For all the Dog Lovers

[Fullmoon]

Legends on Boot Hill, The JourneyAuthor Unknown When you bring a pet into

> your life, you begin a journey. A journey that will bring you more love

> and devotion than you have ever known, yet will also test your strength

> and courage. If you allow, the journey will teach you many things, about

> life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away

> changed forever, for one soul cannot touch another without leaving its

> mark. Along the way, you will learn much about savoring life’s simple

> pleasures...jumping in leaves, snoozing in the sun, the joys of puddles,

> and even the satisfaction of a good scratch behind the ears. If you spend

> much time outside, you will be taught how to truly experience every

> element, for no rock, leaf, or log will go unexamined, no rustling bush

> will be overlooked, and even the very air will be inhaled, pondered, and

> noted as being full of valuable information. Your pace may be slower,

> except when heading home to the food dish, but you will become a better

> naturalist, having been taught by an expert in the field. Too many times

> we hike on automatic pilot, our goal being to complete the trail rather

> than enjoy the journey. We miss the details: the colorful mushrooms on

> the rotting log, the honeycomb in the old maple snag, the hawk feather

> caught on a twig. Once we walk as a dog does, we discover a whole new

> world. We stop, we browse the landscape, we kick over leaves, peek in

> tree holes, look up, down, all around. And we learn what any dog knows,

> that nature has created a marvelously complex world that is full of

> surprises, that each cycle of the seasons bring ever change wonders, each

> day an essence all it’s own. Even from indoors you will find yourself more

> attuned to the world around you. You will find yourself watching summer

> insects collecting on a screen, how bizarre they are, how many kinds there

> are or noting the flick and flash of fireflies through the dark. You will

> stop to observe the swirling dance of windblown leaves, or sniff the air

> after a rain. It does not matter that there is no objective in this, the

> point is in the doing, in not letting life’s most important details slip

> by. You will find yourself doing silly things that your pet-less friends

> might not understand: spending thirty minutes in the grocery aisle looking

> for the dog food brand your canine must have, buying dog birthday treats,

> or driving around the block an extra time because your pet enjoys the

> ride. You will roll in the snow, wrestle with chewie toys, bounce little

> rubber balls till your eyes cross, all in the name of love. Your house

> will become muddier and hairier. You will wear less dark clothing and buy

> more lint rollers. You may find dog biscuits in your pocket or purse.

> You will learn the true measure of love - the steadfast, undying kind that

> says, “It doesn’t matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us

> as long as we are together.” Respect this always. It is the most precious

> gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among

> the human race. And you will learn humility. The look in my dog’s eyes

> often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my presence. She saw

> not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but

> only her wonderful companion. Or maybe she saw those things and dismissed

> them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me

> anyway. If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you

> will be not just a better person, but the person your pet always knew you

> to be. The one they were proud to call beloved friend. I must caution you

> that this journey is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the

> pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your dear

> animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down. And you will

> have to find the strength and love to let them go. A pet’s time on earth

> is far too short, especially for those that love them. We borrow them,

> really, just for a while, and during these brief years they are generous

> enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and heart,

> until one day there is nothing left. The young pup of boundless energy now

> wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle gone to gray. Deep down we somehow

> always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our

> hearts they would be broken. But give them we must for it is all they ask

> in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we

> cannot see, we give one final gift and let them run on ahead, young and

> whole once more. “God speed, good friend” we say, until our journey comes

> full circle and our paths cross again.

[swanlakebud]

Very cool , thanks for printing this up for us sappy dog owners . I know that I wept as I read this ..............

[CNYFrank]

Ray . . .I don't know where you found this, but I doubt if there is a reader that doesn't remember and feel these exact words and are having a hard time seeing through clear eyes. I intend on having these words embosed on a placque and displayed with pictures of my four legged friends. Thanks for sharing.

[Fullmoon]

Frank,

My son made an 8x10 collage of photos of him and the dogs we've had over his 19 yrs. It hangs in my bedroom and brings tears to my eyes when I look at it for more than a few seconds. Good times, good friends and seeing how my son has grown (time lost). Most of the dogs I trained for Police work are gone now and I miss them too, even though they didn't live with me. I keep a photo of the one who worked with me. Guess I'm soft when it comes to dogs.

My black lab has a nuero-muscular disorder now. I had to get him an expensive but very good new food (Hills Prescription, J/D) and an anti-inflamatory. It's made a big difference but I still have to help him up the stairs some times. He's on the downward slide but with luck, it won't be quick or painful. If anyone has a dog with ANY problems, ask a Vet about the new Hills Prescription line of foods. Designed for what ailes them. I'm sold, you should see the difference it's made and no harsh or expensive medicines!!