Wednesday, May 26, 2010

L♥ve gained - L♥ve lost - L♥ve remembered


For my beautiful Starr
Heavenly Father, Creator of all things.
Thank you for blessing me with this loyal dog.
Thank you for letting her teach me unselfish love.
Thank you for all the memories that I can recall
to brighten my days for the rest of my life.
Finally, in gratitude, I return my dog to you.
Amen.
Grieve not, nor speak of me with tears, but laugh and talk of me as if I were beside you
I loved you so-`twas Heaven here with you.

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 traveled, 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 understand phases 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 make 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 human."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog," just smile, because they "just don't understand." 
Richard A. Biby
National Canine Cancer Foundation

35 comments:

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Pawed so furry well!

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra & Khousin Merdie

koko said...

Nice... thanks for sharing.

Licks, hero

Ms. ~K said...

Thank you for sharing...
With tears roling down my cheeks, (again)...
Kit

Sam said...

Yeah - the "just a dog" phrase hits home close to here - not many people my age really understand what it is to have a relationship with a dog. Sure, they may have them in their house as a pet, but there are no walks, no training, no snuggles on the couch.. no friendship. I wish there were more people like you who really GET what this whole thing is about.

little princess Luna~ said...

darling furends,

"just a dog" was so beautiful....just this whole post--WOW~!! (it made my mums cry too.)

xo,
luna

dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet Moonfur said...

That is so lovely.

Teddy Bear said...

Very, very well pawed.:)

Love,
Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear said...

Very, very well pawed.:)

Love,
Teddy Bear

Unknown said...

A beautiful post. Thanks for sharing!

Maxmom said...

Oh how beautiful and how true! I had to face this onslaught this morning and elected to simply turn my back and walk away...Why did they feel it necessary for me to explain why Max was not only "Just a dog"?
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

Maxmom said...

Oh how beautiful and how true! I had to face this onslaught this morning and elected to simply turn my back and walk away...Why did they feel it necessary for me to explain why Max was not only "Just a dog"?
MAXMOM IN SOUTH AFRICA

KB said...

You're right. Those people don't understand. It's beautifully said in your post.

Jake of Florida said...

How beautiful, how true those words!

We had friends over for dinner the other night -- a couple we met when we each were walking our dogs, our wire fox terriers, their Italian greyhound. The husband, who had never had a dog before this Italian greyhound they rescued from a shelter said, before he had his dog, he never understood what people who loved dogs really meant when they described their feelings. Now, he said, he understands, because his love for his dog is stronger than he ever could have imagined.

Wirey love,

Joan and the Barkalots

Golden Woofs! SUGAR said...

Woof! Woof! Totally understand. My family get that a lot " Just a Dog" ... to the point they just ignored it, smile and just let go. Many who does not own a pet or even own a pet just don't understand it. Funny! my mom wrote a "chant" that she says to herself when someone says these 3 words ... maybe she'll share it and post it on my blog. Thanks for sharing this. Lots of Golden Woofs, Sugar

Mrs. JP said...

BRAVO....There are "my dog - my friend" and "just a dog" people. Ours are part of the family. Thanks for a great post.

Sierra Rose said...

That was really nice! Sweet writings.

Hugs and snaggle-tooth kisses,
Sierra Rose

♥I am Holly♥ said...

That is so very beautiful and so true. It brought more tears to my eyes. Very beautiful..thanks for sharing! Lots of love, Debbie and Holly

Becca & Mandy said...

Well Said!

kissa-bull said...

oh my that just a dog poem furry much touched our heawts cause that ish so twue. bewootiful just bewootiful.

pibble sugars for all
the pittie pack

The Adventures of the LLB Gang said...

So very beautiful!!
Smileys & Snuggles!
Beth, Dory, Jacob and Bilbo

Salinger The Pug said...

Beautiful words!!!

Mom used to sound kind of like that, but now that she has me...she "gets it".

Just a dog....MY @$$!!!! I'm another kid (but I wear a dog suit!)

Happy Wednesday,

Love,
S-Dog

brooke said...

I have to admit before Darwin came into my life I was a "just a dog" person. But now I am totally on the other side. It amazes me how much love I have for her. Even at her most annoying and frustrating, I still can't imagine not having her around. People are amazed at how much we spend on her (she's been going through a lot of unresolved back issues), but I can't imagine not doing anything for her.

♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥ said...

Very beautiful. Between the words and the music, tears are flowing here.

Woos - Phantom, Thunder, and Ciara

JacksDad said...

You did good!

Sue said...

Thank you for that post. My Samba is very sick and I don't know how much longer I'll have her beside me, but she owns my heart so she'll never be far away.

3 doxies said...

That was one heck of a powerful post. Those words just touched my very soul.
I had alot of people make comments to me when my Albert had his back surgery due to a ruptured disc. It was just something I couldn't explainto them...no one ould possibly know until I met this wonderful community.
Allison...Puddles mum

Sagira said...

Beautiful....we have our very own Starr.

Kari in Alaska said...

thank you

Oskar said...

Beautiful post!

bbes tribe said...

Put AWESOMELY well!! We love & care for our 4 legged furiends & they care for us in return. We have so many wonderful memories of all that were here but are now gone. Thank you for saying it so well.
Tears in our eyes
Ernie,Sasha,Chica's Mom

Wrigley said...

Very well said!

Wags and Kisses,
Wrigley

Tweedles -- that's me said...

I love gentle hearted people who I can say, "they understand".
There are many gentle hearted and YOU are one of them. You took the time to let the words flow through your heart. I am honored to have you for my friend and with your words explain why we not "just a dog"
love
tweedles

Martha said...

Such a beautiful post - our mum has been trying to avoid the sad posts as it is near to her two year anniversary of losing Harry.
Even though she loves us very much she tells us she still misses Harry.
Although the dog blogs can be sad when we lose friends it is also lovely to be with humans who understand the loss of a dog.
love and kisses
Martha, Bailey & Mum xxx

Rick said...

I couldn't agree more. Beautiful post.

ocmist said...

That was said so very well... some just can't seem to understand how "just a dog" can become "just a BIG chunk" of our hearts! Grammy from Corgi Country