Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Dr Rick · 07-03-2003, 07:06 PM

He's been dead for a few weeks (I put him down rather than let him die a cancer death), but I'm still silently grieving as if he only died yesterday.

Adequate words to announce his demise have completely escaped me, but someone else wrote what I couldn't say. Here's his obituary from the hospital newsletter (Forrest was a hospital service dog)

Quote:

In memory

"Not the least hard thing we to bear when they go away from us, these quiet friends, is that they carry with them so many years of our lives"...John Galsworthy.

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Forrest, pictured here with owner Dr. Rick Bochner. Forrest was one of our very first certified Pet Partners. On his visits at Valley View, he left a lasting impression on the patients he saw who talked fondly to those of us that visited later about "that really big white dog".

That really big white dog (a Great Pyrenees) was a sweet, gentle, loveable "bear" and endeared himself to all of us at Heeling Partners.

We share the heartache of his loss with Rick. Thanks Forrest for being such an important part of our first year. We know you are running free of pain on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

Forrest got his name from a famous, slightly modified movie line: "I'm not a smart dog, but I know what love is," and indeed he wasn't, and he did. He ranked me; his genuine tolerance and gentle ways will always be an inspiration.

In a way, I'm the luckiest man there ever was; I got to know and love Forrest. What a great and noble creature he was.

christ-on-a-stick · 07-03-2003, 07:25 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss, Rick.

A few of my favorite "dog quotes" for you...

Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace. - Milan Kundera

One of the animals which a generous and sociable man would soonest become is a dog. A dog can have a friend; he has affections and character; he can enjoy equally the field and the fireside; he dreams, he caresses. He offends, and is pardoned; he stands by you in adversity. He is a good fellow. - Leigh Hunt

Forrest was a truly magnificent good fellow.

Overgrowngoblin · 07-03-2003, 08:58 PM

I�m sorry for your loss Dr. Rick. Losing a loved one is never easy. It was wonderful to hear that Forest could bring so much love into other people lives trough Pet Partners. It is also wonderful to hear how much you loved him. Truly he was a lucky dog to have someone like you in his life.

Abacus · 07-03-2003, 09:01 PM

Gosh. He looks like he was so huggable. I'm sorry to hear that he is gone.

Dr Rick · 07-04-2003, 05:37 AM

Forrest and Claudette

Claudette loved Forrest, or at least she loved perching herself on him.
We got Claudette from the shelter when she was just a kitten, and the first time she met Forrest was one of the funniest sights.

She hissed and swipped at this huge dog that literally could have swallowed her whole, as he just gently sniffed her. Over time, he became her best friend and protecter.

lunachick · 07-04-2003, 05:46 AM

Oh, Rick.

I remember you talking of his illness a few months back. I'm so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful, magnificent dog he was.

Great sorrows cannot speak. John Donne.

RIP Forrest.

Farren · 07-04-2003, 05:58 AM

Dr Rick,

I remember when you first posted the pic of Forrest and Claudette it melted my heart. I'm a sucker for big, gentle dogs.

Creatures like Forrest demonstrate that animals are not simply instinctive machines that some humans in arrogance assume they are. Each and every one has its own unique personality.

Like human's, its a rare dog that has such generosity of spirit that even other animals recognise and are drawn to it. I have a big black labrador here who has a similar character, and endures cats and other dogs pestering him day and night because he is a such source of comfort and positive energy.

Over and above the simple fact of his being your close and loving companion of many years, it sounds like Forrest was an exceptional individual.

I sympathise with you immensely.

freemonkey · 07-04-2003, 07:35 AM

Rick, I'm so sorry to hear this news.

cheetah · 07-04-2003, 08:47 AM

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dr. Rick. Forrest looks like the sweetest guy ever and your story has me in tears, knowing the pain of a suffering friend. But, what a wonderful life he led.

How old was Forrest?

07-04-2003, 09:06 AM

Very sorry to learn of your loss, Dr Rick. Forrest was magnificent.

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07-03-2003, 07:25 PM	#2
christ-on-a-stick Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Durango, Colorado Posts: 7,116	I'm so sorry for your loss, Rick. A few of my favorite "dog quotes" for you... Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring - it was peace. - Milan Kundera One of the animals which a generous and sociable man would soonest become is a dog. A dog can have a friend; he has affections and character; he can enjoy equally the field and the fireside; he dreams, he caresses. He offends, and is pardoned; he stands by you in adversity. He is a good fellow. - Leigh Hunt Forrest was a truly magnificent good fellow.

07-03-2003, 08:58 PM	#3
Overgrowngoblin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Shooting dice in a crater on the Moon Posts: 501	I�m sorry for your loss Dr. Rick. Losing a loved one is never easy. It was wonderful to hear that Forest could bring so much love into other people lives trough Pet Partners. It is also wonderful to hear how much you loved him. Truly he was a lucky dog to have someone like you in his life.

07-03-2003, 09:01 PM	#4
Abacus Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: South Dakota Posts: 2,214	Gosh. He looks like he was so huggable. I'm sorry to hear that he is gone.

07-04-2003, 05:37 AM	#5
Dr Rick Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: USA Posts: 5,393	Forrest and Claudette Claudette loved Forrest, or at least she loved perching herself on him. We got Claudette from the shelter when she was just a kitten, and the first time she met Forrest was one of the funniest sights. She hissed and swipped at this huge dog that literally could have swallowed her whole, as he just gently sniffed her. Over time, he became her best friend and protecter.

07-04-2003, 05:46 AM	#6
lunachick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NZ Posts: 7,895	Oh, Rick. I remember you talking of his illness a few months back. I'm so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful, magnificent dog he was. Great sorrows cannot speak. John Donne. RIP Forrest.

07-04-2003, 05:58 AM	#7
Farren Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: South Africa Posts: 2,194	Dr Rick, I remember when you first posted the pic of Forrest and Claudette it melted my heart. I'm a sucker for big, gentle dogs. Creatures like Forrest demonstrate that animals are not simply instinctive machines that some humans in arrogance assume they are. Each and every one has its own unique personality. Like human's, its a rare dog that has such generosity of spirit that even other animals recognise and are drawn to it. I have a big black labrador here who has a similar character, and endures cats and other dogs pestering him day and night because he is a such source of comfort and positive energy. Over and above the simple fact of his being your close and loving companion of many years, it sounds like Forrest was an exceptional individual. I sympathise with you immensely.

07-04-2003, 07:35 AM	#8
freemonkey Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: hell if I know Posts: 2,306	Rick, I'm so sorry to hear this news.

07-04-2003, 08:47 AM	#9
cheetah Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,118	I'm so sorry for your loss, Dr. Rick. Forrest looks like the sweetest guy ever and your story has me in tears, knowing the pain of a suffering friend. But, what a wonderful life he led. How old was Forrest?

07-04-2003, 09:06 AM	#10
DMB Guest Posts: n/a	Very sorry to learn of your loss, Dr Rick. Forrest was magnificent.

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