padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

Here's the surprising answer of a 6 year old child.

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker‘s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s t***sition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that dogs' lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ”I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live.

He said, ”People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The six-year-old continued,

”Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay for as long as we do.”

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

• When your loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
• Take naps.
• Stretch before rising.
• Run, romp, and play daily.
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
• On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
• When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
• Be faithful.
• Never pretend to be something you’re not.
• If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

That's the secret of happiness that we can learn from a good dog.

bahmer

Amen and Amen good one padremike thanks for posting that.

padremike Loc: Phenix City, Al

Bahmer, Jeanette and I grieve every day over not having a dog in our life. I can't remember a time, after the first year we were married, that we didn't have a dog. My brother once said that if reincarnation were true he wanted to return as my dog. Shortly after Hurricane Michael took our home, our Zoe passed away. Then, I was hospitalized the end of May and am still recovering. We bought a home here in Alabama but the back yard is not completely fenced and neither my wife nor myself are yet up to giving a dog proper exercise and I absolutely refuse to let them run loose. I have made myself a temporary consolation; Jeanette has a cat. In this age where men can call themself a woman, and vice versa, I'm calling her cat my new dog. I'm having a hard time getting this new dog to bark. But I'm working on it. 😇

bahmer

Good luck on that barking thing.

I see lately that even Radiance3 has reservations regarding this new pope what are your feelings regarding him? I believe that his name is pope Francis.

Hug

Wonderful post!

bggamers Loc: georgia

This is beautiful and a great leason to all of us thanks for posting

Noraa Loc: Kansas

Thanks for bringing tears to my eyes!

bggamers Loc: georgia

You will soon be fit and you can get your dog and then have the pleasure of teaching it not to eat the cat. I had a big herding shepard he was present when one of the cats had kittens. The kittens when older would get out of their box and crawl all over him he never tried to hurt them. I managed to get a home for all of them but one and she was just sorta ugly no one wanted her fluffy would go out side this kitten would follow him fluffy loved that cat every once in a while she would be on the couch with him and he would suddenly take his paw and trap her and give her the washing of her life she never struggled but allowed him to give her a bath. When he was done he'd let her up and she looked sad all wet. She would curl up next to him and try to correct what he screwed up. He watched as she had all her kittens like a worried mother. When he died at 18 yrs she was five she really missed him.

woodguru

Great post...

There's dog cats and cat cats, cat cats have cat attitudes, dog cats are the big friendly ones that tolerate anything and come when you call them...we have a cat cat, a semi cat cat, and a dog cat. We also have an Airedale that thinks he's a cat, he plays like one, and a big half shorthair half labrador that looks like a long legged german shorthair, he's a mellow loveable big guy. The dogs are the best things my wife and I have ever brought into our lives.

I'm still thankful almost every day that the airedale didn't die when our tenant poisoned him with THC, the dog stopped breathing on the way to an emergency veterinarian. All I can say is that our tenant came as close to dying that day as a person can get without doing it. When he tried it a second time we caught it earlier and he got through it better. I had the sheriff's department involved and told them they needed to do something or I would, it wasn't in my nature to not prevent this from happening again.

Anyway I empathize with your need for a dog, and agree with your sensibilities as far as keeping them on your property, we went 20 years without dogs until we had a suitably fenced property.

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

This brought me to tears...

Amen and amen Padre...

At times it all seems so simple...

God bless...

Canuckus Deploracus Loc: North of the wall

Chuckles...

Never been a cat lover...

There's an old joke about how to make a cat go "woof"... But I don't want the cat lovers on the OPP to lynch me

Tug484

Thank you.

Rose42

Nice.

Noraa Loc: Kansas

What finally happened with the tenant?