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. 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.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
Stop when you have had enough.
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 |
