"Dogs die. But before they do, they live They live brave, beautiful lives. They protect their families with unwavering loyalty. They love us with a fierceness that knows no bounds. They fill our days with joy, our homes with warmth, and our hearts with light. Dogs don’t waste time worrying about tomorrow. They live fully in the moment—chasing balls, napping in sunbeams, and wagging their tails at the simple sound of our voices. They teach us how to love without conditions and how to find happiness in the little things. So yes, dogs die. But before they do, they give us everything they have. And that’s why their love stays with us long after they’re gone. Here’s to the dogs who live bravely, love deeply, and leave paw prints on our hearts forever. ~ Source Unknown. Artwork: Rainbow Bridge Society"
The chapters of my life are demarcated in dawgs and cats. I miss them all. But since time only travels in one direction, I have to as well. I will look forward to seeing them all again in the next life.
But for now… I owe the Niglet a log quiet walk. And stop to smell the same yellow snow banks, the same piles of poop, and dream of slipping our leashes and hunting rabbits.
Quit stirring up the dust….
ReplyDeleteNo kidding. I'm glad nobody is around.
DeleteYou’re a good man Glen.
ReplyDeleteAs are we all, A. And our dawgs are even better...
Deleteyeah. my heart has a lot of paw prints on it. some people I do miss. but not as much as I miss a few of my great dogs.
ReplyDeleteand seeing them again in the next life is about the only reason to go.
Right On!
ReplyDeleteChutes Magoo
Damn dust...and dogs, with their unacceptable but inevitable departures.
ReplyDeleteIn our 49 years together, my wasp waisted, big butt, Viking redhead and I have had many doggers.
3 years ago, Maxine, our wonderful, 50lb rescue mutt of 18 years crossed the Rainbow bridge, with the now familiar and oft repeated heartache. Fortunately, our other 3 canine companions helped us through it.
2 years ago, some, likely, nefarious, dog breeders wife, was lurking, RIGHT IN FRONT of Tractor Supply, where my poor, unsuspecting wife had to walk right by the cutest little 8 week old bundle of cute in the world. She couldn't help but hear a Sand Box veteran say "One of THOSE saved my life in Afghanistan!" She determinedly walked on. Did her farm stuff shopping and headed out. The skulking wife, with the cutest cutsie was STILL THERE! This time, there was a different Sand Box veteran, proclaiming "A Malinois saved my ass in Iran!" Wife stoically, walks on, loads the '93, 4x4 Suburban, gets in, is looking across the parking lot at the STILL PRESENT, loitering woman with cutest, cutsie. My words and the cluster fuck Biden's administration, are rattling around, saying "We need a real, male, ass kicking guard dog to round out our all bitch pack". She's resisting. Bitch packs don't visit the next county over, for a bitch in heat, real, male, ass kicking guard dogs do. Reason takes over (I think she got an extra testosterone wash in the womb), she gets out, walks back to engage this mean but nice woman.
Turns out. one of their 9 kids, let the half Malinois, half German shepherd in with the in heat, papered Malinois. So now these breeders of papered G.S. and Malinois, have 8 unwanted cutest of cuties. They're all 1/4 GS, 3/4 Malinois. They're $300, not $2000. She succumbs, gets a number, comes home, briefs me and it's off to see their pack. When we get there EVERYBODY comes out for the big event (to kids), so, 6+ kids, 8 puppies, mom and dad, us. With all the introductions and special conversations (one little boy was cute/autistic/loving), I didn't notice that one of the pups had picked me out to sit on my foot. The wife noticed, THIS is our dog. Pick it up, turn it over, YESS!!! it's a male, wlfe concedes, the Gods have spoken!
Spent $1500 on him when he stepped on a Copperhead, while on a 200 yard walk to the mailbox with the bitch pack, at the age of 4 months. Now has a sexy, hairless scar on his left paw.
About 10 months ago, I come out front, to discover he's chewing up an anti freeze plastic jug. FUCK!!! Zoom to the vet, 20 miles away (they know us on a first name basis), on a Friday evening. Blood test, yes it's detectable in his blood, FUCK!!! "We'll sedate him, hook him up to an EVERCLEAR IV, and monitor him" says our vet (of 3) that is pulling week end duty. Turns out, he's a happy, loving drunk and can handle his alcohol. He lived! No brain, liver, kidney damage!
He looks and acts exactly like a Malinois, but has the mass of a German Shepherd.
Where was I? Oh yeah, ALL that to say, I have to live to 84ish to uphold my obligation to Thor, the cutiest, 95 lb., mostly Malinois, EVAR!
I don't have any inherited, weird/dreaded, issues. No "conditions" (except, removing, regular, pre cancer skin things from living, working outdoors). I'm in undeservedly good condition (after decades of ship yard rigging, off/on road high speed crashes, tree service (compete with broken back n' assorted sheeit). I wrestle and horse play with Thor, we hike our 26 acres of Tennessee hills. I still haul 50lb bags of dog and chicken feed.
Life is good for this geezer, tard. I think we'll make it.
Or the Burning of Down can still happen, we could starve, die in a hail of bullets or die of some dread Fauchi disease. We'll see.
Every time dawg time rolls around, I swear I am going to get a German Shepherd. Or a Melonhead. And each time I end up with some mutt or other and for some reason it doesn't matter after that.
DeleteI am now down to one dawg in the family but yeah... I'd be okay with 6 or 7 too, HAR HAR HAR!!!
We had a German Shepherd for 12 years. For the first two years she was the worst dog we ever had. After that she was the BEST dog we ever had. She crossed the bar a few years back. I still miss her.
DeleteThen, a few weeks back, I was leaving for work in the dark and rain, when an emaciated, cold, wet, Black Greyhound appeared from in front of my car. It wouldn't let me get near it, but wouldn't run off either. When I got home that night, the damned dog was STILL THERE, right where it was when I left! It was still cold and raining. We were able to get a leash on him and get him into the garage and out of the rain. Next day, we let him into the house. Suffice it to say, as of now, it seems that "Shadow" has always been with us. He's a truly smart, grateful, good-natured animal; an angel in a dog suit. As far as we're concerned, he's ours. As far as Shadow's concerned, we're his. And so it begins again... ...And ZOUNDS, you should see that dog RUN!!!!
Mr. 'forester- you are completely correct. I've had several friends that heard me spout-off about the various antics my dogs have produced. We've had 5 God's and they made us laugh. Some of the guys expressed interest in GED. I told them all you have to "giv them" the first two years. After that, they are Super Dogs. Their defining moment is observable if you watch them close enough.
DeletePeter, rescue dogs KNOW they're fortunate. They are the embodiment of grateful and loving. Most of our dogs were chancefully acquired. Our only "bad" experience, was a puppy golden Retriever that had to be put down after too much money and effort trying to save the doomed pooch from Parvo. That was an early heartbreaker, 45+ years ago.
DeleteOur current one is spending the afternoon doing "pet therapy" at an assisted living/memory care facility where my sister-in-law lives. She just loves the attention and everyone there loves seeing her. Dogs truly are the best.
ReplyDeleteHere is the beginning of Section 32 of Walt Whitman’s long poetical work, Song of Myself (cosmically considered…):
ReplyDeleteI think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain'd,
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things,
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
This always has had a great resonance with me, perhaps it might speak to all of you animal lovers, too.
JerseyJeffersonian