It was a sad day in the Bennett Family. Carla and Jason had to say goodbye to their dog Shimmer.

Shimmer lived with me for about 6 months when Carla and Jason were building there current house, so I had a tight bond with Shimmer.

Today I had earmarked for a post on College GameDay being in Ames. However, with today’s passing of Shimmer, I felt it was more apropos to share pictures from the Boone Area Humane Society’s Pet Memorial Day Ceremony.

Pet Memorial Day was actually the Sunday of Pufferbilly Days, but because of Pufferbilly Days the ceremony was moved to last Sunday. Kio had me show up to take pictures.

When a pet dies, it is common for somebody to bring up the poem “The Rainbow Bridge”, but most people (probably me included) think it is just too damn depressing. Instead, let me share a depressing poem by Rudyard Kipling:

Four Feet by Rudyard Kipling

I have done mostly what most men do,
And pushed it out of my mind;
But I can’t forget, if I wanted to,
Four-Feet trotting behind.

Day after day, the whole day through —
Wherever my road inclined —
Four-feet said, “I am coming with you!”
And trotted along behind.

Now I must go by some other round, —
Which I shall never find —
Somewhere that does not carry the sound
Of Four-Feet trotting behind

Farewell Shimmer. You will be missed!