Moon Remembers His First Dog

Just about everyone goes through the loss of a pet. It is a very emotionally painful experience regardless of age. Today marks the 54th anniversary of the death of my first pet, a dog named Cheetah. As far as I know she was named for the chimp that appeared in the Tarzan movies. "Just a boy and his dog", wrote Red Foley in the Country Classic, "Old Shep". Unlike the boy in the song, I didn't have to put my own dog down. She wasn't that old, maybe 13, but she ate table scraps and that will shorten a dog's life, though it may make it a happier one. She had been deteriorating the past several days. My mother and I went to church, leaving my older brother Don to watch over her. When we returned, Cheetah was gone. My brother covered her with a blanket and that is what I saw in the back yard where she was taken. We buried her back there next to the front porch. A year or two later my mother had a beauty shop added to the house and it was placed over Cheetah's grave site. I always thought of it as a large marker!

She was a good companion and I loved her dearly. Over the years I have had dogs and cats that moved on to doggie and kitty heaven. It is definitely worth the pain for the time shared with the furry creatures.

And, I mentioned "Old Shep", the sad, sad song about a boy and his dog. If you have 14 hankies close by give one of the versions a listen.