Tribute to Peter Hill
The CP Team was moved and saddened last month by the passing of three beloved clients in a very short space of time - Peter Hill, Yvonne Clark and Maureen Williams. They were all Cherished Pet Foundation recipients who had very special, loving bonds with their cherished pets. We are happy that we could support each and every one of their relationships and enable them to have a loving companion by their side.
Peter Hill
Peter was one of the original Cherished Pet Foundation recipients. He was a retired minister, LOVED a chat and a talk about the olden days, was an avid writer and poet, and highly entertaining. His love of dogs shone through right from when we first met Peter with his beloved cherished pet Emmy Lou. About a month after we met, Emmy Lou died suddenly one afternoon on Peter’s lap. It was a distressing event to say the least. Peter was absolutely distraught. We provided him with bereavement support, rallied around him, and even organized a small funeral service for the committal of Emmy Lou’s ashes. This service was attended by 20 people and 13 dogs, many of them members of the young Cherished Pets community. (this was back in 2015).
Peter was totally lost without his canine companion and wanted another dog straight away. We supported him in this process and advocated for him, finding him Emmy Tou, a cheeky Chihuahua, within two weeks of Emmy Lou’s passing. Peter and Emmy Tou bonded immediately and became inseparable.
As a recipient of our community service, Peter had a volunteer carer, Julie, who visited him twice a week; our community vet nurse visited them monthly to bath Emmy and ensure worming/flea control is up to date.
Earlier this year, Peter’s health declined. He was admitted to hospital, then rehab, and then a nursing home. Emmy Tou moved in with Julie and her crew, and together they paid regular visits to Peter in care right up until he passed away last month.
The CP Team sends condolences to Peter’s friends and family, and extend heartfelt gratitude to Julie for providing Emmy Tou with her forever loving home, and for supporting Peter the way you did.
Peter was an avid writer and poet and he wrote this lovely poem about his beloved Emmy Tou which we would like to share with you:
Hello! Hello! By Peter Hill
Hello, hello, so pleased to meet
My name is EmmyTou
My brand new dad is Peter H
Who sadly lost dear EmmyLou.
So now I’m his companion
And happy as you see
Even though my family’s Mexican
And dad a Pommie be.
My family came from Mexico
Which explains the funny name
Chihuahua’s very difficult to spell
For the dad to whom I came.
But even though I’m very small
Much smaller, much than he
We love with no conditions
And are happy as can be.
You see, we’re both God’s creatures
Who live on Planet Earth
And share with all creation
The wonders of our birth.
We share with all creation
The lives we’ve all received
Irrespective of our birthplace,
Of our colour or our creed.
So dad and me oft say a prayer
That the world could as happy be
As happy as my dad, a Pom,
And a Mexican like me.
We don’t agree on everything
Like the Telly, art, or books
But love we share and forgiveness
And for the world that would be a start!.