Yes there are starving children all over the world and it is a sad and horrible thing. So maybe instead of posting something here about how horrible it is, you could donate to Feed The Children, or donate your time, or petition the government who spend more time and money feeding children overseas than our own. I will not call you an idiot or deride how you feel because you are entitled to your opinion. I am entitled to my opinion too and my opinion is that if you are truly someone who kicks dogs for simply being, I hope we never meet. Not a threat, just my hope.
We have always had dogs, from forever...cannot remember a time that we didn't have a dog. When I was 15, my dad brought home a Golden Retriever. Sam was the runt of the litter but fully grown, he was 120 pounds and it wasn't fat...he was just a big dog. He wasn't unruly like Marley, but we couldn't keep him out of the pool and he had his moments. He was afraid of thunder storms (we lived in FL, too) but he hid rather than barking. Ever have a 120 lb. dog try to hide under a patio chair? I have...it's funny as hell. My dad had him trained so that in the morning when he left, he would say, "Papa has to go to work.", Sam would growl at the word "work"...also funny as hell.
When I was 16 I got pregnant and for the longest time, Sam was the only one in the family who wasn't pissed off at me. He was the only one who didn't care, just wanted his tummy rubbed. I wasn't his caregiver, my dad was. Sam was his dog. But he loved me anyway and knew when I needed someone. The first time my husband and I brought our son over to my parents house, he was only 4 days old and Sam greeted him by licking the back of his head like a lil lollipop. He would curl around the baby on the floor when he was sleeping and he taught him to walk by allowing my son to pull himself up by his undercoat and taking slow steps. When our 2nd son was born, Sam greeted him in the same manner and taught him to walk the same way. This is about as unconditional as you can get in my opinion as there is no conceivable way for a newborn then infant, then toddler can be expected to reciprocate. But Sam did what he did and I love him dearly for it.
One month before my daughter was born, Daddy had to put Sam down. He was old and tired and arthritic and sick and it was his time. I remember my sister and I driving Daddy to the vet after getting the call there was nothing more to be done. I remember going into the room where they had him, my sister and I because Daddy needed to work up to it. I remember Sam lying on the bed on the floor not moving, just staring at us with his big brown doggy eyes. I remember hugging him and crying into his beautiful fur and petting him...my sister, too. And then my dad walked in and for him, Sam made the effort to raise his head and wag his tail one last time. It broke my heart knowing the pain he was in and still trying to greet my father, telling him he knew he was there and it mattered. It hurts even now that my daughter didn't get to learn to walk from the master, but she did learn from the dog who adopted us when she was 5 months old.
Gracie found us, we did not find her. We found out days later she had escaped from a place where they trained pit bulls to fight. Gracie was the bait dog. She has one ear that cannot lay down, it's permanently perked due to scar tissue. Her muzzle is scarred and tummy isn't perfect. I used to get stupid comments about letting a pit around my children but she's a neurotic mess and she has never once even growled at my children, much less anything else. Dogs are like people, they are what you make them. Even with her past, we made her part of our family and she has been an incredible addition. She is old now, and I suspect she won't be with us much longer. When her time comes, it will break my heart and I will cry. My children and husband will be just as sad as I am. We have taught the children the value of ALL life, not only humans.
I apologize for the diatribe...but then maybe I don't. These two animals, amoung countless others, were an important part of my life, taught me things no human ever could and loved. You can tell me its butt kissing due to the shelter/food/care bit but I don't buy it. I simply know better.
~.~
reply
share