‘Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man.’
– Arthur Schopenhauer, philosopher
…and Happy New Year to all my readers and customers.
Posted in dog quotes
Tagged animals, Arthur Schopenhauer, compassion, good character, good man, philosopher, quotes
“A dog is for Life, not just for Christmas”
– slogan of the National Canine Defence League
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
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