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"The Loss of a Heart-Dog" by Colleen Fitzsimmons

Note: This essay was written by Libby Lambert, a student at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, in 2025.

        The loss of a pet is staggering and leaves many with an ache in their heart that will last for a lifetime. I lost my childhood dog in 2024, and grief still affects me to this day. One tool that I didn’t anticipate would help with my sorrow was poetry. In fact, poetry is a form of expressive arts therapy which allows writers/readers to explore complex feelings and validate emotional events. Healthcare professionals use this form to understand someone’s struggles and how to properly treat them. "The Loss of a Heart-Dog" by Colleen Fitzsimmons is a beautiful poem depicting pet loss and offers healing to her readers through the idea that our lost pets are always watching over us, that they are no longer in pain, and that we will meet our lost pets once more. The poem can be found here.

        An interesting choice that Fitzsimmons chose was to make the speaker of this poem the deceased dog. Everything is from its perspective, and it follows its owner after its passing. For example, “I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea” (Fitzsimmons, 5). It’s one thing to offer comfort from one human to another, but to essentially give the owner access to his/her perished dog’s thoughts is unique and moving. The author highlights the fact that our lost pets are always watching over us, which can offer healing to the audience. Humans are not omniscient so having this perspective of the afterlife gives readers a promising possibility to reflect on. Even though deceased pets are separated from us, the point of view of the poem asserts that this strong bond cannot be broken even in death.

Fitzsimmons also uses comforting dialogue to reassure readers that their pets are safe and free of pain. The dog speaks to his/her owner, but is not heard, so it can be comforting to know that our pets could still be next to us, merely unable to communicate. The poem states, “I whined to you so softly as you brushed away a tear, / ‘It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.’” (Fitzsimmons, 3-4). My dog had to be euthanized, and so I worry if she was in any pain. Hearing that this dog is sound and healthy in the afterlife relieves me. Again, Fitzsimmons offers healing that departed dogs never break the loyalty that they had in their Earthly lives and they never leave our sides.

The final way this poem could be therapeutic to those who have lost a pet is that it uses imagery to emphasize that we will be with our beloved pets soon. The first portion of the poem is somewhat troubling because the pet is watching its owner suffer and cannot do anything about it. Towards the second half, it becomes optimistic. The dog reassures its owner that even though he/she may visit the dog’s grave, it is not trapped there and remains close to him/her. Then, it asserts that one day, the owner will cross the “brief divide,” and they will stand side by side again (Fitzsimmons, 21). “Be patient, live your journey out-then come home to be with me” is the closing statement and is therapeutic to hear (Fitzimmons, 24). Knowing that this grief we are sitting in is fleeting consoles me. Readers are given hope through the latter half of this poem, and this idea that we will meet again will stick with me forever. 

“The Loss of a Heart-Dog” by Colleen Fitzsimmons provides a light in the long, dark tunnel that is grief over a deceased pet. This phenomenon is general and relatable to many, so it can reach people around the world. The alternate perspective gives readers a comforting notion, and the dialogue and imagery drive home the idea that our pets are safe, and we will see them again. Poetry is a strong, yet underrated form of therapy. More awareness should be brought to it to allow healing like this poem gave to me.


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