Be humble

In my mind, every child should have a pet to love.  It probably does not matter what that pet is, although my unabashed affection for canines makes me believe that a dog is the best.  A pet teaches responsibility and teaches about love.  It will help a child along the path of learning about life, sickness and the inevitable end that awaits us all.  The end, of course, is sadness but often the end becomes a celebration of something more.  A bond can was created that extends far beyond the finality of death.  Something almost magical can be created between our pets and their people.

The boy I speak of grew up in a home that always had a pet.  I suspect that he has no memory of a time when there was not a dog or cat in his life.  His family loved animals and there was no shortage of furry creatures to hug, pet, feed, and generally add laughter to life.  Animals that share a space with a family that loves them seem to respond with a return of that love. In the boy’s family dogs, cats, guinea pigs and farm animals, lived, loved and of course died.  The journey we call life is compressed in the life of our pets.  Our pets show us a life cycle of childhood, the teen years, emerging maturity, mature wisdom and of course old age and the end.

Nothing stands still.  The boy grew into a young man.  He left home, worked, went to university and did what young men do.  It is a time in one’s life when sharing your life with a dog is simply not possible.  The boy always spoke of how much he wanted a dog in his life and was anxious for the time when his situation would permit him to find his dog.  Some people are meant to have dogs in their life – the boy is one of those.

His time came.  A move to the country to a home that was perfect for a dog.  It did not take long.  Lily, part Border Collie and part something else was rescued from the Humane Society.  She was a beautiful, smart, active and devoted companion and the boy was happy.  Where the boy went, Lily went.  They were inseparable and it was all good.  Soon after Lily, came Ben.  Ben was part Coon Hound and part German Shepherd.  It was a great combination of breeds.  Benny was laid back and happy – happy to be a dog and happy to be with his person.  Wherever the boy went, Lily and Ben went.  They were a happy  devoted trio.

For me, there is something – almost a spiritual thing – when a person finds the perfect combination of canine companion.  That is what the boy had.  The boy accepted the responsibilities happily and no dogs were ever better cared nor loved more.  It was all good.

There was a difficult time in the boy’s life.  Of course friends and family were there to support him, but the one never ending constant in his life was Ben and Lily.  A visit would always find Ben and Lily sitting quietly beside the boy – always within a distance that a hand dropped to the side would find a furry head and a devoted lick.  A dogs devotion and love is without guile – it just is.  I recall the boy once saying that he wished he was as good a person as his dogs thought he was.  That is a dog.  Ask little and give much.  For those of us who love our dogs the comfort and laughter they provide us can’t be measured nor can it really be clearly articulated.  It just is.  Only the boy knows the comfort and companionship that Lily and Ben offered, but I suspect it was immeasurable.

..and then more goodness.  A warm beautiful kind woman entered his life and became his wife.  With her came Ruby, a little Scottish Terrier.  Life was good.  A warm loving home with the happiness of 3 dogs. 

A visit to the boy’s home was like a visit to mine.  Canine craziness and happiness.  Laughter and love.  The boy was wealthy and he knew it. 

As I said above, nothing stands still.  Time passed and dogs and people aged.  lily lost her vision.  One day it was there and one day gone.  There was no hesitation – Lily saw the best of the best at AVC and to this day no one is really sure what caused it.  She adapted incredibly quickly and if possible, the boy was even more devoted to her.  To this day, when she fetches her favourite ball, one would never guess that she is blind.  She is happy and she is loved.  She has a forever home and she will live out her days being cared for by people who cannot conceive of anything else.  Ruby developed cancer (Cushing’s) and with an expensive medication from outside of Canada has thrived and is as a happy old dog.

Benny, ah the every laid back and relaxed Ben.  For the past few weeks Benny has not  been himself.  When you live with a dog you learn to note when something seems amiss.  After a week or so, the boy took Ben to AVC.  Sadly, Ben had terminal cancer.  On June 12, the third anniversary of my Kessie’s death, Ben slipped off to wherever good dogs go.  His people who never showed him anything but unreserved love, were with him.

Of course the profound sadness at the loss of a dog can be, and is, gut wrenching.  It fades and time dulls the ache.  Time sometimes brings a period of celebration of a life – a life that gave and received unreserved and unquestioning devotion.  Can there be anything better to celebrate? There here will always be memories of times that cannot be again, but the good and happy memories will temper the sadness of missing a dear and trusted friend. 

We all have a favourite picture of our dogs and I know this one is one we all enjoy.  Ben is in the back, Lily in the front, Que on the left and Kes on the right.  The picture is from 8 years ago.  All of our dogs were in their prime.   Only Lily is still with us.  Each of these dogs has brought an incredible richness to our lives.  They have made us laugh, they have taught us about unreserved love and they have made us cry.

As I read though what I just wrote, I note I used the word ‘love’ often.  It is an appropriate and accurate word.  What better reason can there be to celebrate a life?  When our time comes to be put on the fire ship and shoved out to sea, who of us anticipates that similar words will be said.  Few, I suspect.

I know there are many very good people who will not understand the bond that can develop with our pets – I also know there a quite a few who do understand.  I am glad that I am one of the latter.

I am now going to go upstairs and pat 4 stinky wet German Shepherds.  There will be dog hair everywhere, they have probably misbehaved and I will be very glad they are there.