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

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

[goat granny]

We are both old and sleep all the time..LOL. He can complaine but has to learn he goes outside. Jack Russels are high spirited dogs on the go all the time, she/he needs time to adjust....You can try coaxing him to go out with a small piece of his favorite snack. Thats how I got my lab to lay down for nail clipping...clip 2 nails get a small piece of hot dog...it took a while but she learned before her blindness when I picked up the nail clippers and a hot dog cut up was on the counter, she's wag her tail and lay down waiting for me....It takes a different routine now with her blindness.....

Sometimes she puts on her brakes when she doesn't want to go outside, she's strong as an ox if she doesn't want to move, YOu are going to need lots of patience, My dogs biggest thing to overcome was going down the 2 steps to go outside, in the beginning it took sometimes up to 5 minutes for her to make those 2 steps...finally she would put her paw down and move it slightly until her nails were not on the step and she slowly gained confidence....it takes a while, patience, patiences and don't rush her/him, but they have to learn that growling isn't going to let her get her way......don't know if this helps or not, but she does great for a blind, deaf dog....

[Pride in the USA]

Please pass this beautiful picture and article to Ken. He will really appreciate it, I think.

[lonevoice]

Ping! The beautiful photograph and the story at the link are not to be missed.

[Empireoftheatom48]

We found our lab/hound mix the first memorial day after 9/11. W e named her Miss Liberty, Libby for short. She was wonderful and loving, she loved the kids so much. Four years ago she developed Addison’s disease. At the end it was the struggle to maintain her normal Life using steroids and other meds. She loved to play frisby and jump up to catch it in her jaws. One day two weeks ago and after she stopped eating, but playing frisby even that day, we had to take her in. Her kidneys were gone every thing was off the charts. We could have kept her alive using extreme measures that would have to have been repeated regularly. It was such a sad day. We loved her so much!

[Darnright]

I’m so sorry. I know you love that dog from your many posts about your spunky little guys. Letting them go is never, ever easy. :(

[Titan Magroyne]

Suh-weet! As I am not a Facebooker, I’d never have seen this photo otherwise. Thank you so much for posting, guys!

[GBA]

That's beautiful, so much said with just a picture.

And twice in two days I've lost it over a dog that's not even mine.

Last night I watched Jesse Stone say goodbye to his boy Buddy and lost it and now one look at this picture and it's the same thing all over again.

Those fuzzy goofs sure do get into one's heart. We're not worthy, God. Not one bit, but thank you for blessing us with them anyway.

[Don W]

I am triply fortunate that my workplace is amenable to my choice of allowing my hair to grow, I grow VERY nice hair, and I have found a charity that makes wigs for children with alopecia.

When I read such a shallow, mindless and petty comment, I consider the source, and put the poster on my “beneath contempt” list.

I genuinely pity such pathetic beings. How sad to spend your life judging others by your own shortcomings.

[TurboZamboni]

“The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest.” ― Martin Luther

[BigCinBigD]

Interesting yet all too predictable results.

[Ditter]

Be careful with this poem, it will make your eyes water.

THE POWER OF THE DOG by R. Kipling

There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day,
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and sister, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the 14 years which nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumors, or fits
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find it's your own affair
But.... you've given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will
With it's whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still)
Is gone, wherever it goes, for good.
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay,
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept’em, the more we do grieve.

For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long...
So why in Heaven, before we are there,
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

[Salamander]

I lost my sense of smell in an accident 30 years ago.

I would be SO happy to smell a wet dog or sweaty horse again.

People complain about the piddliest things without ever thinking what it would be like to lose them.

[Ditter]

One of my friends lost an eye and her sense of smell (long story) to cancer about 5 years ago. Your sense of smell is something I had never considered to be very important but I was wrong, it is terrible to lose it.

[DivineMomentsOfTruth]

Pure Love.. Brought tears to my eyes, too.

[tob2]

This picture just oozes love.

[TurboZamboni]

The photographer is selling prints (and coffee mugs) at http://lakesuperiorcards.com/p96728378 and splitting proceeds with Unger. In addition, an anonymous donor contacted the Pioneer Press on Wednesday, Aug. 8, with an offer to pay for all of Schoep’s medical treatments and vet bills.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_21273909/this-man-picture-is-worth-thousand-words-so?source=most_viewed