Dog

Except from a mature conversation between friends.

"I don't believe in God."

"Hmm. How do you explain them then?"

"Explain what?"

"Dogs."

"What?"

"What other reason could there be for dogs than there being a God who loves us."

Pause.

"Fair point."

I'm sitting looking out onto the park below my window and watching three dogs of various sizes and equally different sound levels, running around the grass with each other barking and jumping; stopping only to roll in something that cannot be determined from this distance but probably hasn't been alive for a long while.

It is my assertion M'Lud that we, as a race do not deserve dogs. They are funny, loyal, forgiving and, if you own a dog, you will know you are their world. I spend far too much time on the Internet watching dogs recover from the most awful abuse and their first action when they start to feel better is to wag their tail at their rescuer. I think, if dogs had human feelings, as soon as they got their strength back their first instinct would be to rip someone's arm off. (Can I clarify, I don't watch the dogs being abused - I watch them recover and be loved and cared for. It's very wholesome and life-affirming. Although I have been tempted to search out contract killers to deal with the abusers). 

Our own pup - Morecambe (called after Eric) - was a feisty Jack Russell who spent a good proportion of his 14 years trying to work out whether he liked us or not. He was very loyal in his own way. On the multitude of occasions when he was in trouble - scrapping on the beach, sneaking onto the bed, rolling in dead seagulls, climbing into the dishwasher to lick the plates - it's a long list - he hated being thought badly of and would always try and get back in our good books. I am not a fool, I know that was because we had control of the biscuits. But still - when he died we were inconsolable and we still talk about him now.  Dogs are the most dependable of friends. Many years ago, when my home life was a little on the toxic side, I would get home from work to be greeted by our old black labrador cross. As Aged Parent pointed out - probably not meaning it quite like it came out - "At least someone is giving you a warm welcome home". 

I'm telling you this because my friend has had to have her beloved dog put to sleep. He was very ill. It was absolutely the correct thing to do - especially for him. That doesn't help much at this point. They are devasted. 

Everyone says that when you buy a dog, you know that this day is coming. You don't  - not really. You expect a nuclear war or the Second Coming so that you can all go down together. (Or up together - depending on your views on the Book of Revelation). That's what you would prefer. You never think for a moment that you will be leaving the vets with an empty lead. (Unless you are farmer types who are far more balanced about this kind of thing - possibly because they wring a lot of chickens' necks). 

Queen Elizabeth once said, “Grief is the price we pay for love.”. (I'll be frank with you, I have looked that up. Our dear Queen Elizabeth was a lot of good things but I don't think I ever had her down as having such hidden depths.  Anyway, she did say it - it was paraphrased from a book by a hospice doctor - Dr Murray Parks). It was part of a message she sent to the families of the 9/11 victims. I am obviously not equating 9/11 with losing your dog but the principle is the same. 

At the moment - everything is horrible. Suddenly, you notice that the flipping dog is in 90% of your photos, you have to get rid of his box or his manky chew toys or you long to have to get up early again to let him out. But, like most things, slowly you remember and there is smiling in the remembrance and you are really glad that he was sent to you and grateful for all that he gave you. It may be the nearest we get to graceful, unconditional love outside of the spiritual realm and it nourishes us and eventually, we know that it was worth it. 

"It is better to have loved a dog than never to have loved at all"  Tennyson (Nearly)

Have a good week