DOGma Dispatch

 

Canine. Human. We go together like night and day, blue sky and rain. Always have. Ask any student of history and they’ll tell you that dogs have been loyal companions to humans around the globe since, well, ever.

The world of dogs around the world… We are as different as the lands we walk. Our ancestry lies with the gray wolf. In spite of there being over 400 distinct, domesticated breeds, we all hold a little bit of the wild. Over time dogs have made roles for themselves in various levels in society. It’s difficult to acknowledge and yet it is true that not all dogs are treated like treasured companions. In some places dogs are a food source, and even in the United States puppy mills are a stain on the fabric of compassionate treatment. That travesty is offset by the rescue organizations that care for dogs who have special needs or need a home for different kinds of reasons. There are lots of things that make dogs different from each other - big or small, stout or fragile, calm or enthusiastic. What I want to bark bark bark about today are the things that are common to most dogs. We birth our young in a way that is similar to humans. And just like babies, puppies of all sorts invite a nurturing response from even the most stoic person. We love our people, we like to play and we’re pretty fond of food. Not necessarily in that order. We do a pretty good job of alerting our humans to changes in the environment. Some dogs are more protective than others. I think of a Labrador retriever I once knew who would sound ferocious if someone came to the door. Once any humans entered our house, their greatest threat was being enthusiastically over- licked. Wet and friendly, for sure! Other dogs press their instincts into service to protect the community and sniff out dangers. There’s no greeting that compares to the welcome a dog delivers to their humans. To a person willing to learn, a dog is an excellent instructor in the arts of play, rest and thankfulness for simple things.

Nearly every dog acts in service in practical measures. Canines take their bond to their persons very seriously. Because the lifespan of a dog is much shorter than a human, it takes a human heart that is big and open and compassionate to willingly embrace the heartache of a too-soon-goodbye. We Good Dogs never really leave, we are always walking with you in your heart and our own. 

Love, 

Webster on behalf of Canine Companions

Transcribed by Mary Anne em Radmacher