As you read this, you may be tempted to think I’m putting humans down. This is not the case. Quite to the contrary, over the years, Dad has taught me a lot of stuff that not only makes me a better dog and better companion but improves the quality (and undoubtedly length) of my life. I would be remiss if I passed by the opportunity to point out what looks to these doggy eyes to be somewhat of a character flaw on the part of you humans and make suggestions as to how it can be overcome.
Okay it’s a no-brainer, you humans are the uncontested pinnacle of creation. Over the millennia, you have not only learned to survive on an ever-changing planet but you have thrived. You have learned to manipulate your world and have, in doing so, accumulated a testament of wondrous achievements while my kind still walks on all fours and chews at their fleas when they become bothersome. You are responsible for the nice warm houses in which we live and the doggy doors in them so that I don’t have to poop inside my nice warm house. You’ve made cars and trucks so I can go for a ride. You can cook a steak for us to share. I couldn’t do that if my life depended on it. Left to my own devices, I’d probably just chew on the cow’s leg until it decided to kick my head off. Let’s not forget about Cheeze nips either! The list goes on and on.
In at least one respect though, your dog is far superior in that he/she is ever so much the more noble species. Although there are exceptions on both sides, overall, the dog is the more leal of the two. When you get a dog, you can trust that he will not abandon you or throw you out when you get old and sick. Actually, the opposite is true. If you’re sick, hurt or even just sad, your dog will do their best to improve your lot in their own doggy way. Your dog will stay with you for life. Your dog doesn’t come home one day having decided that you’re “inconvenient” and out you go, probably going to have to have you put down ‘cause no one else would want you. Your dog won’t have puppies and decide that there’s no longer any place for you in the family. Nowhere on this earth exists a shelter for humans that have been discarded by their dogs. Nowhere! The landfills are not full of humans in black garbage bags, dumped there because they were unwanted by their dogs. You almost never see a dog stop the car, throw their human out into the middle of the highway and haul ass headed for the house. The list goes on and on.
We’re spending our Christmas eve with a little dying Yorkie. He was discarded by his family ( had him all his life) because his teeth are bad. Okay, his teeth are real bad, they stick out at angles like fangs gone wild. I can just imagine the kids going “ewwwwwww!”. Honey, dog’s gotta go, he’s grossing the kids out. In spite of his dentition, Munch is the sweetest little baby in the world. Mom and Dad dote on him and Lil and I let him sleep on the bed with us. Mom had him to the vet but they can’t do anything for his teeth because he’s old and has congestive heart failure. The procedure would kill him. And so our Munch will live out his remaining days as a valued member of our family.
When we woke up this morning, he wouldn’t take his heart medicine or anything else for that matter. He was on his way down. Dad filled him full of medicine and fluids, tried to tempt him with some scrambled eggs, but he probably won’t last the night. He’s got no more fight left in him. At least he’ll die with soothing words and kindness, knowing that he’s loved. Meanwhile his loving family, freed of the inconvenience of him, is surely busy celebrating their holy day that’s all about God’s love. Doesn’t seem right, does it?
As you celebrate your Christian holiday, please contemplate the fact that you are the dominant species because your god made you so. When he created the beasts of the earth and the birds of the air, he gave you dominion over them all. In the same breath, he also charged you with the responsibility to exercise a proper stewardship over them all. It is my sincere hope that at least one person takes this message to heart and applies the Christian principles of peace and love to their companion animal(s) thereby displaying the loyalty that is just part of being a dog.
To Munch’s (our name for him) family from my Dad; “Your precious little boy is spending Christmas eve dying but not to worry, I’ll stay with him and keep him comfortable and when he dies, he will leave this world surrounded by those who truly love him. Oh yeah, and Merry Christmas.”
