The Love of a Dog

What you are about to read is a speech given by US Senator George Graham Vest who was senator from 1879 to 1903, and who was a great orator.

The best of human friends that a man may have in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith.

The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honour when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.

The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.

A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world.

He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privelege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies.

And, when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.

The Cat and the Frog

I heard a most unusual story recently which I want to share with you.

Some people who lived in a large house in the country had been leaving out food regularly for a frog.

As winter approached the frog took to making its way indoors and laying out in front of the open fire.

It was not long before the cat of the house also started to lie in front of the fire, alongside the frog.

Strangely enough they seemed to accept each other and it was not long before the cat allowed the frog to nestle up under its cosy fur.

This became a regular nightly feature throughout the whole of the winter, the frog was quite unafraid of the cat, and the cat seemed to adopt the role of protector.

Has anybody ever heard of anything similar to this?

I have two lovely girl kitties now, Pixie and Sasha - but my little hero was my first girl, Tippy.I got her when she was 8 weeks old, along with her brother Ben and right from the word go it like I was her real mum. She was a very small cat all her life, she was tortie and white with a little white tip on her tail which she always carried bolt upright.She was always with me and she used to lie in my arms and suckle on my shoulder and knead me. I read somewhere that it was extended juvenile behaviour (like suckling for mamas milk), maybe because she was so young when I got her, although Ben never did it. But it was so sweet and I've never felt closer to a cat than I did with Tippy.She was the feline love of my life and I was so upset when she was diagnosed with a tumour when she was 15. She carried on for almost another year when I knew the end was near, even though she was still fairly active. I had booked an appointment at the vets on Monday 15 March 2004, thinking that it was going to be the end. Well, I had to pop out for a bit that day and when I came back I found she had passed away. I found her in the kitchen and I have never forgiven myself for not being with her at that moment. I still miss her and her little squeak to this day, she was just so special to me.
__________________Heidi - owned by Pixie and Sasha RIP Ben, Tippy and Simba xxx

I would like to add an "animal hero" - this is not an animal but a person. A friend of mine has been trapping, spay/neutering and feeding colonies of feral cats for over the last 10 years (he keeps records and says to date he has had over 800 cats fixed). he pays for everything out of his own money and he lives on social security and a small pension so it is hard for him but it means the world to him so he does without a lot of things for himself to care for these poor babies. he is my hero. I also have a friend who recently started a non-profit to find homes for the many previously domestic cats and dogs who were abandoned by owners who were foreclosed upon and had to suddenly leave their homes. You can find a link to this foreclosed upon pets site from my website Cat Jewelry Gifts. My pet heros are so numerous! I recently had to put my little Peke to sleep - she was 15 and blind, deaf and could hardly walk. I adopted her at 11 and she had no eyes - but she taught me how to appreciate the world and life even when you have hardship and handicaps. My best friend, Scottie (cat) was my constant companion for 13 years - slept with me every night, followed me around the house like a puppy - he died of cancer and was so brave and loving till the very end - he was my hero. There are so many, each one so special and amazing and each one has touched my life and brought so much joy - and then so much pain when it is time to let go. But all are loved and will never be forgotten.

I heard a lovely story over the weekend which came from a stables not far from where I live.

As well as having a number of horses at the stables, they also have a pet Newfoundland dog who seems to have struck up quite a friendship with one of the horses.

Whenever the groom starts to saddle up this particular horse the Newfoundland lies down nearby with his nose between his paws, watching what is going on.

As soon as the horse is ready, the dog jumps up and takes hold of the reins in his mouth, and leads the dog out of the yard to where the master is waiting who is going to ride the horse.

When the horse comes back after his ride the dog is given the reins and he leads the horse back into the stables. If the groom is not there then the dog barks constantly until the groom appears and is able to unsaddle the horse etc.

In his own way I think that dog is a little hero, at least to his friend, the horse.

This blog has been created in order for people to be able to say a little something about a pet of theirs, past or present, who has meant a lot to them.

I call them heroes, not because they have necessarily carried out some big heroic mission, but because they have brought something into our lives which we would not be without.

If you have a story to tell about one of your pets, or about pets in general, please email me with the details and I will do my best to include this in the blog, and tell others to come and read it.

I have been blessed over the years with some wonderful pets, and if you have too then here is a chance to publicly acknowledge what they have done for you, or what they mean to you.

Please let me hear from you. You can email me by clicking on the 'view my profile' button.
John.