animal lives are short

[ellanoize]

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 of cancer. 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.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

Take naps.

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.

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 them gently.

Be always grateful for each new day.

--------------------

[Rogue Angel]

awwwwwww... [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img] very good advice....

[phoenixrising79]

That is really cool. I've lost many pets over the years, and animals definitely don't live that long. Even though we only get to know them for a short time, they always manage to find a place in our hearts, and will remain in memory forever [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ellanoize]

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the d og wal king beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as
he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, "Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the man asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up."

The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

"Can my friend," gesturing toward his dog, "come in, too?" the traveler asked.

I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.


"Excuse me!" he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"

"Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in."

"How about my friend here?" the traveler gestured to the dog.

"There should be a bowl by the pump."

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.


When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.

What do you call this place?" the traveler asked.

"This is Heaven," he answered.

"Well, that's confusing," the traveler said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."


"Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's hell."



"Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?"


"No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."

[Rogue Angel]

awwwwwwwwwwwwww.... [img]smile.gif[/img] i would never leave my cat behind.... if she couldn't go, then neither would i.... [img]graemlins/heart.gif[/img]

<font color="#928D86" size="1">[ August 23, 2007 11:21 AM: Message edited by: Rogue Angel ]</font>

[mr rogie]

Keep your pets healthy and have your vet check them out...front to back...LOL

<font color="#928D86" size="1">[ August 23, 2007 01:35 PM: Message edited by: mr rogie ]</font>

[ellanoize]

I recieved this email from an old friend this morning and I had tears streaming down my face, It is a beautiful story...rog

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog, Lucky. Lucky was a
real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come
for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to
not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help
himself to whatever struck his fancy.

Inevitably someone would forget and something would
come up missing Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box
in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid
all of Lucky's favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his
finds in his toy box and he was very particular that
his toys stay in the box.

It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer.
Something told her she was going to die of this
disease...she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled
the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.

The night before she was to go to the hospital she
cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would
happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked
Jim he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die
Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't
understand that I didn't want to leave him.

The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own
death. The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than
her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized
for over two weeks.

Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully but the
dog just drooped, whining and miserable. But finally
the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she
arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even
make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife
comfortable on the couch and left her to nap.

Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her
when she called. It made Mary sad but sleep soon
overcame her and she dozed. When Mary woke for a second
she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't
move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. Panic
soon gave way to laughter though when Mary realized the
problem. she was covered, literally blanketed in every
treasure Lucky owned!

While she had slept the sorrowing dog had made trip
after trip to the basement and back bringing his
beloved mistress his favorite things in life. He had
covered her with his love. Mary forgot about dying.
Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking
further and further together every night.

It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free.
Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in
his toybox but Mary remains his greatest treasure.

Live everyday to the fullest...because every day is a
blessing from God

God Bless,
Sharon Bryant

[Rogue Angel]

...i think that has to be the sweetest thing i've ever heard.... [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img]

[ellanoize]

*I dare you not to let this story touch your heart - rog
**************************************************

"Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to
this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since
we started all of this," the mother told the volunteer.

"What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked.

"Puppy size!" replied the mother.

"Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for."

"I know...we have seen most of them," the mom said in frustration...

Just then Danielle came walking into the office

"Well, did you find one?" asked her mom. "No, not this time,"
Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the
weekend?"

The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed

"You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's
always a supply," the volunteer said.

Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't
worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said.

Over the next few days both mom and dad had long conversations with her.

They both felt she was being too particular. "It's this weekend or
we're not looking any m ore," Dad finally said in frustration.

"We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size either," Mom added.

Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday
morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the
section that housed the smaller dogs.

Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of
the first row of cag es. There was an observation window so you could
see the animals during times when visitors weren't permitted.

Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to
take a closer look One by one the dogs were brought out and she held
each one.

One by one she said, "Sorry, you're not the one."

It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect pup.

The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up
the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer.



"Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!"
she screamed with joy. "It's the puppy size!"

"But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the
last few weeks," Mom said.

"No not size... the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she
said.

"Don't you remember?
When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the
sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!"

The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know
whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did
a little of both.

"Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home
from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the
right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said.

Then holding the puppy up close to her face she said, "Mom, he loves
me. I heard the sighs of his heart!"

[mr rogie]

I'll bump this one to the top, in case someone missed it.

Hiya Miz RA [img]graemlins/rose.gif[/img]