What is time to a dog....?

[Travelnik]

I hope this is a comfort to you Craig:

Pope John Paul II:
'Animals Possess A Soul'

Pope John Paul II declared in a public audience
in 1990 that "also the animals possess a soul and
men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren".
He said, too, that they are the "fruit of the creative
action of the Holy Spirit and merit respect," and are
as near to God as men are."

The Pope went on to say that, "animals have the breath
of life and were given it by God. In this respect, man
created by the hand of God is identical with all living
creatures. ... The existence therefore of all living creatures
depends on the living spirit/breath of God that not only
creates but also sustains and renews the face of the earth."

[s/v Faith]

That is beautiful, as is your desire to share it with me.

Thank you.

[SalientAngle]

"...the animals possess a soul and
men must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren..."
so true, and peter dog is truly blessed to have known men that understand the soul of a true friend... rip

[Jim_ME]

Craig, I appreciate what you mean about how great a companion a dog can be. Mine is laying now at my feet. Hyperactive even for a Springer, and with a few other personality quirks, Jackson had a rough start with 6 different owners in his first 18 months. My older sister got him from a Springer Rescue group. when her life situation changed dramatically, I was asked to care for him for a month... March of 2002.  

What a surprise it was to discover how much he always loves to go for a ride, a walk, a swim, an outing, a sail. I can't help but feel sorry for those who have not experienced how much joy such a loyal companion can bring to one's life.

The other evening I was thinking about how he seems to finally realize that he is now a keeper. I also am aware that although he looks and seems like a puppy, that he is just about 13 yeas old now, and felt a pang of dread to think about how cruelly short the lifespan of a dog is.

When I saw that you took Peter along on your cruise--even over to the Bahamas--it seemed like a remarkable commitment to include him in your cruising life. After reading your posts for awhile though, it just seemed as natural as could be.

How sad that Peter left [was taken from you] so soon. I hope that the wonderful and adventurous life you provided for him will be a real consolation to you.

As I write this a quote comes to mind...

"Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length."

- Robert Frost

[Capt. Tony]

Craig and Rose,
I was heart-wrenched and saddened this morning when I read about Peter Dog's passing.  It is the bitter reality tied to the pleasure of knowing one of God's greatest creations.  Without ever having met Peter Dog, he was known as "the luckiest dog in the world" as I told others of the cruise you, Rose and Peter Dog took.  And yes, he was always mentioned in those stories as part of the crew onboard Faith.  The slide show you linked brought back memories of reading your posts over and over.  One of the photos of him on a beach in the Bahamas was the wall paper on a monitor at work.  As the operator of a small pet store then I always thought how great is was that Peter Dog was an integral part of that experience as you told the story. To me, that spoke volumes of the character and heart of you and Rose.  As always, the best to you. 
Tony G.

[CapnK]

Craig -

To my regret, I just saw this last week.

I know how much Peterdog meant to y'all, and was surprised to see that he had gone to dog heaven and I didn't know it until now, despite that we've talked several times since then... Sorry about that, you know that he was a friend of mine, too. Belated condolences to you and Rose, and those words don't come close to encompassing what I mean...

This weekend, Crewdog Molly went off to play with Peter. Good for her and him :) , sucks for us, eh? :(

Well, maybe not so much for Crewdog Buffett, as now the entire contents of the foodbag is his alone, he now gets 100% of the attention available from "the foodguy", and he'll get to do some more 'adventuring' of sorts with the foodguy, since sometimes 2 dogs were too much for an occasion...

Molly went peacefully, after a long life loved and full of shared experiences on water and off. Almost 12 years since she adopted me and deigned to align her life with that of a modern day vagabond... She'll be missed, but whatever my crazy philosophy of life and death and is there life Afterwards or reincarnation or just a Return or whatever... she is where Whatever Comes Next, which I can't help but believe is progress of some sort.

Peter and Molly, now telling each other stories about their foodpeople, somewhere on a distant shore... :)

Friday evening, Crewdog Buffett, and I will be out on the Bay, with a bottle of fine rum at sunset for our own small ceremony, to send Peter and Molly a sincere wish for Fair Winds wherever it is that they are...

Peace. :)

[Tim]

Sorry to hear. :(  I am sure Buffet will be looking over his shoulder at feeding time for awhile, I know you will.

[Captain Smollett]

Condolences, Kurt and Buffet. 

[s/v Faith]

I am very sorry Kurt.

Your crew dogs drew a good ticket when they were shanghai'ed signed aboard with you. 

I wish I could tell you that it was getting easier, but for me I miss Peter very much.  Maybe non-dog folks will shake their heads when I say it, but I suspect that among this crowd this will make more sense then to the general population.  I am something of an oddball, and my dog really did not seem to care much.  Few in the universe are as accepting, and there is just a special bond that may have to do with the fact that no one else would put up with what they do.   I am glad Molly is in better place, and I am sure you and Buffett
Will be fine, as will I.

Truth is, I miss Peter every day.

[Oldrig]

Kurt and Buffett,

Sorry to hear of your loss, but Molly went peacefully and had a great seafarin' life.

Years ago, after my father's border collie, MacGregor, passed on, my little border collie, Peggy, never recovered. She became an old lady overnight and never stopped looking for Mac in his favorite corners. Now, they're back together again.

--Joe

[Jim_ME]

I wrote last summer in response to Craig losing Peter that it made me "aware that although my [springer, Jackson] looks and seems like a puppy, that he is just about 13 years old now, and felt a pang of dread to think about how cruelly short the lifespan of a dog is."

One tries to empathize sincerely and grasp what is at stake as best one can, but that is not the same as knowing...

As I did in September.

I had owned other dogs in my life, and been around many others, but he was a seadog who loved to go out on the boat.

It has been a time in my life where most old friends have drifted away, my long-term relationship had run its course and we'd parted ways. My life and work had been such that I could bring him with me much of the time, out to the field. Every outing was an enthusiastic adventure for him--especially the boat.

It reminds me that the expression "man's best friend" came into being for a reason.

[Jim_ME]

Friday evening, Crewdog Buffett, and I will be out on the Bay, with a bottle of fine rum at sunset for our own small ceremony, to send Peter and Molly a sincere wish for Fair Winds wherever it is that they are...

Belated grog to that, Kurt!

-Jim

[Jim_ME]

Heard this song on A Prairie Home Companion recently and thought of this thread...

MEMOIRS OF AN OWNED DOG

the food was as I like it... cold, wet & in that wonderful tin can shape
I had it marked in a paw print on the dog door the day that I finally planned my escape

the milkman, he tried
you can bet I wanted to survive but the truck it just came far too fast
So I write on these scraps, my remembrances past, so you don't blame yourself that I've died

they put horses out to pasture
and the birds come home to roost
ain't nothin' for a puppy but the backyard on the loose
now I know my job was to lie idly beside
the way the sun retreats for the moon

i had dreams of walking the world on my own
four on the floor, every night all alone
i was ready to work for the scruff on my neck
yearning to find something of my own to protect

my bark, then, was surely bigger than my bite
chewing the cud could've been my biggest dog fight
and you know how they say we only hear certain things that you say
well, it never mattered much to me but for the will of the way

they put horses out to pasture
and the birds come home to roost
ain't nothin' for a puppy but the backyard on the loose
now I know my job was to lie idly beside
the way the sun retreats for the moon

now I loosen this collar for a dog bone bow tie
to go up and meet the big dog in the sky
i'll tell him when I get there I was spoiled in your place with the hopes that my spirit is honored by your grace

so after you read this memoir one day
or after you hear my lonesome song play
don't you trouble your mind, this old hound's doin' fine
you know, goodbyes are just words like a clock is to time

so sorry I'm not with you
so sorry I can't be
please know I was the best friend this old mutt could be
if you remember that spot where my favorite tree grows i hung up my leash on a branch, now it's yours


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42QNuzV2mXQ