A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old)

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 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."

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.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
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.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Never pretend to be something you're not.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
Love unconditionally and forgive frequently

Quotations about Dogs

Got a good quote?
Send it off to me at: klineneil@aol.com

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.  ~Ben Williams
Dogs' lives are too short.  Their only fault, really.  ~Agnes Sligh Turnbull
I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.  ~Gilda Radner
One reason a dog can be such a comfort when you're feeling blue is that he doesn't try to find out why.  ~Author Unknown
Scratch a dog and you'll find a permanent job.  ~Franklin P. Jones
Properly trained, a man can be dog's best friend.  ~Corey Ford
Dogs laugh, but they laugh with their tails.  ~Max Eastman
My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.  ~Author Unknown
If you get to thinking you're a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else's dog around.  ~Will Rogers
The more I see of man, the more I like dogs.  ~Mme. de Staël
They never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation.  ~Jerome K. Jerome
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.  ~Roger Caras
Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog.  ~Franklin P. Jones
Happiness is a warm puppy.  ~Charles M. Schulz
A door is what a dog is perpetually on the wrong side of.  ~Ogden Nash
If your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise.  ~Author Unknown
Life is like a dog sled team.  If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes.  ~Lewis Grizzard
When a man's best friend is his dog, that dog has a problem.  ~Edward Abbey
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.  ~Josh Billings
Children are for people who can't have dogs.  ~Author Unknown
If you can look at a dog and not feel vicarious excitement and affection, you must be a cat.  ~Author Unknown
The pug is living proof that God has a sense of humor.  ~Margo Kaufman
I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult.  ~Rita Rudner