The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind.
– Theodorus Gaza
In February, I blogged about the wonderful website A Letter to My Dog, based in the United States. (here’s the hyperlink to that blog posting).
Did you know that New Zealand has its own A Letter to My Dog site? It started, just as the US site did, to support a book project. In this case, the book will raise funds for Paw Justice and is sponsored by bookseller Whitcoull’s. (The sponsors have now chosen their 30 stories for the book, but encourage owners to keep sharing their stories).
These sites are a wonderful read. They celebrate how people feel about their dogs and the bond they share. It’s something that all dog owners – past and present – understand.
Here are a few excerpts to heighten your interest:
Dear Sid, you little goofball.
I will never forget what happened at 3 am on that cold Sunday morning, me and Mike were walking home from town. It was still dark, suddenly out of nowhere (you) this black dog came running up to us with this biggest grin and most waggy of tails. At first I was a bit scared but then you started following us down the street. There were plenty of other people around that you could have followed, but you picked us. We took you to the pound but no one ever came for you, when the guys at the pound offered you to us, we just couldn’t say no.
Dear Lady,
It’s been three days since we said goodbye. I know you are in a happier place but I still miss you here with me. I think of you everyday. I imagine you everywhere I look. I imagine your happy face greeting me at the door when I get home. I hear you breathing peacefully asleep at the foot of my bed, but you’re not there. I think of you when I hear a dog bark or see people walking their dogs. And it makes me sad because I know I will never see you again, never play with you, play fetch with you, cuddle or kiss you.
Roy, you are such an awesome doggy. I found you on that “Trademe” site. You were bought here on trial for a day and within hours we knew we were right for each other. You have such an awesome trusting nature.You are the light of my life Roy.
Posted in dog ownership, dog quotes
Tagged a letter to my dog, dog owners, Paw Justice, Whitcoull's
I have sometimes thought of the final cause of dogs having such short lives and I am quite satisfied it is in compassion to the human race; for if we suffer so much in losing a dog after an acquaintance of ten to twelve years, what would it be if they were to double?
– Sir Walter Scott
No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does.
– Christopher Morley
It’s been raining since last night here and the long-range forecast is that it will continue for the next few days. And so that has gotten me thinking – what is the origin of the saying It’s raining cats and dogs?
On the face of it, this phrase just doesn’t make sense. Some say that it comes from the days when all the animals in the household were kept in the rafters of the thatch-roofed cottages. When it really rained heavily, the animals would fall out…
What does the Library of Congress say about this phrase (including de-bunking of the thatched roof theory)?
Read here for a well-referenced look at the origin of It’s raining cats and dogs
Posted in dog quotes
Tagged cats and dogs, Library of Congress, origin, phrase, raining cats and dogs, thatched roof
“Money will buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail.”
– Richard Friedman
“A good dog is one of the best things of all to be.”
– Dean Koontz, author
The philosopher Immanuel Kant once said, “We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” If dogs were allowed to vote in the upcoming US presidential election, I believe that this would be their main criteria for voting.
US President Barack Obama kept his promise to his daughters when he was elected to the US presidency and the family adopted Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog. Bo currently features in the President’s commemorative photo issued by the Democratic National Committee:
The official photo issued by the Democratic National Committee
In stark contrast is presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s reputation for caring for the family’s dog, Seamus. Romney placed Seamus into a dog crate on top of the family’s car in 1983 for a long car trip from Boston to Ontario, Canada. Romney defended his actions by saying that he outfitted the crate with a ‘modified’ windshield. When Seamus soiled the crate and the rear window of the car, Romney calmly stopped the car and used a hose on Seamus. (Romney’s team has commended his approach, citing it as an example of his emotion-free crisis management.) (You can read more about Romney’s treatment of Seamus and others in this Vanity Fair article.)
When interviewed by ABC’s Diane Sawyer, she asked Romney if he would do it again. He replied, “Certainly not with the attention it’s received.” (No comment about the appropriateness of his actions, just the attention).
This act of cruelty has been described by Scott Crider as a ‘deal-breaker’ for Romney’s candidacy. Crider has started the Dogs Against Romney movement which includes a Facebook page.
Supporters can also buy various Dogs Against Romney merchandise from the movement’s website. For example, your dog can wear a bandana that says “I ride inside” or you can use a coffee mug at the office “Dogs aren’t luggage”
So, who would your dog vote for? Romney or Obama?
I leave you with the words of Mahatma Gandhi:
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated.”
“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened”
– Anatole France
Every dog must have a soul, somewhere deep inside
Where all his hurts and grievances are buried with his pride.
Where he decides the good and bad, the wrong way from the right,
And where his judgment carefully is hidden from our sight.
A dog must have a secret place, where every thought abides,
A sort of close acquaintance that he trusts in and confides.
And when accused unjustly for himself. He cannot speak,
Rebuked. He finds within his soul, the comfort he must seek.
He’ll love, tho’ he is unloved, and he’ll serve tho’ badly used,
And one kind word will wipe away the times he’s been abused.
Altho’ his heart may break in two, his love will still be whole,
Because God gave to every dog an understanding Soul!
– Author Unknown
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