"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'."

but with more heart, soul, caring and compassion than most humans

Amen to that [GRIN]

Your little buddy sounds adorable xxx

Oh EmptyShell you've bought big tears to my eyes.

I had a very similar experience to Emptyshell....though I had the dog (Battersea boy) before it all started. In the end, after being with us through thick and thin, my lovely lovely Dingo had to be pts (cancer, sudden and painful) at the grand old age of 14 - and my miracle dd1 was conceived three weeks after he died. One baby left, another arrived.
Its only now she's seven, and her little miracle-sister four, that I'm beginning to feel ready to look for the next four-pawed one...

'Just a dog'. Pah.

bemybebe - I just cannot believe your comments about non animal lovers not caring about strangers, the starving, frail elderly parents etc etc - I hope you are seriously over generalising.

I have read this thread with genuine interest as I am one of those people who would think 'its just a dog' (although I hope I would never say it to anyone). I personally find it hard to understand why people love animals so much although I recognise that many people have very close bonds with their pets, and that's obviously a good thing for them.

But please respect the fact that many people do not like pets and I do avoid visiting friends with dogs/cats etc that will not put them away when I visit. I fully respect that it is the host's perogotive but it is no point saying to me 'don't worry, they won't hurt you' - I just don't like being slobbered over/licked etc - and why do dogs and cats always approach me? .

I spend a lot of time doing voluntary work (with people ) and guess I could equally state that I just don't understand people who don't do voluntary work but we are all different so please don't write off all non animal lovers as being totally selfish.

AWWW ragwort I certainly don't think non animal lovers are totally selfish, but I do think they are missing out on an amazng expereience which is totally different and seperate to anything we ge from our human relationships

I have friends who dont like being slobbered over who bring thier puking, pooing toddlers to my house. its no biggie.... either ,

As you say we are all different and in the grand scheme of things insignificant too...Love and respect for all animals, human and non human ...now theres a dream..........

Bless you Val. My thoughts exactly.