One man, one dog, one Facebook photo that has touched thousands of hearts

pioneer press ^ | 8-7-12 | Molly Guthrey

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Nothing smells worse than a wet dog. Except a wet hippie.”

What an idiotic comment! Do you know this guy? Or are you judging him because he has long hair? I’m a retired musician, and have many “long-haired” friends. They’re Country musicians, and are about 90% Conservatives! I had long hair until the baldness started creeping in. The guy may be a “Hippie”,,,, or he may not be. You don’t know! Nor do I! But the love between this man and his “pet,” is palpable,,, whereas, your comment is just dumb!

[Tijeras_Slim]

He may be a hippie, he may not... but I’ll cut a lot of slack for a man who loves his dog that much. Good post.

[trisham]

So beautiful, Joe. Thanks for the ping.

[panaxanax]

What a cold-hearted thing to say.

Am I missing your point or are you just trying to be cute?

[trisham]

We had our eldest dog put to sleep in mid June. He was almost twelve and a half, and we held him in our arms as he passed. The people at Tufts have my never ending thanks for their sensitivity and kindness. We miss him every day.

[panaxanax]

“What an idiotic comment!”

I agree.

Maybe BIG Cindy just doesn’t know what love really is?

[ottbmare]

My little darling died a couple of months ago. Still can't get over it. She made me so happy and I loved her so much. What a good girl. I hope they go to heaven and I'll see her again. How could the Lord, Who created love, Who is love, not reward these creatures that exist only to give and receive love?

[LADY J]

What a loving & sweet photo!!!

[Cowgirl of Justice]

I am so sorry. I will be thinking of you tomorrow. Please keep up updated.

My beautiful beagle was hit by a car in June and I mourn him every single day. I held him but he had died before I got to him and at that moment, I truly felt like I wanted to go to Heaven with him. We will rescue another beagle in memory of him and keep our love for these precious, God given animals continuing.

[stansblugrassgrl]

I grew up with Basenji’s We had one a few years ago. He was a rescue and had been badly abused. He knew just how much he could take and he’d push and push us expecting us to beat him. We never did, although we wanted to choke him when he ate the recliner, stole from our neighbors, laid in wait for the old guy next door to come home from the grocery store and way laid him for his sack of milk and ham. Luckily, we lived in the country with understanding neighbors. We finally got a fence.

His name was Ruger but we called him Devil Dog for obvious reasons. He’d attack and kill rattle snakes until one called his bluff. He was so sick I had to feed him with a bottle. After that, he quit pushing so hard and would at least cooperate. The dog trainer said he was a cat in a dog suit. He was killed when one of our neighbors wolves escaped their enclosure. He got too close too close to them and they pulled him through the field fencing, mauled him. He died a couple of days later.

We had another dog that lived for 19 years. Best dog ever. He was just the opposite of Ruger. He was a border collie/shepard mix and was the lovingest, smartest dog. He lived to be 19.

We now have a little min-pin rescue named Howdy. He’s a keeper, for sure. Little dogs get into little trouble and aren’t tall enough to drink from the toilet.

[Sergio]

bkmk

[TheOldLady]

Thank you for the post and ping.

[austingirl]

I’ve been there many times - the final kindness - but I will alwys have dogs. They add so much to our lives.

[FLAMING DEATH]

I grew to love the smell of wet dog. My yellow lab Katie and I spent a lot of time on the river in the summers. Once a few of us made a "canoe convoy". We all stopped to camp on an island for the night. I threw up a tarp and put my sleeping bag under it, and Katie dug a bed right beside me.

Just as I was drifting off to sleep, she began barking furiously and ran to the upstream end of the island. She was gone for about 5 minutes, and came back panting. This happened about four more times that night. Don't know if something was actually up there, or the gurgling of the water was making her hear things, but she sure thought she was defending the camp. She kept us all up for most of the night.

Next day, we got up and broke camp. Just as I put the last of the stuff in the canoe, I told Katie to get in.

She walked down the bank, stopped at the edge of the river, looked upstream to where the "disturbance" was, and let out a growling bark, as if to say, "I'll get you next time". She then got in and we went happily down the river.

The worst was the time that she saw my buddies going ashore and she decided the canoe was close enough to shore to get out. Without warning, she bailed over the side and about turned the whole thing over...in fact, the side went so low that I briefly took on water.

I miss that dog.

[secret garden]

One of our collies had that a couple of years ago but recovered completely. We lost him and his brother this past year when they were both over 13, which is pretty old for a collie. We have another collie we got from the shelter but this one is a barker. We’re working on him...

[Ditter]

Thank you all for your kind words.

My JRT is only 4 1/2 years old. The vet eye specialist said glaucoma is inherited and quite a few terriers of all types have it.

We were considering putting him down anyway if he didn’t adapt to his blindness and so far he is not.

The stroke symptoms seem to have subsided this afternoon, but he stays in his bed sleeping 24 hours a day unless I get him out to potty or eat.

I am having to give him canned food mixed with his dry food to even get him to eat a single bite. He drinks very little water. He is not adjusting (yet) to the new reality.

[Cathy]

I admit, I cried when I saw this picture on FB. What a beautiful moment.

[Cathy]

I admit, I cried when I saw this picture on FB. What a beautiful moment.

[SaraJohnson]

You are too sentimental. ;)

[spankalib]

I’m putting a dear one to sleep tomorrow. I will be gathered and strengthened by you. Thank you.