PETSPIRATION

Over the years, we have encountered a number of stories, poems, etc., that have made us appreciate even more the importance of pets in our everyday lives. Some of these are “tear- jerkers” while others will likely bring a smile to your face. As you read through them, please think about your pets and the joy and the inspiration they have brought to you, your family and your friends over the years.

A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old)
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 transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal 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 as long”.

* * *

Diary of a Pet

Excerpts from a Dog's Diary

6:00am - At last! I Go Pee! My favourite thing!

8:00 am - Dog food! My favourite thing!

9:30 am - A car ride! My favourite thing!

9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favourite thing!

10:30am - Got rubbed and petted! My favourite thing!

12:00pm - Lunch! My favourite thing!

1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favourite thing!

3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favourite thing!

5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favourite thing!

6:00 pm - They're home! My favourite thing!

7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favourite thing!

8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favourite thing!

11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favourite thing!

Author Unknown

* * *

EPILOGUE

When all you have is gone,

and all who love you have left,

he still remains faithful.

His loyalty reaches even beyond the barrier of time.

His affection and respect cannot be bought,

but must be earned;

he cannot be bought by food as can all other animals,

proving their inferiority to him.

You are everything to him –

his life centres around you;

your praise is his greatest gift,

your scorn his greatest sorrow.

Ready to serve you at any time,

he is only too eager and willing to prove it;

glad to defend you against any odds,

he will give his life for yours without your ever asking.

He will jump willingly into the fires of Hell

just to be there with you. Ready, he stands at your side

like ancestors have done before him

and his offspring will do after him.

Whether gently playing with your children

or guarding your mate with his life,

he does his job well with an understanding almost superhuman.

He has only one fault,

and that is – someday he will break your heart.

For dogs live only a little while,

and in a few quick years he must say goodbye.

Bill Landesman

* * *

I Am Your Dog

I am your dog, and I have a little something I'd like to whisper in your ear.

I know that you humans lead busy lives. Some have to work, some have children to raise. It always seems like you are running here and there, often much too fast, often never noticing the truly grand things in life. Look down at me now, while you sit there at your computer. See the way my dark brown eyes look at yours? They are slightly cloudy now. That comes with age. The gray hairs are beginning to ring my soft muzzle. You smile at me; I see love in your eyes. What do you see in mine? Do you see a spirit? A soul inside, who loves you as no other could in the world? A spirit that would forgive all trespasses of prior wrong-doing for just a simple moment of your time? ……. That is all I ask.

To slow down, if even for a few minutes to be with me. So many times you have been saddened by the words you read on that screen, of others of my kind, passing. Sometimes we die young and oh so quickly, sometimes so suddenly it wrenches your heart out of your throat. Sometimes, we age so slowly before your eyes that you may not even seem to know until the very end, when we look at you with grizzled muzzles and cataract clouded eyes. Still the love is always there, even when we must take that long sleep, to run free in a distant land. I may not be here tomorrow; I may not be here next week. Someday you will shed the water from your eyes, that humans have when deep grief fills their souls, and you will be angry at yourself that you did not have just "one more day" with me.

Because I love you so, your sorrow touches my spirit and grieves me. We have NOW, together. So come, sit down here next to me on the floor, and look deep into my eyes.

What do you see? If you look hard and deep enough we will talk, you and I, heart to heart. Come to me not as "alpha" or as "trainer" or even "Mom or Dad," come to me as a living soul and stroke my fur and let us look deep into one another's eyes, and talk. I may tell you something about the fun of chasing a tennis ball, or I may tell you something profound about myself, or even life in general.

You decided to have me in your life because you wanted a soul to share such things with. Someone very different from you, and here I am. I am a dog, but I am alive. I feel emotion, I feel physical senses, and I can revel in the differences of our spirits and souls. I do not think of you as a "Dog on two feet" -- I know what you are. You are human, in all your quirkiness, and I love you still.

Now, come sit with me, on the floor. Enter my world, and let time slow down if only for 15 minutes.

Look deep into my eyes, and whisper to my ears. Speak with your heart, with your joy and I will know your true self. We may not have tomorrow, and life is oh so very short.

Author Unknown

* * *

Love, Gratitude

The agony is so great ….

And yet I will stand it.

Had I not loved so very much

I would not hurt so much.

But goodness knows I would not

Want to diminish that precious love

By one fraction of an ounce.

I will hurt

And I will be grateful to the hurt

For it bears witness to

The depth of our meanings,

And for that I will be eternally grateful.

Author Unknown

* * *

What I Learned From My Dog

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in my face to be pure ecstasy.

When loved ones come home, I will always run to greet them.

Let others know when they have invaded my territory.

Take naps and stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something I am not.

If what I want lies buried, I will dig until I find it.

When someone is having a bad day, I will be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle him gently.

Thrive on attention, and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often one is scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout – run back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Author Unknown

* * *

“Just A Dog!”

From time to time, people tell me, ”lighten up, it’s just a dog,” or, “that’s a lot of money for just a dog.” They don’t understand the distance travelled, the time spent, or the costs involved for “just a dog.”

Some of my proudest moments have come about with “just a dog.” Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a dog,” but I did not once feel slighted.

Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by “just a dog,” and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it’s “just a dog,” then you will probably won’t understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.”

“Just a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.

“Just a dog” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.

Because of “just a dog”, I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it’s not “just a dog” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

“Just a dog” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day. I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a dog”, but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a man or woman.” So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog”, just smile …. because they “just don’t understand.”

Author Unknown

* * *

Dog Haikus

I love my master;

Thus I perfume myself with this long-rotten squirrel.

I lie belly-up in the sunshine,

Happier than you ever will be.

Today I sniffed many dog butts;

I celebrate by kissing your face.

I sound the alarm!

Mailman Fiend-come to kill us all; Look! Look! Look! Look!

I sound the alarm! Neighbour’s cat come to kill us all!

Look! Look! Look! Look!

My human is home!

I am so ecstatic I have made a puddle.

I hate my choke chain; Look, world, they strangle me!

Ack, Ack, Ack, Ack, Ack!

Sleeping here, my chin on your foot,

No greater bliss; well, maybe catching cats

The cat is not all bad,

She fills the little box with Tootsie Rolls

Dig under fence,

Why? Because it’s there, because it’s there, because it’s there.

I am your best friend,

Now, always, and especially when you are eating.

Author Unknown

* * *

You Are A True Dog Lover If…

Your dog sleeps in your bed. You apologize if you have to move it a bit.

Talking to your dog, you call yourself Daddy or Mommy.

Nothing can be seen through the rear window of your car because it’s all in nose prints of your dog.

You call your dog with 32 different names and none of them makes sense. But your dog responds to them.

You like people that like your dog. You are not comfortable around people that don’t like it.

In your pocket, there’s always a treat for your dog.

You always put a second cover on your bed so that you dog feels most comfortable.

You choose furniture, carpet, and clothes so that they suit your dog.

The only photo on your work desk is a photo of your dog.

You read people lectures about how responsible one should be raising up a dog. You do that any time you get a chance.

You miss your breakfast to have a chance to walk with your dog before going to job.

You are the only man in the street when it is raining cats and dogs – it’s all because your dog needs walking.

In the end of the day, you don’t drink beer with your co-workers anymore because you have to rush to your dog.

Your weekend plan is to walk with your dog (for both Saturday and Sunday).

Your fridge is full of bones for your dog.

You’ve never eaten all of your beefsteak or fried chicken – you share it with your dog.

You don’t Hoover your flat as long as possible because your dog is afraid of the Hoover.

You keep on eating even if you’ve found some dog hair in your plate.

When your dog gets older, you make some steps for it to ease climbing on to bed.

When your husband and your dogs snore, it’s your husband who grabs the pillow to sleep somewhere else.

Your dog is the star of your web site!

Author Unknown

* * *

The Ten Commandments Of Owning A Dog

My life is likely to last ten to fifteen years. Any separation from you will be painful for me.

Remember that before you acquire me.

2. Give me time to understand what you want from me.

3. Place your trust in me. Remember that before you acquire me.

Don’t be angry with me for long and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work,

your friends, and your entertainment. I only have you.

Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don’t understand your words, I understand your voice when

it is speaking to me. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget.

Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that can easily crush the bones in your hand,

but I choose not to bite you.

Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate, or lazy, ask yourself if something

might be bothering me. Perhaps I don’t understand what you ask of me or perhaps I am not

feeling well, not getting the right food, been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old

and weak.

8. Take care of me when I get old, you too will grow old.

Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say " I can’t bear to watch," or "let it happen in my

absence." Everything is easier if you are there.

Remember, no matter what, that I love you. Unconditionally.

Author Unknown

* * *

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigour. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....