Man's Best Friends



Neo and I



I recently read a book entitled “The Art of Racing in the Rain”, by Garth Stein.  http://www.garthstein.com/index.php  This book was given to me by my friend Rosemary (who knows me very well), and contains two of my favourite elements – dogs and auto racing. 

Enzo, the dog who narrates the story, is a loyal, lovable friend to his owner.  Enzo is an old dog, about to die, whose greatest desire is to be reborn as a human.  Now I don’t believe in reincarnation, and to be quite honest, I hate the thought of a sweet dog becoming a human being.  It almost seems like a step down.  However, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, even though at the end, I sat on the floor and sobbed into the fur of my own dogs.

Ever since I can remember, dogs have had a special place in my heart.  I have always loved petting them, and anytime I have ever watched a show where a dog died or even got hurt, I have been reduced to tears.  Of all God’s creatures, canines have such a depth of emotion.  My dogs make me feel so loved – always.  I once received a funny email that proclaimed how to determine who loved you more, your dog or your spouse.  The email instructed the reader to lock both the dog and the spouse in the trunk of a car for one hour.  When the hour was up, and the trunk was opened, whoever was the happiest to see you loved you the most.   

Neo as a puppy

Dogs don’t hold grudges.  My dogs hate when I leave them.  Matter of fact, they often refrain from eating while I’m gone.  But when I come back home, they aren’t mad at me – they are ecstatic that I have returned.  They prance around, rubbing up against me, letting me pet them – and then they run to their food bowl. 



Neo today



Mavourneen



I have had my Neo since March of 2002.  He will be nine years old in December.  Although I have other dogs as well, Neo is special.  He was a gift from my daughter Rachele after the loss of my beloved second husband.  I simply could not sleep alone, so I began to share my bed with a warm little bundle of fur.  He is now a large bundle of fur – approximately 70 or 75 lbs.  Since my remarriage 2 years ago, dogs are no longer allowed in my bed.  I feel guilty about that.  I feel as though I sold out my best friends.  Sometimes I curl up with them on their blanket in the kitchen, which is the only room in the house where they are allowed now.  They forgive me; they don’t think I have done anything wrong. 



Bianca



Besides Neo, I have Mavourneen, who is Neo’s daughter.  We won’t get into the fact that she is also his niece.  Bianca was a stray dog who adopted me several years ago.  I was leaving work one night, and she came from nowhere and hopped into my car.  I didn’t take her then, but several days later, a companion and I were driving through the same town, and she ran out in front of us.  We almost hit her.  When we pulled over and opened up the door, she again hopped in and looked up at me as if to say, “Well, are you taking me home now?”  I took her home that day.  Scamp is the son of Neo and Bianca.  I also used to have a littermate of Scamp’s – Dozer.  Dozer was a sweet, gentle dog with a soft muzzle and deep golden brown eyes.  He disappeared one night two years ago.  All the dogs accidentally got let outside, and he didn’t come back with the rest of them.  Although I posted flyers afterward, I never found him.  I really want to believe that he went to a new home, and is healthy and happy.



Dozer



I know that one day all these dogs will be gone.  When I think that Neo only has a few years left on this earth, I feel as though I can’t breathe.  I don’t understand why our best friends have such a short life span compared to our own.



Scamp



I want to believe that I will see my dogs in Heaven.  I can’t find anywhere in the Bible that encourages such thinking, but who knows for sure?  Why would God create animals for this earth and have Heaven be devoid of them?  I finally comforted myself with the idea that every animal that has ever been in existence lives in the mind of God.  Therefore, while I hope for the actual animals themselves, I am still assured of access to every dog I have ever loved and lost once I am in the presence of my Father. 

In the meantime, I will enjoy every moment I have with my canine friends.