"Just A Dog" - for those who understand... and for those who just don't.

[Vallhala]

"'Just a dog...?'

From time to time people tell me: 'Lighten up, its just a dog' or, 'That's a lot of money for Just a dog.' They just don't understand the distance traveled, time spent, or costs involved for 'Just a dog.'

Some of my proudest moments have come about with 'Just a dog'. Many hours have passed with my only company being 'Just a dog' - and not once have I felt slighted. Some of my saddest moments were brought about by 'Just a dog'. And in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of 'Just a dog' provided comfort and purpose to overcome the day.

If you, too, think its 'Just a dog' then you will probably also understand phrases like 'Just a friend', 'Just a sunrise', or 'Just a promice'. 'Just a dog' brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. 'Just a dog' brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because of 'Just a dog' I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

For me and folks like me, it's not 'Just a dog'. It's an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. 'Just a dog' brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday people can understand it's not 'Just a dog'. It's the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being 'Just a man'.

So the next time you hear the phrase 'Just a dog' - smile, because they 'Just Don't Understand'."

[ChippingInLovesEasterEggs]

Val :) Someone on MN said to me today 'It's just a cat'... it was probably a good thing she wasn't in the same room as me. I'd no sooner say 'It's just a dog' than I'd say 'it's just your child' but I guess people are stupid less attached.

[Vallhala]

Good thing I didn't see that post Chipping! I'd have Had Words!

[kid]

Only animal owners can truely appreciate the bond we have with our pets.
Some people pretend to understand our loss when we lose a pet, but unless they have a special animal in their life, they couldn't possibly understand the feeling of losing a pet.

[QuietTiger]

Works for cats too. :) When my dear boy-cat of 12 years went missing (and unfortunatley never came home), my DH understood what that meant and dealt with the tears in the middle of the night, the crying out of the blue and the general grief. (Which is why I married him). I have 8 cats (relevant to the story). Several months later, I was at a dinner party and someone asked me if I'd "found the cat". I said no. she then replied with "Oh well, with 8 cats I don't suppose you miss him, it's only a cat".

DH fortuantely stepped in before I could punch her lights out, with "and I supose you wouldn't miss one of your 4 children if they went missing, after all, it's only a child".

She told him it wasn't the same. Actually, for me, it was and is. I still miss him of every hour of every day and it's been 10 months.

[JaxTellersOldLady]

I love my dogs and cat. We have lots of lovely times with them, although the cat is hilarious in her own right!

When we lost our old boy DH & I were so sad, actually sad isnt the right word, it was far worse than sad. But what I hadnt realised is how it would affect the children, it hit my son very very hard, more than I thought possible and even now when he has a down day/over tired he has a cry and misses him. DD is much younger and although she misses him, didnt grieve in the same way.

just a dog hmmf They are my hairy babies!

[SingingTunelessly]

Applauds Val. I remember many years ago somebody saying to me " It's only a horse......" upon seeing my devastation about the possibility I might lose my mare. Never forgotten it. Luckily I never have to see them anymore.

[memphis83]

love the saying they are hairy babies!!!
i lost my lovely boy on the 9th of july, i was in slow labour as he went, we got given one last night with him, i had my family telling me to get to the maternity unit i had to do right by what i consider my 1st son, i still cry for him all the time,he was the one that understood more than any human when i felt low and tuck his nose under my arm, dh's family have the just a dog mentality, but had the brains not to say it to me, my family all have at least one dog, just a dog??? no, they are all part of our family

[ellangirl]

We refer to DS as our 4th child sometimes, after the dog and 2 cats

[musicposy]

My younger "just a dog" has literally been a life saver for me. I lost a baby during pregnancy last year and I just fell to pieces. We got her because we thought it might help. She's put the light back in my life. I'm in the process of coming off the antidepressants now - because of her. She gave me a reason to get up and get out. She showed me that good things could still happen, that life was still fun. I went through a very black cloud but I always tell people she's my very special silver lining. Let nobody dare tell me she's just a dog!

Our elder "just a dog" has been my DD1's confidante and best friend for 9 years. He's been our loyal companion, always there for us all. DD1 says that when no one understands, she can always tell him. He's never found her to be stroppy or teenagerish or hormonal. He's always on her side.

Our two just a dogs and our just a cat are not just animals. They are family.

[bemybebe]

Cannot agree more with you guys. In my experience people who can say "lighten up, it is just a dog" are the ones who give no toss about any living creatures ("it is just a cat/rabbit, get a grip"). They give no toss about strangers in trouble ("there is always something in Africa", "these women have only themselves to blame",...). They give no toss about their distant relatives ("I owe him/her/them nothing, I have only seen her/him/them once a year at the most"). They give no toss about their frail parents ("she/he had all the fun already, now it is my turn; I cannot possibly visit/phone her more than this; he should not expect from me anything"). They really do not give a toss about anyone but the number one. Judgey? I guess I am.

[SecretNutellaFix]

Someone said that to me (I have lots of ishoos with this person anyway) when my old girl was PTS last year.

No such thing as "Just a" anything. They're Just Family.

[Fimbo]

Val are you really a man?

[MumcanIhavesomethingtoeat]

Well said. Our dog (and cat) are very much a part of our family and I refer to them, DS and DH as 'my boys'.

We recently paid for our dog to have an operation in the hope that it would alleviate the pain he was suffering. When DH told his mum the only thing she could say was 'is it worth it?'!

[Vallhala]

Yes Fimbo, I'm a trucker called Dave. And I have hairy hands.

:o

[JaxTellersOldLady]

pmsl @ val knew it!

[Fimbo]

Nah she/he is fooling us all. She is really a carbon copy of \link{http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/05/22/article-0-050A9D30000005DC-873_468x502.jpg\BW}

[Vallhala]

Where did you get that photo of me ... erm... Barbara? :o

[eggsbunsnbunnies]

DH, DS & dog are referred to collectively as the menfolk. I know which is the more sensitive DS has been known to refer to dog as 'my brother'.

[QuietTiger]

Has Val told you to SIT!, yet? ;)

[coccyx]

Some of my happiest and saddest moments have been about my dogs. My dd2 said once, 'mum she is a dog not a human', I said exactly thats why i love her so much!!haha

[TheMonster]

Dogs are better than humans. I love my two best friends.

[ZillahWhoDrankTooMuchGin]

I have three - our Border Collie is 12 and my oldest and best friend. The other two are 18 months old (from rescue - no mum since 4.5 weeks old ) and my DSs best friends - they are brother / sister and heinz 47 (mostly GSD / Collie / Staffie / lab) - just to give you an idea .

We have sacrificed holidays (most places only take two), sofas, knobs and corners of tables and dressers to them - but they are lovely lovely dogs.

The dog pup sleeps with DS1 and since his arrival DSs night terrors / walking have stopped completely - he was really bad before!

Don't try telling me they are 'just' dogs....

[ZillahWhoDrankTooMuchGin]

sorry - didn't mean to bore

[Al0uiseG]

People who've never loved a dog (or any animal) just aren't complete.

She says with 30kgs of Bulldog snoring next to her on the sun lounger.