A friend passes

9/1/06 | Self

[DieHard the Hunter]

Some folk like cats: to them, I say "Goodonya" because *somebody* has to like cats. For me, personally, cats have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. And I'm talking about Character here. Cats are selfish and aloof (if cuddly), hi-maintenance and not very bright. One small evolutionary step up from Varmints -- but not much.

Dogs, on the other hand, embody and personify Unconditional Love. All that is Noble in Mankind, and Honorable: all that we should aspire to, is aptly demonstrated by Dogs. There is a pact between Dogkind and Mankind: we are both pack animals and we understand each other. And for some reason, way way way back yonks of time, in the dim remembrances of History, Dogs and Man formed a Holy Alliance.

Dogs have kept the Faith between our species. Why do they fit into our families so readily? It is because there is very little difference between Dogs and Mankind. We are more similar than we are different. As Mowgli said in _The Jungle Book_ "We be one Blood, Thou and I".

I have no difficulty -- none at all -- about feeling a deep sense of Protectiveness and Friendship and Devotion toward my Dogs. Yes, I suppose it's a form of Love. And I mourn when, eventually, each one passes on, in the fullness of time. When this happens, I am there beside them and we take the journey into the Unknown together: for none of my Dogs will ever die alone.

When the time comes, do the right thing by your Dog. Fourteen is a good ol' age: enjoy him while you can.

*DieHard*

[sandra_789]

NEAR THIS SPOT


ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS OF ONE


WHO POSSESSED BEAUTY WITHOUT VANITY


STRENGTH WITHOUT INSOLENCE


COURAGE WITHOUT FEROCITY


AND ALL THE VIRTUES OF MAN WITHOUT HIS VICES


THIS PRAISE WHICH WOULD BE UNMEANING FLATTERY


IF INSCRIBED OVER HUMAN ASHES


IS BUT A JUST TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF


BOATSWAIN, A DOG


WHO WAS BORN AT NEWFOUNDLAND, MAY 1803,


AND DIED AT NEWSTEAD, NOVEMBER 18, 1808.

.

[sandra_789]

Dog saves child from bees, dies from stings

Updated 12:59 PM ET December 22, 1999

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A dog saved his four-year-old master from a swarm of bees by covering him with his body, and then died from the stings, Argentine police said Wednesday.

Kharin Toloza was playing with his dog Chocolate in Valle Viejo, northwestern Argentina, when he was attacked by the insects, local police told the state-run Telam news agency.

The dog jumped and stayed on top of the boy, who was taken to hospital but was declared out of danger after receiving just a few stings. The dog died. .

[Hegewisch Dupa]

My sincere condolences. You've been thru, and are yet to go thru, an awful lot. You're blessed for the time you had together; but that doesn't lessen the current pain, obviously.

[mountn man]

Sorry this is late. I just read your posting. My condolances on your loss.

I too, once had a dog named Ginger. She was a rollicking Irish Setter. She was a puppy until the day she died. I was fortunate that she didn't have a prolonging death. She died from congestive heart failure. I never had to make the decision to put her down, which was good. But she died minutes before I got to the vets office. She was still warm when I said my good byes. And now tears drop from my eyes, 240 lbs. of rough, tough construction worker, as I remember her, 15 years after she left me.

I had another friend of 11 years, a Golden named Cody. A gentle and lovable and faithful friend. He passed 2-1/2 years ago from cancer.

Today, I once again have a rollicking Irish Setter, Molly, who brings many smiles to my face and heart. She is 11 months old, and was a Christmas present to myself last year.

I mourn your loss with you. I don't know if dogs go to heaven. Some say they don't because they don't have souls. But I have read the bible front to back in its entirety a number of times, and there is nothing in there stating a soul is required to go to heaven. Angels don't have souls. And pets no matter how "good" or "bad" we view them, don't sin. So sin will not keep them out. And the Bible talks about the lion laying down with the lamb, in the end. And since the Bible says the Jesus is preparing heaven for us, why wouldn't there be the possibility of our favorite friends there to greet us? I choose to believe that Ginger and Cody have met up there and are both youthful and healthy, and chasing each other all over heaven, bringing a smile to the face of Jesus, as he watches them. And every once in awhile they stop, and look, and listen, and sniff the air, and look to Jesus, and he tells them, not yet guys.

But someday, Jesus is going to say "Ginger, Cody (and probably Molly too), he's coming home, lets go meet him." And I'll walk through the Pearl Gates and see my savior, and he'll be accompanied by 3 of my best friends.