My beloved dogs, Peanut the minpin and Baloo, the lovable lab!
The purpose of this blog...
is to track the dogs' adventures in the wonderful world of dog sports!
Peanut is an agility nut, and Baloo likes to dabble in many areas, he has competed in obedience, rally, agility and dock dogs. I hope to one day get into flyball and hunt tests with him competitively as well. He's a real all-arounder!
I will never know the loneliness I hear in the barks of the other dogs 'out there'. I can sleep soundly, assured that when I wake my world will not have changed. I will never know hunger, or the fear of not knowing if I'll eat. I will not shiver in the cold, or grow weary from the heat. I will feel the sun's heat, and the rain's coolness,and be allowed to smell all that can reach my nose. My fur will shine, and never be dirty or matted.
Here in this house... There will be an effort to communicate with me on my level. I will be talked to and, even if I don't understand,I can enjoy the warmth of the words. I will be given a name so that I may know who I am among many. My name will be used in joy, and I will love the sound of it!
Here in this house... I will never be a substitute for anything I am not. I will never be used to improve peoples' images of themselves. I will be loved because I am who I am, not someone's idea of who I should be. I will never suffer for someone's anger, impatience, or stupidity. I will be taught all the things I need to know to be loved by all. If I do not learn my lessons well, they will look to my teacher for blame.
Here in this house... I can trust arms that hold, hands that touch...knowing that, no matter what they do, they do it for the good of me. If I am ill, I will be doctored. If scared, I will be calmed. If sad, I will be cheered. No matter what I look like, I will be considered beautiful and thought to be of value. I will never be cast out because I am too old, too ill, too unruly, or not cute enough. My life is a responsibility, and not an afterthought. I will learn that humans can almost, sometimes, be as kind and as fair as dogs.
Here in this house... I will belong. I will be home.
~unknown~
Almost As Good
If you can start the day without caffeine, If you can get going without pep pills, If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains, If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles, If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it, If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time, If you can overlook it when those you love take it out on you when, through no fault of yours, something goes wrong, If you can take criticism and blame without resentment, If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him, If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend, If you can face the world without lies and deceit, If you can conquer tension without medical help, If you can relax without liquor, If you can sleep without the aid of drugs, If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, colour, religion or politics,
Then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog. Almost, but not quite, Because besides not having any of your hang-ups and vices,He would without hesitation, give up his life for you if need be.
Copyright 1976 by Virginia Trendall --- Fur'n Feathers
No comments:
Post a Comment