The power of the dog

[Butch]

I was searching for some pics of my dog in my files and came across this. I don't remember where I got it but it is worth sharing.


The Power of the Dog

THERE is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find - it's your own affair, -
But ... you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!),
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone - wherever it goes - for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear!

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent,
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve;
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long -
So why in - Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

[Nix]

Dogs are great.

[Douglas]

 
We certainly could learn a few lessons from them.
Love,
Devotion,
Courage,
Respect,
Play,
Rest,
did I mention
LOVE, DEVOTION...

[Grant Lamontagne]

Dogs are the best people.  I love mine, especially my Daisy.  Don't tell Jackson (Megan's dog) that though, because he's pretty darned great in his own right too.  Daisy is the first of "my own" dogs (ie, not family dogs growing up) that I raised from a puppy- although you wouldn't have known she was a pup at the time.  When I brought her home at 3 months old she was already 35 pounds and had been given back to the shelter by two families because they couldn't handle her.  For her first year she put on almost ten pounds each month- I swear, you could almost see her get bigger if you looked at her for a few minutes!

Now she's ten years old, and that's ancient for a big dog.  She's about 140lbs, and not a lot of fat on her- she's just a massive animal.  She's developing lumps (massive ones, although all harmless fatty deposits so far) and she tore a ligament in her leg over the summer, so she doesn't move that well anymore, and she's getting cranky, growling at... well.... pretty well anyone, warning them to keep their distance.

But she's healthy and happy to spend the day napping, and as long as she is good with that, so am I.  She won't be the shortest lived dog I've had (Pete passed at nine and a half) but I also don't expect her to be the longest lived one I had, as my husky Chinook was 15 when he passed on.

Here's Daisy helping us pick a winner for a Donation Draw a while back.



That big mutt is responsible for the little bit of sanity I still retain....

Def

[Butch]

Dogs are the best people.  I love mine, especially my Daisy.  Don't tell Jackson (Megan's dog) that though, because he's pretty darned great in his own right too.  Daisy is the first of "my own" dogs (ie, not family dogs growing up) that I raised from a puppy- although you wouldn't have known she was a pup at the time.  When I brought her home at 3 months old she was already 35 pounds and had been given back to the shelter by two families because they couldn't handle her.  For her first year she put on almost ten pounds each month- I swear, you could almost see her get bigger if you looked at her for a few minutes!

Now she's ten years old, and that's ancient for a big dog.  She's about 140lbs, and not a lot of fat on her- she's just a massive animal.  She's developing lumps (massive ones, although all harmless fatty deposits so far) and she tore a ligament in her leg over the summer, so she doesn't move that well anymore, and she's getting cranky, growling at... well.... pretty well anyone, warning them to keep their distance.

But she's healthy and happy to spend the day napping, and as long as she is good with that, so am I.  She won't be the shortest lived dog I've had (Pete passed at nine and a half) but I also don't expect her to be the longest lived one I had, as my husky Chinook was 15 when he passed on.

Here's Daisy helping us pick a winner for a Donation Draw a while back.



That big mutt is responsible for the little bit of sanity I still retain....

Def

 
 Nothing is more faithful than a dog

[Kev D]

Dogs are great.  I love the way they greet you just as enthusiastically whether you have been out for 5 mins or 5 hours

[lister]

Intewebs say that a dog has about 0.2 horse power for sustained effort. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Dogs are great.  I love the way they greet you just as enthusiastically whether you have been out for 5 mins or 5 hours

To see what love truly is, they say lock your dog and your spouse in the trunk of your car for an hour, and see which one is happy to see you when you open it! 

Def

[Butch]

Dogs are great.  I love the way they greet you just as enthusiastically whether you have been out for 5 mins or 5 hours

To see what love truly is, they say lock your dog and your spouse in the trunk of your car for an hour, and see which one is happy to see you when you open it! 

Def

 

[pfrsantos]

Dogs are great.  I love the way they greet you just as enthusiastically whether you have been out for 5 mins or 5 hours

To see what love truly is, they say lock your dog and your spouse in the trunk of your car for an hour, and see which one is happy to see you when you open it! 

Def

For your sake, I hope Megan is to busy to read everything you write here...

 

[Aloha]

My little guy hit 13 this year.  He's been a joy throughout those years.  Nothing but pure love and nothing but pure happiness from him. 

[styx]

yea, i'm thinking of giving up on dating and just getting a dog

[Kev D]

I did that years ago

[GrandpaPatch]

Something we can all learn (pointing finger at myself) from dogs:

If you can't eat it or play with it, then piss on it and walk away.

[Nix]

yea, i'm thinking of giving up on dating and just getting a dog

Nice. I like a man with high aspirations.