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart for the dog to tear…
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long–
So why in Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
The power of the Dog ~ Kipling
Grief for my daughter's big, warm-hearted dog - ever welcoming, ever watchful, ever playful. Missing Mishka now and forever.
PoetryPix 
I’m very very sorry for Mishka…
our hearts are always theirs to tear…
the utter joy she gave is equalled to the sadness felt
p.s. how is Hera?
Oh, I can’t tell you how much I understand that…
Hera is trying her best to brighten our days. She’s succeeding.
I’m sorry, Laura. Your poem is very heartfelt.
-David
thank you, David – was pleased to find the Kipling poem so fitting
Today my hiking companion shared her water with a passing hot elderly black labrador. And later, I shared mine with her.
kindness all round!