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. 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."
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak
kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things
like:
When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
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.
Persevere.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by
and nuzzle them
gently.
Love unconditionally and forgive frequently.
Walmart!! A great place to shop online. Enter the item you want to search for and click find.
