Been there. Wrote this one about it..
My Best Friend
Our Nina was a Guide Dog, but she didn’t make the grade,
Too friendly and distracted by those passing pals she made.
So they placed her for adoption and we gladly took her in,
Such a lovely Lab retriever, with so many hearts to win.
The children just adored her, and they used to dress her up,
As a funny-looking bridesmaid, she was such a happy pup.
The centre of attention, in our crazy family pack,
But with all the love we gave her she would always give more back.
I would walk her on the beach and let her run along the sand,
And a swim in that cold sea was her top idea of grand.
When she spotted all that water she would tug hard on the lead,
So excited to be in there it was such a pressing need.
And when we got her home again she loved that drying off
With her special doggie towel you could not be rough enough.
As you rubbed her down she’d wriggle and with pleasure she would whine,
As she snuggled in so closely with that tail on overtime.
She was useless as a guard dog, but we didn’t really mind,
As I’m sure that she was sent here as a friend to all mankind.
The years passed by, the children grew, and Nina aged as well,
But doggie years are sadly short, as passing time will tell.
At fourteen years, old lady now, a human ninety-eight,
Our Nina left us for a while, and passed through Heaven’s gate.
It broke our hearts to lose her, as that dog brought so much love,
But we know that when our own time comes she’s waiting there above.
When she sees us there I know for sure she’ll bark and change my fate,
And distract that old Saint Peter, checking tickets at the Gate.
When he turns around to pet her I’ll sneak in to paradise,
I’m no angel, as you all will know, with just a touch of vice.
But our Nina with her heart of gold might save me at the end,
My faithful boon companion, that’s our Nina, my best friend...