1.29.2012

January 29, 2012

White Dog, Quinn, Nuka, Puff, and YoYoMa woo'd four wonderful friends over the Rainbow Bridge this past week. One was a heroic Warrior in his fight against the c monster. The second equally valiant in his struggles with the seizure monster. The third unexpectedly had a heart attack during a "routine" teeth cleaning. And the fourth was in a car crash that crushed his pelvis and part of his spine.

We ache for the families filled with huge holes in their lives and hearts now. We struggle to answer the question that always breaks loose from our hearts at times like these: "Why?" We reach out paws and arms to encircle in solace and understanding those who are stunned at the losses. We ask the Universe to grant peace to our friends gone ahead...and to those who remain behind. And we offer these two stories as an explanation as to why...and a hope that as Khyra says, "It isn't for always, it is only for now." White Dog love and sympathy to the families and friends of The Bleu, Dakota, Jack, and Neo. We know you will be there to greet us, Dear Friends.

Why

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 there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their ome.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt Shane could 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, "Everybody is born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody and being nice, right?" The four-year-old continued, "Well, animals already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Source(s): http://www.petsincondos.org/WhyDogs.htm


Together Again

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead. He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high,
white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.

He and the dog walked toward the gate,
and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side. 

When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'

'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.

'Wow! Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.

'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice
water brought right up.'

The man gestured, and the gate began to open. 'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?'
the traveler asked.

'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill,
he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence. As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.



'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'

'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'

'How about my friend here?' the traveler gestured to the dog.

'There should be a bowl by the pump,' said the man.

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it. The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself,
then he gave some to the dog.

When they were full, he and the dog walked back
toward the man who was standing by the tree. 'What do you call this place?' the traveler asked.

'This is Heaven,' he answered.

'Well, that's confusing,' the traveler said.

'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'

'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates?
Nope. That's Hell.'

'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'

'No, we're just happy that they screen out
the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'

11 comments:

haopee said...

I'm so sorry about your four friends. I'm really devastated when our best friends leave our side but I know that wherever they go, there'll be no more pain.

The why story just shows how kids are smarter than we give them credit for. I've heard kids explanation of love and they say the sweetest things.

As for the last story, I think it's a wonderful tale to tell dog lovers. Thanks for sharing it.

Huggies and Cheese,

Haopee

Random Felines said...

All so very true..... we are sending purrs to those families.

Angel Ginger Jasper said...

I send much love to the families and both those stories are. hildren and pets can teach us so much. Hugs GJ xx

Dachshund Nola said...

So very very sad
Dachshund Nola

Brian's Home Blog said...

Sad indeed. Purrs and hugs all around.

The Daily Pip said...

It was a very sad week so many friends lost ...thanks for your wonderful white dog insight, as always.

Your pal, Pip

KB said...

It has been such a very sad week with each of those losses. And, some of our friends are very ill too.

I loved both of your stories - so full of wisdom.

Tweedles -- that's me said...

It's so hard to understand sometimes.
And it seems there is sooo much right now.
We send love to the familys too
love
tweedles

Bailey Be Good! said...

Woofs & hugs to you! It's so, so sad losing loved ones. :(

Woofs & hugs <3

~Bailey (Yep, I'm a girl!)

Sagira said...

I am so very sorry to hear about all the losses. Never easy to let one of our beloved pets go. :(

Anonymous said...

That's from an old Twilight Zone