On the passing of a beloved dog... I'm not sure I could be this brave, but ah, "Out of the mouths of babes."

Dear Ones,

This beautiful piece was sent to our Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue list by one of our lovely members who had had it sent to her. It made me cry, and I feel quivery long after. I don't think I could have the grace the small child did in this piece in losing one of my beloved companions, but as always, out of mouths of babes come pure pearls of wisdom and a deeper knowledge than we, as adults, seem to retain. In honor of all of our dogs and other beloved animal companions, I wanted to share this with you...

May we cherish every single moment with our beloved companions. No matter how long they live their lives are too short.

Warm Regards and Deepest Blessings to all,
and now, here's the piece....

Maitri





A Dog's Purpose

"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. 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.'

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would
learn things like:

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

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a
joyride.

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

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the
grass.

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

W hen you're happy, dance around and wag your
entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find
it.

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

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If
you can't eat it or play with it....

Pee on it and walk away... "


May we never forget these tender words...