A dog's purpose from a six-year-old
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This six-year-old is wiser than his years. I had a
lump in my throat while reading this.
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.
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. 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.
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