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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 a ll 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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