Falcor, our Old English Sheepdog and his best buddy Caliph, our Standard Poodle were put down at the same time.

Falcor was diagnosed with cancer and we treated him with Chemo. He recovered and went into “remission” for a couple of months.

One day Caliph lost the use of his back legs. Caliph went through Steroid IV shots and three days had passed and he still wasn’t any better. I’d toyed with the idea of building him a wheelchair device for his rear legs but Falcor took a turn for the worse with his cancer coming back in full and the doctor recommended putting him down.

I had to carry Caliph to the car and Falcor was able to get in by himself. They loved car rides and walks. We arrived at the Vet and I carried Caliph in while Kim took Falcor. Falcor always looks like he is smiling because of an under bite. When we rescued Falcor, we found he had Parvo and a 50/50 chance of living. He pulled through and we named him after the Luck Dragon in The Never Ending Story. I told the Doctor we wanted them to go together so they prepared a room for the doctor and two assistants. They gave us a few minutes where we told the Boys goodbye. Falcor was breathing very heavily as the mass in his chest was pressing on his heart and lungs. Caliph was subdued, I think he somehow knew and did not resist at all. The assistants got the needle in Falcor the first try but had to try one leg a couple of times and then switch to the other leg for Caliph. At that point, Falcor placed his head on Caliph’s back and looked into my eyes. I tried to look into the eyes of both dogs at the same time. They went very peacefully after the injection. Caliph simply shut his eyes and quit breathing. Falcor flinched slightly and his eyes rolled back in his head and then he quit breathing. We left them with Falcor’s head still resting on Caliph’s back.  

The Boys
By David Straiton

It’s hard to believe they’re gone, The Boys
Those trusting loving eyes believing I’ll take care of them
Closing one last timLeaving a void in my heart I don’t think will ever be filled

 Entering the house I expect a greeting from, The Boys
I swear I hear their voices, but nothing
The door closes in finality
I know the right thing was done

Running under sunny skies on green fields, The Boys
Chasing the ball and each other
Heaven is walks and car rides
And a special treat whenever desired

Watching over us and waiting to be reunited, The Boys

Not wanting us to grieve but rejoice in memory
I feel they are present, they are close
We have but to open our eyes

Constant reminders around abound from, The Boys
No enthusiastic fetching of the paper
No wiggle-waggle compensating for lack of tail
No kisses when feeling down

Caliph my regal one
In Heaven retrieving an ever-thrown ball
Proudly fetching the days newspaper
And sneaking a morsel of food from the trash

Falcor my smiling luck dragon
Chasing Caliph everywhere he goes
He greets with his wiggle butt
Carrying his teddy-bear baby

My boys, My boys
I know you are happy
But I miss you both

 

A poem by Mary Frye. 1937

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.

 

David and Kim