An Alexandria woman says that penning a poem in memory of her pet dog has helped her as the "first step to healing".

Laura Gee's Saluki dog Luna was put down on February 9 - and the 66-year-old revealed she was shocked at how much heartbreak she felt at the sad loss.

Speaking to the Reporter, Ms Gee said that putting her thoughts and feelings down on paper has helped her recognise the hurt she has been feeling at the death of her beloved pet.

"I was stunned by how much pain I felt at Luna's death," she said.

"Putting something on paper helped clarify how I felt. 

"Like any process, I think acknowledging the hurt is the first step to healing.

"We invest a great deal of ourselves - time, space, habits, company - in and with our pets.

"The loss leaves a chasm of time and space. It means a great deal of change and adjustment in habits - what you buy, where and when you go, for example."

Luna originally lived with Ms Gee's mother and arrived with her as a "nervous" dog.

"She had clearly suffered," Ms Gee added.

"She would turn away if you reached out a hand, and didn't like being left alone.

"But she loved to run."

Beautiful. She was so beautiful:

Hair soft as silk, black as the night

Streaked by the milky way.

Eyes like sun lit amber, inviting you to stay;

A tail like party bunting, wagging as she walked.

 

Yes, she was beautiful - everyone told me so:

“That's a crackin dug, Mrs” said schoolkids as they passed.

“Y've a rare wee beauty there” said the men along the quay.

They'd put down their bottles and reach out for a pat.

“Ah hud a Saluki once, man it could run,

Faster than a whippet once it was on the hunt.”

“Hello there my beauty, will you talk to me?”

An elegant gent knelt, bowed his head to hers.

 

Yes, she was beautiful - inside as well as out.

When my legs began to fail and fold

She didn't have to be told

She'd choose a new route for me

Close to a wall, along a fence, or on a grassy verge

Where she knew I'd be safer if I fell.

 

She was indeed beautiful.

A heart of pure spun gold

That hid a dark past of beatings and worse, I was told.

She was timorous of hands reaching out,

Head turning, braced to take a blow.

She'd snap at sudden movement,

Then regret would shade her eyes

She knew pain, her sorrow was no disguise.

It burns to know she was hurt, with no-one there to care.

 

She was so beautiful, not perfect,

Yet just right for me.

She filled the gap,

That gaping chasm only the unloved know.

Did I ever tell her so?

Now she's gone. I've killed my dearest friend

To save her from more pain

So we're both alone again.

 

I pray she's running free, the wind combing through her hair.

Even more I pray, when I reach my end,

She’ll be there, happy to walk with me again.

Ms Gee told the Reporter she believes people should do more 'pet obituries' and offered some sound advice to anyone who suffers the loss of a much-loved animal.

"Don't dismiss it," she said. "Acknowlege the emptiness. Allow the grief a little time and space.

"Losing a pet can also bring up remembered loss, so give yourself space to breathe through it. 

"That is why I think a little space to post a photo, or a few words of farewell to our pets, like an obituary would help."

The Vale native admits she is thinking of taking in another dog, but at the moment she is taking some time to grieve for Luna.