Dogs do not die,

For they do not know how.

They may get very tired and old,

Their bones may hurt,

But they do not die.

If dogs did in fact die,

then they wouldn’t always be ready for walks,

Despite the fact that their aged bones may protest.

No – dogs want to walk, always.

Even if they take but one step and then collapse,

They still want to go for a walk.

This is not because of any dislike for your company.

The opposite, in fact: walking with you and only this,

Is all that a dog knows.

You, the boss, plus the symphony of smells.

Kitty poop, other dogs’ marks, rotten foods, and you.

These are elements that make their world a perfect one,

And perfect world has no room for death.

Dogs, do though, get sleepy.

Very sleepy.

And that is the thing.

This is not taught at fancy universities where quarks,

economic theories, and chemical reactions are taught –

These people have forgotten the fact.

When you are under the impression that your dog is dead,

It is actually just asleep within your heart.

Your hurt and cry,

Because the dog’s tail is wagging in your chest.

And dog’s tails wag only when dogs are awake.

When they awake they say:

“Thank you boss, for the nice warm spot to sleep, for being right alongside your heart.

It’s my favourite place to be.”

The first time when they fall asleep, they awake often, and therefore you cry often,

Their tail slapping your chest from the inside.

After some time though, they sleep longer and more.

‘Some time’ is different for dogs than for humans, though.

One human hour of walk is an entire day of adventure for a dog.

So, dogs do not die, they just fall asleep,

Enter our hearts, sometimes awake, and their tails wag.

They are also good dogs, and this is tiring.

They go out to pee in the rain even when they do not want to.

But they do it, because they are good dogs.

It makes them tired being a good dog, and so they sleep for along time.

Longer and then longer, and wake up less and less.

But dogs do not, you see, ever die.

They sleep longer and wake up unexpected times, wagging their tails.

That is just how dogs are.

​

Written by: Mr E. Montague - depicting pet grief