A dear friend sent this to me on Brandy's passing. I don't know if it's
been posted here before or not, but I thought I'd share it:



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 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.
Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
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.
Be grateful for each new day and for the blessing of you.


ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!