Articles from Real Pet Lovers
- Thoughts from a True PETLOVER
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AUDREY TORREY, DVM
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.
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.
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.
For the most part, your pet eats the same food every day. The brand you feed is your pet’s main source of nutrition, which is vital to a long and healthy life. That’s why it’s important to look past attractive labels and clever marketing ploys when deciding which food to provide your precious pet.
At HealthPetNet, every food, baked treat and supplement is veterinarian formulated to help your pet achieve optimum health. Our foods and baked treats are nutrient dense and contain only the freshest, human-quality ingredients. Our diets use high-quality meat proteins, rather than by-products, corn, wheat, gluten, or soy. You can be confident you are providing your pet with the healthiest possible diet because our products are free from chemical preservatives, sugars, artificial flavors and colors.
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“Thoughts from a true PETLOVER”
L. Edwards, Texas
In our household, we live in the “always interesting” company of 4 female dogs, and 2 parrots and 1 macaw. Our days are filled with feeding everybody, seeing that they get the proper exercise outdoors as well as indoors, and lots of love and affection to each and every one of them as they are all very different from each other. When we have visitors at our house, they are usually amazed at all the animal interaction going on 24/7, and they often ask … “how do you keep up with all of it?” I tell them … “Well … we don’t really sit and analyze every second we spend with them, or how many times we feed them, etc. … as they are just a very important and special part of our lives. They provide so much enjoyment and give so much unconditional love to us each moment we are with them! They lay near you when you’re watching television or taking a bath or on those days you’re feeling under the weather … you don’t have to look far to see all of them looking on, taking it all in, and enjoying the life they have with us! We’re all one big happy family and everybody gets along great! We totally enjoy every second we have with our pets, and wouldn’t trade a momentof it!”
The Dog of My Dreams
by KT Haase
Curley was the world’s best dog. Yeah, everybody says that about their dog. Me too.
Her life was ump-teen years of fun. I’m not going to spill the last details, but I know she went to dog heaven.
I came home to a dogless house for the first time in eons.
It sucked.
I tried to rationalize how it could be a "good thing" to have no pet. There’s no hassle about leaving on vacation. No more dog hair. Don’t worry about coming home to walk the dog. No one to lick your face. No reason to get up in the morning. No one to talk to. No reason to keep breathing in and out.
I lived only a mile from the Hawaiian Humane Society, a pretty little animal shelter in Honolulu. About every other day I’d go there and cruise the kennels.
All the dogs that perked me up were always spoken for. Twice there were even Curley lookalikes. “So lucky – I’m adopted!” it said on their kennel door. “So sad – I’m dogfree and hating it!” was painted on my face.
One Saturday at home I was taking a nap, another name for being depressed. I had a dream that my dog was waiting at the humane society. When I woke up, I had 45 minutes before the place closed. I raced in and walked briskly past the kennels looking for Curley II, the sequel, as dreamed.
“Hmmm, where's my dog?” I thought as I got to the last cage.
My next sweep past the dog kennels was slower. I looked at each of the candidates, pausing to and ask them “Are you my dog?” I squatted and looked into their eyes, asking the big question, "Did I dream about YOU?" Lab eyes, pit bull eyes, mostly
big-dog eyes. Where were the buggy brown little-terrier eyes?
Then I saw his black fuzzy-face eyes obscured by clumps of icky hair. Every kind of burr was matting up the dirty white and gray hairs on his face, legs and medium-size body – except for where he was naked. His entire back half, butt, thighs and underside were devoid of hair. A million fleas were having a party in his peachfuzz. This was one sorry guy.
Then I saw his black fuzzy-face eyes obscured by clumps of icky hair. Every kind of burr was matting up the dirty white and gray hairs on his face, legs and medium-size body – except for where he was naked. His entire back half, butt, thighs and underside were devoid of hair. A million fleas were having a party in his peachfuzz. This was one sorry guy.
His slurping tongue said, “I’m yer dawg!” I replied, “Nah, ya couldn’t be! You’re too big. You’re not a lady. You look like hell.” He reiterated his dog-thoughts.
I moved the goopy hair away from his face and took a good look into his eyes. I knew at that moment that he was the dog of my dreams. Not the pooch I thought I wanted. But the dog destined to share my life.
Smart and incredibly handsome after he was cleaned up, the dog looked like his name should be Tucker. Then my friend named Harry died tragically a few months later. By this time Tucker’s missing hair had grown in bushy on his back half and underside. Honoring both my friend and his fur, "Harry Tucker" became his name.
Funnily enough, I got a job years later at the humane society and could bring my dog to work with me. Harry Tucker would lay not-too-comfortably in my office and listen warily to all the dogs barking in the kennels outside.
