In Memory of
Brandon
March 1, 1985 - April 27, 2000
Page created: 04/28/2000
Brandon, the "big hearted dog".
04/27/2000 by
Disney
We just celebrated
Brandon's 15th birthday on March 1st. I was hoping to see him in person in
the next ESRA fundraising garage sale which will be hosted in Brandon's home
in June. But he has to go to the rainbow bridge yesterday, he was too tired
to wait till then. Brandon was adopted on Mother's Day when he was 7. He
spent the last 8 wonderful years with his dad Don and mom Renee. He was very
loved by them and I am sure he will still be loved and taken care of by those
friends in doggie's heaven. I imagine he'll be very happy over the rainbow
bridge, so I created the above photo for him. I'll miss you, Brandon.
Love,
Disney
*for Brandon's story, see Brandon's
page.
Last Will & Testament of an Extremely Loved Dog
-Brandon Holmes
(This is the announcement sent by Brandon's mom Renee.)
Dear Friends and Family:
Tonight, in the comfort of his home, on his tried and true comforter, our
dear friend Brandon was put to sleep by our very kind vet, Dr. Zellas. It
was very peaceful for Brandon. He just went to sleep. He did manage to give
us one last wag of his tail.
Brandon was our best friend. We will miss him terribly. He lived a long life
with us and filled our lives with much joy. I hope your memories of him are
joyful too. He impacted our lives more than words can say--he did make me
(Renee) a much better person. I will always be grateful to him.
My friend Karen Williams of
English Springer
Rescue America sent me this testament. It is a very befitting tribute
to our boy. He was suffering so much lately it is comforting to know he is
in peace now. It really hurts though and Don and I are both very sad. We
appreciate knowing you care.
Brandon was well loved by many.
Love,
Don & Renee
I, Brandon Holmes, because the burden of my years and infirmities
is heavy upon me, and I realize the end of my life is near, do hereby bury
my last will and testament in the mind of my Master. He will not know it
is there until after I am dead. Then, remembering me in his loneliness, he
will suddenly know of this testament, and I ask him to inscribe it as a memorial
to me.
I have little in the way of material things to leave. Dogs are wiser than
men. They do not set great store upon things. They do not waste their days
hoarding property. They do not ruin their sleep worrying about how to keep
the objects they have, and to obtain objects they have not. There is nothing
of value I have to bequeath except my love and my loyalty. These I leave
to all those who have loved me, especially to my Master and Mistress, who
I know will mourn me the most.
I ask my Master and my Mistress to remember me always, but not to grieve
for me too long. In my life, I have tried to be a comfort to them in time
of sorrow, and a reason for added joy in their happiness. It is painful for
me to think that even in death I should cause them pain. Let them remember
that while no dog has ever had a happier life (and this I owe to their love
and care for me), now that I have grown blind and deaf and lame, and even
my sense of smell fails me so that a rabbit could be right under my nose
and I might not know, my pride has sunk to a sick, bewildered humiliation.
I feel life is taunting me with having overlingered my welcome. It is time
I said good-bye, before I become too sick a burden on myself and on those
who love me.
It will be a sorrow to leave them, but not a sorrow to die. Dogs do not fear
death as men do. We accept it as part of life, not as something alien and
terrible which destroys life. What may come after death, who knows?
I would like to believe that there is a Paradise. Where one is always young
and full-bladdered. Where all the day one dillies and dallies. Where each
blissful hour is mealtime. Where in the long evenings there are a million
fireplaces with logs forever burning, and one curls oneself up and blinks
into the flames and nods and dreams, remembering the old brave days on earth
and the love of one's Master and Mistress.
I am afraid that this is too much for even such a dog as I am to expect.
But peace, at least, is certain. Peace and a long rest for my weary old heart
and head and limbs, and eternal sleep in the earth I have loved so well.
Perhaps, after all, this is best.
One last request, I earnestly make. I have heard my Mistress say, "When Brandon
dies we must never have another dog. I love him so much I could never love
another one". Now I would ask her, for love of me, to have another. It would
be a poor tribute to my memory never to have a dog again.What I would like
to feel is that, having once had me in the family, she cannot live without
a dog!
I have never had a narrow, jealous spirit. I have always held that most dogs
are good. My successor can hardly be as well loved or as well mannered or
as distinguished and handsome as I was in my prime. My Master and Mistress
must not ask the impossible. But he will do his best, I am sure, and even
his inevitable defects will help by comparison to keep my memory green.
To him I bequeath my collar and leash and my overcoat and raincoat He can
never wear them with the distinction I did, all eyes fixed on me in admiration;
but again I am sure he will do his utmost not to appear a mere gauche provincial
dog.
I hereby wish him the happiness I know will be his in my old home.
One last word of farewell, dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my
grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts
at the remembrance of my long, happy life with you:
"Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved". No matter how deep my sleep
I shall hear you and not all the power of death can keep my spirit fromwagging
a grateful tail.
I will always love you as only a dog can."
by Eugene O'Neill
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The original version of this tribute was written by Eugene O'Neill for his
wife Carlotta, a few days before their Dalmatian passed away from old age
in December, 1940. Please give credit to the author if you should pass this
moving piece onto others in the future.
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