It’s Just a Dog
Category: Pets and Animals

To anyone who says, "It's just a dog:"

You are the reason rescues exist, why thousands of dogs die everyday in
shelters, homeless and unwanted.

You are the backyard breeder or puppy miller, who looks at a dog and
sees dollar signs, who cares nothing for the inevitable decline in the
dog's health after having litter upon litter of puppies, nor for the
countless dogs who will now die in shelters because the puppies you
breed have taken up their homes.

You are the supporter of these backyard breeders and puppy mills,
willing to pay $500 or more for a puppy rather than $90 for a rescued
dog, because having a pedigree to show off to friends is more important
than saving the life of a true and loyal companion.

You are the one who trains dogs to fight, whether for sport or
protection, thus abusing your dog and bringing the call for the
extermination of an entire breed of perfectly wonderful dogs.

You are the one who thinks nothing of putting your dog to sleep because
it doesn't go with the furniture, or it urinates on the carpet, while at
the same time balking at the thought of spanking an unruly child.

You are the one who dumps your dog at the shelter when you move, because
you're too lazy to find pet-friendly housing.

You are the one who keeps your dog tied up outside, only bothering to
provide the occasional bowls of food and water and possibly a tree for
shade, because after all, it is just a dog, right?

To the 90 year old woman in the nursing home, abandoned by her family,
yearning for companionship, stroking the fur of a new friend with the
words "Therapy Dog" on its side, it's not just a dog.

To the young child who has become literate by reading aloud to a dog in
the classroom, it's not just a dog.

To the person with skin cancer who had it detected by a dog when the
doctors couldn't, it's not just a dog.

To the blind man who now can see through his companion, it's not just a
dog.

To anyone who has been in bed, sick with the flu, and has felt the
warmth of that cold nose as he curls up between your legs to give you
comfort, it's not just a dog.

To anyone who comes home from a hard day of work to be greeted by
someone who's so happy to see you they can't stop wiggling, it's not
just a dog.

To anyone who has cried at Old Yeller, because they know what it's like
to lose their best friend, to know that their friend is suffering and
though it may be hard, the best thing to do is to help them go
peacefully, it's not just a dog.

When you say, "It's just a dog," you really mean, "Why should I care
about it? Dogs aren't important. They're useless. They don't give
anything to us, so why should I give them anything in return? Why do I
have to care about their feelings? They don't matter in the grand scheme
of things. It's just a dog."

To everyone who says, "It's just a dog," I just have this to say to you:

You're just a human.

~Unknown

7:17 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Without Your Help, Ohio May Become The 1st Stae To Ban Pit Bulls
Category: Pets and Animals

Without your help, Ohio may become the first State to ban pit bulls.


Please let Ohio lawmakers know how you feel about their plan to make it illegal to own pit bulls, that there are better ways to protect the public from dangerous dogs and that pit bulls are not necessarily dangerous dogs.


Ask these lawmakers to solve Ohio's dog issues through effective dangerous dog ordinances, funding low cost and free spay/neuter clinics, banning tethering of dogs, and stregthening Ohio's antiquated animal cruelty laws.


Pertinent Sections of House Bill 568 -

Sec. 955.111. (A) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, no person shall own, keep, or harbor a dog that belongs to a breed that is commonly known as a pit bull dog.

(B) Not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section, a person who owns, keeps, or harbors a pit bull dog on the effective date of this section shall surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.

(C)(1) Beginning ninety days after the effective date of this section, if an officer has probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog, the officer may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant. The court shall issue a search warrant for the purposes requested if there is probable cause to believe that a dog is a pit bull dog.


(2) After obtaining a search warrant, an officer shall seize the pit bull dog and surrender the dog to the dog warden. Not later than ten days after receiving the dog, the dog warden shall euthanize the dog.


You can contact the author of this bill through the following:

Representative Tyrone Yates
77 S.
High St
11th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Email: district33@ohr.state.oh.us
Telephone: (614) 466-1308
Fax : (614) 719-3587

Dog lovers and owners in the State of Ohio need you. Don't let this witch hunt happen.

www. thepetitionsite. com/1/stop-ohio-from-banning-pit-bulls-statewide


***PLEASE REPOST EVERYWHERE***

10:10 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

The Guardian Campaign
Category: Pets and Animals

In the past, animals were recognized in legal terms as mere commodities or property, not as individual beings, and often their exploitation and abuse was ignored, rationalized and even justified.


The Guardian Campaign was created in 1999 as a nationwide platform to reflect growing public support for a redefined public standard of relating to animals.


As more people consider using the updated term "animal guardian," evidence of society's deep personal relationship with dogs, cats and other animal companions comes to light.


Society's views change over time and every so often, society calls for a language facelift. It is not so long in human history that women, children and others were seen, in legal terms, as merely property. It appears that society is ready to acknowledge that animals, too, are worth something more than their price tag.


It is important to note that this update in language must supplement and strengthen, not replace, other animal welfare and protection efforts. For example, many professionals have chosen to use the term "animal guardian" to supplement existing humane education, character education and juvenile restitution programs. Animal shelters, schools, child and animal welfare organizations, local governments and community groups have also endorsed using the term "guardian" as an inexpensive, enduring educational tool that can help supplement adoption and spay/neuter programs by communicating the value of animal care and protection to the whole community.


There will be those who oppose the term animal guardian due to economic interests or fear of losing past ways of thinking. However, it is the majority who decides where the world is going. The majority is clearly moving toward compassionate, responsible animal guardianship.



www. guardiancampaign. com/




Take Action: Make Your City a Guardian City in 2008

IDA created the Guardian Campaign in 1999, encouraging those who value animals to turn language into action by starting Guardian Campaigns in their own cities. Since then, over 5,941,602 Americans and Canadians have been officially recognized as "animal guardians." IDA continues to incite exciting developments in the Guardian Campaign as it spreads like wildfire across the nation and beyond.


The simple word "guardian" facilitates an inner understanding of our responsibility to the furry, feathered, and scaled beings whose loyalty, uniqueness, and generosity enrich our lives so greatly. By using "guardian" language when we communicate with others, we send a clear message that every individual animal has an inherent worth that far exceeds any mere material possession that can be "owned" like a table or a TV.


Ordinances in favor of guardian language give each citizen an opportunity to be officially recognized as the guardian or guardian/owner on animal tags, public park signs, veterinary forms, adoption forms, kennel forms, and on all animal companion-related publications. Guardian Cities encourage residents to do their part by adopting and spaying/neutering their animals, and by reporting any abuse to the local humane society or police station.


Every day in your city, veterinarians, animal shelter staff, humane society officers, and police officers see overwhelming evidence of animal abandonment, neglect, and physical abuse. Animal care professionals work tirelessly to improve the lives of animals and serve as an inspiration for anyone who wants to foster greater respect for animals in their own community. To honor these dedicated individuals, many municipalities now recognize them as animal guardians through updated city codes, county ordinances, and state legislation. Some of the cities that have recently passed ordinances to use guardian language include Santa Clara County and Imperial Beach, California; Bloomington, Indiana; and San Jose, California. IDA is aggressively working to put more Guardian Cities on the map.


Would you like to add the term "animal guardian" to your city's animal-related ordinances? You can help your community become the next Guardian City by working with your local officials to incorporate "guardian" language into city ordinances. Visit our Guardian Cities page for a listing and check whether your city is there. If it is not, please call (415) 388-9641, ext 225 to speak with IDA President, Dr. Elliot Katz or email him at emk@idausa.org. He will provide you with the appropriate steps you need to take to make your city a Guardian City and send you a Guardian Pack with further information.


We would like to extend our special thanks to the government representatives, community leaders, animal welfare and protection organizations, teachers, and student groups who have worked to recognize community members as guardians of animals.





www. guardiancampaign. com/article_080501

7:51 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Nutricide - Criminalizing Natural Health, Vitamins, Herbs
Current mood: pissed off
Category: Life

Codex Alimentarius is a serious threat to our ability to have healthy foods in the United States. If this passes, Nutrients will be classified as Toxins.





Please review the video to see what Codex is video. google/videoplay?docid=-526688495233634 and to see what danger our health truly is in and discover what you can do to help stop it from happening.





Then visit :
www. healthfreedomusa. org to learn more about ways that you can help. The words needs to get out about how bad Codex is and why it is such a serious threat to our country.





Under Codex all fresh food will be irradiated and all vitamin and mineral levels will drop to almost zero in processed foods.





According to the Natural Solutions Website:

"Codex Alimentarius will go into global implementation by December 31, 2009, unless We, the People, avert it. We must act now because right now, with $758 Million spent on declared Congressional lobbying by Big Pharma last year, there are members of Congress who are trying to overturn DSHEA and allow Pharma-friendly free reign for Codex. If protective laws like DSHEA are destroyed, the sanctioning power of the autocratic WTO kicks in, and it will be impossible to get out from under Codex Alimentarius. We can protect our access to high potency nutrients and stave off an adulterated food supply only by putting pressure on Congress.



"

After watching the video and visiting the website, let all of your friends and family members do the same. If we all take action hopefully we can stop what is happening to our food supply.






www. associatedcontent. com/article/222235/nutricide_criminalizing_natural_health. html

1:32 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

How To Buy Cruelty Free!
Category: Pets and Animals

HOW TO BUY CRUELTY FREE



The main lesson when buying cosmetics and personal care products - look for this logo!






What is cruelty free?

As the name implies, it is shopping with the intention of only buying from companies that adhere to certain standards. These standards equal products manufactured with the intention of using ingredients and processes that did not use animals in any way. That happens in a few ways.




1. There are no animal ingredients.




2. The ingredients used were not tested on animals.




3. The finished product itself was not tested on animals.






There are a couple issues to watch out for here.




Not all companies that claim to be cruelty free are considered to be such by recognized bodies.




Of the most prominence, is the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics and it's standard, the Corporate Standard of Compassion for Animals, which originally was a group of eight national animal protection groups. These included The American Anti-Vivisection Society , American Humane Association , Animal Protection Institute , Beauty Without Cruelty, USA: (212) 989-8073, Doris Day Animal League , The Humane Society of the United States , New England Anti-Vivisection Society, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The international partners include Animal Alliance of Canada, and the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments.




This is the best protection for consumers truly interested in buying 100 percent cruelty free products.




In their own words: "It is a voluntary pledge that companies make not to test on animals during any stage of product development. The company's ingredient suppliers make the same pledge and the result is a product guaranteed to be 100% free of new animal testing. Commitments are renewed on an annual basis. This program applies only to cosmetics, personal care, and household products.


"

"This Standard provides the best assurance that no animal testing is used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories or suppliers. Under the CCIC program, companies obtain assurances from their suppliers and intermediary agents that, with respect to the specific ingredients supplied, no animal testing has been conducted on their behalf after a fixed date.


"

What Products are Covered Under the Program?

The products covered are far reaching and include, "[p]roducts eligible for approval include items regulated as cosmetics . The program also applies to products traditionally found in the Household Products aisles of supermarkets, such as cleaning supplies, bleaches, laundry and dish detergents, and cleaners.


"

If a company produces these products and meets the standards set forth, "[o]nce CCIC approved, a company is named and linked in our Online Shopping Guide , listed in the published Compassionate Pocket Shopping Guide, and included in media and marketing opportunities. Companies that choose to license the Leaping Bunny Logo receive additional promotional opportunities, as we seek to educate conscientious consumers to "look for the bunny.


" www. leapingbunny. org/shopping_guide



The common question arises then - Doesn't the law require animal testing?

The simple answer - NO! Again, the CCIC:

"Neither the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the US Consumer Product Safety Commission requires animal testing for cosmetics or household products, respectively. There are sufficient existing safety data as well as in vitro alternatives to make animal testing for these products obsolete. While it is true that virtually every ingredient, even water, has been tested on animals in the past, we can help prevent future animal testing." In essence, it is not necessary to test, and plenty of alternatives exist to animal tests.




Summation

So one last important note. For a shopper to truly be cruely free, one must be vigilant in understanding that not all companies that claim to be cruelty free are. Again, unless you see the CCIC bunny logo.






The product cannot be trusted as adhering to their strict standards.


Again from the CCIC: "Why does my bottle say "Not tested on animals," but the company is not listed in the CCIC Shopping Guide?


You may be aware that many products claiming to be "cruelty free" or "not tested on animals" actually contain ingredients that are tested on animals. The alleged "cruelty free" claim often refers to the final product; however, the majority of animal testing occurs through the supply chain and therefore these products actually contain ingredients tested on animals. Similarly, some companies state that "we" do not test on animals, when in fact they merely contract "someone else" to do the testing. These kinds of labels and claims are often confusing to consumers.




Without an assurance from a company through the CCIC certification program, we are unable to confirm its animal testing policy or its labeling claims.


However, we're happy to work with any company to get it on board!"



Again, - Look for this logo! and only support those companies found in the CCIC online Shopping Guide and within the List of Companies that Do Not Test on Animals.













Click Here for a listing of links that will help you locate companies to purchase cruelty free products.


www. geari. org/cruelty-free-shopping-products





WHERE TO EAT?!


HappyCow's Veg*n Guide to retaurants & health food stores








www. happycow. net

12:17 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

declaration Of No Kill Movement In The US- Please Sign & Take Action!
Category: Pets and Animals

This year, some five million dogs and cats will be killed in shelters. The vast majority can and should be placed into loving homes or should never enter shelters in the first place. But there is hope.




No Kill sheltering models, based on innovative, non-lethal programs and services, have already saved the lives of tens of thousands of animals. But instead of embracing No Kill, many shelters—and their national agency allies—cling to their failed models of the past, models that result in the killing of millions of dogs and cats in U.S. shelters every year.




No Kill is a revolution. And behind every revolution is a declaration—a statement of grievances, and a listing of rights and principles that underscore our great hope for the future. We assert that a No Kill nation is within our reach—that the killing can and should be brought to an end. Join us in endorsing The Declaration of the No Kill Movement in the United States.




It is open to every individual, every group, and every agency that wants to bring about an end to the killing by implementing the programs and services that will establish a No Kill nation. Programs like ensuring public access to affordable spay/neuter services, allowing rescue groups to save animals on death row, and communitywide Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) for feral cats. These are not radical concepts, but in the current sheltering world, one can be ostracized for daring to proclaim the simple truths that population control killing is not an act of kindness and that feral cats have a right to live.




Join us in speaking for those who can't. In the length of time it will take you to read the Declaration, nearly one hundred dogs and cats will be needlessly killed.










I.


PREAMBLE

One hundred and fifty years ago, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and other humane organizations were founded to establish standards for humane treatment of animals, to promote their rights, and to protect them from harm. This marked the formal beginning of the humane movement in the United States.




The scope and influence of these early humane organizations were testament to the public's concern for animals. It did not take long for them to set their sights on the abuse of homeless animals and cruel methods of killing by public pounds. It was common practice at the time for city and town dogcatchers to beat, drown, or shoot homeless animals.




Many humane agencies responded by entering into animal control contracts with towns and cities to ensure that the killing was done more humanely. But in taking on municipal animal control duties, these agencies abandoned their lifesaving and life-enhancing platforms when those beliefs conflicted with their contractual responsibilities. In the current era, where laws require killing by even more "humane" methods, these contradictions have become starker.




Increasingly, the practices of both humane societies and municipal animal control agencies are out of step with public sentiment. Today, most Americans hold the humane treatment of animals as a personal value, which is reflected in our laws, cultural practices, the proliferation of organizations founded for animal protection, increased per capita spending on animal care, and great advancements in veterinary medicine. But the agencies that the public expects to protect animals are instead killing more than five million animals annually.




Lifesaving alternatives to the mass killing of animals in shelters have existed for decades. These lifesaving methods are based on innovative, humane, nonlethal programs and services that have proven that the killing can be brought to an end. Too many of these agencies, however, remain mired in the kill philosophies of the past, unwilling to or hampered from exploring and adopting methods that save lives. This is a breach of their public trust, a gross deviation from their responsibility to protect animals, and a point of view that we, as caring people and a humane community, can no longer accept or tolerate.




We assert that a No Kill nation is within our reach—that the killing can and must be brought to an end. It is up to each of us working individually and together to implement sheltering models that have already saved tens of thousands of animals in progressive communities. If we work together—with certainty of purpose, assured of our own success, with the commitment that "what must be done, will be done"—the attainment of our goals will not be far off.







II.


NO KILL RESOLUTION

Whereas, the right to live is every animal's most basic and fundamental right;

Whereas, societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and other humane organizations were founded to establish standards for humane treatment of animals, to promote their rights, and to protect them from harm;

Whereas, traditional sheltering practices allow the mass killing of sheltered animals;

Whereas, every year shelters in the United States are killing millions of healthy and treatable animals who could be placed in homes, and are also killing millions of feral cats who do not belong in shelters;

Whereas, life always takes precedence over expediency;

Whereas, the No Kill movement in the United States has successfully implemented new and innovative programs that provide alternatives to mass killing;

Whereas, lifesaving change will come about only if No Kill programs are embraced and further developed;

Whereas, failure to implement No Kill programs constitutes a breach of the public's trust in the sheltering community;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that No Kill policies and procedures are the only legitimate foundation for animal sheltering; and,

It is incumbent upon all shelters and animal groups to embrace the philosophy of No Kill, to immediately begin implementing programs and services that will end the mass killing of sheltered animals, and to reject the failed kill-oriented practices of the past.







III.


STATEMENT OF RIGHTS


We acknowledge the following:

· Sheltered animals have a right to live;

· Feral cats have a right to their lives and their habitats;

· Animals, rescuers, and the public have a right to expect animal protection organizations and animal shelters to do everything in their power to promote, protect, and advocate for the lives of animals;

· Animal protection groups, rescue groups, and No Kill shelters have a right to take into their custody animals who would otherwise be killed by animal shelters;

· Taxpayers and community members have a right to have their government spend tax monies on programs and services whose purpose is to save and enhance the lives of all animals;

· Taxpayers and community members have a right to full and complete disclosure about how animal shelters operate.







IV.


GUIDING PRINCIPLES

No Kill is achieved only by guaranteeing the following:

· Life to all healthy animals, and to all sick, injured, or vicious animals where medical or behavioral intervention would alter a poor or grave prognosis;

· The right of feral cats to live in their habitats.




These conditions can be achieved only through adherence to the following:

· Shelters and humane groups end the killing of healthy and treatable animals, including feral cats;

· Every animal in a shelter receives individual consideration, regardless of how many animals a shelter takes in, or whether such animals are healthy, underaged, elderly, sick, injured, traumatized, or feral;

· Shelters and humane organizations discontinue the use of language that misleads the public and glosses over the nature of their actions, such as "euthanasia," "unadoptable," "fractious," "putting them to sleep," and other euphemisms that downplay the gravity of ending life and make the task of killing easier;

· Shelters are open to the public during hours that permit working people to reclaim or adopt animals during nonworking hours;

· Shelters and other government agencies promote spay/neuter programs and mandate that animals be spayed or neutered before adoption;

· Public shelters work with humane animal adoption organizations to the fullest extent to promote the adoption of animals and to reduce the rate of killing;

· Shelters provide care and treatment for all animals in shelters to the extent necessary, including prompt veterinary care, adequate nutrition, shelter, exercise, and socialization;

· Shelters are held accountable for and make information publicly available about all the animals in their care.







V.


NO KILL STANDARDS

The implementation of these lifesaving procedures, policies, and programs must be the immediate goal of every shelter, and animal control and animal welfare agency:



· Formal, active commitment by shelter directors, management, and staff to lifesaving programs and policies, and dedication to promptly ending mass killing of shelter animals;

· Immediate implementation of the following programs by all publicly funded or subsidized animal shelters:

High-volume, low- and no-cost spay/neuter services;
A foster care network for underaged, traumatized, sick, injured, or other animals needing refuge before any sheltered animal is killed, unless the prognosis for rehabilitation of that individual animal is poor or grave;
Comprehensive adoption programs that operate during weekend and evening hours and include offsite adoption venues;
Medical and behavioral rehabilitation programs;
Pet retention programs to solve medical, environmental, or behavioral problems and keep animals with their caring and responsible caregivers;
Trap-Neuter-Return or Release (TNR) programs;
Rescue group access to shelter animals;
Volunteer programs to socialize animals, promote adoptions, and help in the operations of the shelter;
Documentation before any animal is killed that all efforts to save the animal have been considered, including medical and behavioral rehabilitation, foster care, rescue groups, neuter and release, and adoption.



· An end to the policy of accepting trapped feral cats to be destroyed as unadoptable, and implementation of TNR as the accepted method of feral cat control by educating the public about TNR and offering TNR program services;

· An end to the use of temperament testing that results in killing animals who are not truly vicious (e.g.


, shy/timid cats and frightened dogs) but who can be placed in homes, or are feral cats who can be returned or released;

· Abolishment of trapping, lending traps to the public to capture animals, and support of trapping by shelters, governments, and pest control companies for the purposes of removing animals to be killed;

· An end to owner-requested killing of animals unless the shelter has made an independent determination that the animal is irremediably suffering or cannot be rehabilitated;

· The repeal of unenforceable and counter-productive animal control ordinances such as cat licensing and leash laws, pet limit laws, bans on feeding stray animals, and bans on specific breeds.








Over 10,000 groups and individuals have signed the Declaration to date. Add yourself to the growing list of signatories.





To sign the Declaration, click here: www. alleycat. org/nkd



Visit this page to see also how you can bring change to your community and a guide for reforming animal control: www. nokilldeclaration. org

***PLEASE REPOST-BECAUSE THEY DESERVE TO LIVE***

12:05 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Universal Declaration of Animal Rights
Category: Pets and Animals

Universal Declaration of Animal Rights
www. uncaged. co. uk/signform. htm




Inasmuch as there is ample evidence that many animal species are capable of feeling, we condemn totally the infliction of suffering upon our fellow creatures and the curtailment of their behavioural and other needs save where this is necessary for their own individual benefit.


We do not accept that a difference in species alone (any more than a difference in race) can justify wanton exploitation or oppression in the name of science or sport, or for use as food, for commercial profit or for other human gain.


We believe in the evolutionary and moral kinship of all animals and declare our belief that all sentient creatures have rights to life, liberty and natural enjoyment.


We therefore call for the protection of these rights.


Name :________________________________________________

On behalf of (if applicable): ________________________________

Position in organization (if applicable) :______________________

How many members/supporters does your organization have? _____

Contact Address: _________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Tel: __________/__________________________

Fax: __________/__________________________

Email address: ___________________________________________

Signed: _________________________________________________

Date: ___________________________________________________

Please return to: Uncaged Campaigns, 5th Floor, Alliance House, 9 Leopold Street, Sheffield, S1 2GY, UK

7:01 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

EARTHLINGS
Category: Life

3:20 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

In Search Of Charlie Tri-State Area (WV,KY,OH)
Category: Pets and Animals

What Dogs Teach Us
Current mood: touched
Category: Pets and Animals

Lessons to admire (from a 6-year-old)

  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 as
though
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 good.  Dogs already
know
how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

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.

*Being always grateful for each new day and for the Blessing you have.

  ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

That's what dogs teach us...

source unknown

8:48 AM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment