"Just a dog"? Or something else?

[ginger899]

We love our pets, and to many of  us who are dog owners, our dog is a member of our family.
They reward us for our affection with devotion, honesty, and even those dogs who don't behave perfectly give us a sense of joy and fun. They make us laugh, or smile, they hang on to our every word (or ignore us and dig in the garden), they cause us to worry, they snore loudly, keeping us awake. They make us get up early, they sometimes steal our food. They wag and dance for joy when we come home, they lean on us for comfort. They keep us company along those tracks of life we walk.

But what are they with us for? What are the lessons they teach us? In what way have we become better people for knowing, loving, and sharing with a dog?

Are they little Angels, sent to help and protect us, or are they just Critters.....Just Dogs?

[lindapalm]

I wish I had their forgiveness and happy attitude they seem to always have, maybe when I come back as a cat or dog I will.

[ginger899]

It's so wonderful, what you did for that cat. And many times animals behave better than the humans who are supposed to be entrusted with their care! How anyone could abandon ANY animal onto the streets like this, I don't know. I just saw a program about the RSPCA (in UK) who rescued an Alsatian, and three kittens who had been locked up in a house, and the owners had just moved home, leaving them there! How anyone could do that!

Sometimes I think they are here to show us very special things. How to be better human beings. Our dogs and our cats show wonderful qualities. Over the years I know I have learned so much from my dog, about how to be a better person.

[lindapalm]

I enjoyed your article, and can relate to it, only in my case its a cat.  I have had many animals, and still have eight, but I've never had a cat like Leo.  He was found on the side of the road, laying down and unable to get up because he was so weak.  He was plastered in diarrhea and had flies all over him.  He tried to meow but nothing came out, and his tongue hung out constantly.  I was afraid he could be rabid, but laid a can of food next to him.  He ate it laying down, and tried to sit up after it was gone.  My son had found him, and tried to have animal control come and get him, but they wouldn't.  He suggested shooting him because he was in such bad shape he didn't want him to suffer.  I fed him for several days and finally took a carrier, layed it down with the door open, and he walked in.  I took him home, and each day would wash him up, his butt was so infected, he just sat there and let me do anything I wanted, I believe he knew I was helping him.  When he was healthy enough to take to the vet, he was put on meds for giarrdhea and had teeth pulled.  I found out his tongue hung out because his teeth had dissolved and fallen out from bad nutrition.  He grew to be the best and most trusting animal I have ever had, and is totally devoted to me.  He was obviously someones cat at one time, and was dumped off.  Unlike humans, animals don't hold grudges about being mistreated, and they continue to love you despite the things they have had done to them.  I wish I could be more like my cat.