This poem really resonated with me, not least because I have lost my beloved boxer recently and the last couple of months have been pretty bad, on and off. People just don't know how tough it can be, do they?
I have to say, my dog was 10 and it happened pretty quickly, which made me think whether or not it would have been better to prepare: one minute she was well, and the next, collapsed at the top of the stairs.
The other reason this poem struck me was for your subtle use of rhyme which I don't see often from you and you do it fluently. However, I won't dwell on the technicalities of this write as that would be an insult in regards to the sad and moving content.