The Purpose of a Dog

"My goal in life is to be the kind of person my dogs thinks I am."

I love dogs.  From the time I was a little girl all I ever wanted was a dog.  I asked for a dog every Christmas, Birthday and gift-giving holiday from the time I was about 5 on, to no avail.  I received a series of other "pets", namely hamsters (stinky and lame), parakeets (don't do tricks, just poop and eat and chirp) and a bunny (my sis Tara and I tried to walk the bunny like a dog once and ended up getting clawed until we bled.  Not a pleasant experience for either one of us.  I have held a grudge against bunnies since that day), but nothing could replace my incessant desire for a dog.

I have three dogs now. Liddy (technically our family dog) that was brought home by my sister without permission and is now the ruler or my parent's household and a family treasure, Molly, my wild, neurotic but ridiculously sweet Vizsla that came to me via Ben for Christmas during our engagement and after the purchase of our first home, and Leonard, my teeny tiny weenie dog that was intended to keep Molly company and satisfy my desire to forever hold a dog in my arms and cuddle with something that would never get big. My dogs are my friends.  My dogs are my family.

Now, for those of you that aren't dog lovers and don't understand the obsession, let me share with you a story that Ben sent me in an email yesterday, defining the purpose of a dog through the explanation of a 6 yr. old:

A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old). 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. It has changed the way I try and live.. 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.'' My dogs are always happy to see me, whether I have been gone five days or just five minutes.  THey always greet me with tails wagging. Here are a few things we could all learn from man's best friend: 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. When 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!  I'm going to go home now and give my dogs a hug.