Large Fierce Mammal

I’ve written a lot about the strength of character it takes to be worthy of being a Leader of animals. Most particularly Dogs, because Mrs. LFM and I … well, that’s how we roll.

Regardless of species though, if you’ve ever had an animal in your life that gave you a trust you were worthy of, you either have, or will, come to the inevitable point of being strong for them on the day they must return to Nature. These days, most can turn to a veterinarian to administer a lethal injection, but it must never be forgotten that the one who dealt the death is not compartmentalized to the one who pressed the plunger on the syringe. Killing a loved one is a terrible thing to do, and anyone who’s done it when the need is recognized will know that the decision was agonized over long before the day came. That having been said, the responsibility of Leadership is not diluted by delegation. If you are worthy of the role then you will accept the soul searing truth of this, and we’ll drink and cry with you any day as you work though it.

A couple quotes for you from LFM lore –

Any Leader of Dogs worthy of the title understands and accepts the responsibilities that come with fully embracing the beautiful thing that is a relationship with a Dog, and knows going in that the relationship comes with an expiry date – one that, with all likelihood, will lead to their being dragged kicking and screaming into being the one who must decide when to end the life of somebody they only want to love and protect forever. ~ Alf vom Garreler Esch – 19 April 2000 to 17 January 2011

… and …

As I’ve gone through the grieving process myself, and watched others do the same, it has become clear to me that, in the end, the power and joy of a life well lived is not diminished by the final footnote that it came to an end. That grief is a path leading to a place where, without trivializing our loss or assuming a pretense that the one departed isn’t missed, we can once again think and speak of them fondly and often, without spontaneously melting into a weeping puddle of goo. That their lives will have meaning as long as those of us who remember still draw breath. ~ Die My Dear? Why That’s the Last Thing I’ll Do

Dark bastard that I am, I encapsulated all this in a poem where one is called upon to do the right thing without anything more than strength of character, moral fortitude, and worthiness of trust. More than a few tears were shed, I can assure you. Today I present …

My Love

By LFM

I took my Love out to the woods
In autumn’s fair display.
Our spirits soared the while we walked.
It was a perfect day.

Many years had passed between
Us two, my Love and me.
There never was a one like her,
Nor such a two as we.

We came into a quiet grove
Beside a granite stone,
And there we lingered, she and I,
Just both of us, alone.

I stroked her coat and fed her things
Her age had long denied.
Joys I knew would never harm
The health of one who’s died.

No happier a Dog than she
Existed in the land
The moment when I reached behind
And took my gun in hand.

A toy came from my pocket then,
Her eyes lit up with play.
My finger touched the trigger and
I sent my Love away.

My Love, she gave her life to me
And it was hers to give.
Now in my mind and in my heart
My Love will always live.