Comments on: Dogs

By: Anna Rushing

Anna Rushing — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 11:24:32 +0000

Google is the best search engine

By: jem98h

jem98h — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 20:01:00 +0000

When I was six, my dad and I brought home a Catahoula Leopard dog (known to be hog hunters), a sweet but hyper runt of the litter. We named her Leopard and fell in love with her instantly. As we lived on a ranch far from any neighbors, she was our faithful guard dog and playmate for my brother and me. Drifters would often come to our house late at night and she would warn us of their presence and chase them off when they became pushy and threatening.
Yet besides her great protective tendencies, she was the sweetest most gentle dog and everyone loved her. One of her greatest thrills was riding out in the pasture in the back of our pickup truck and jumping in the swimming hole with us kids.
We lost her when I was a freshman in high school. Some kids high on drugs did a burglar rampage up and down the country road that we lived on, breaking into as many houses as possible. Of course, Leopard refused to let them near our house, so to get in they pulled out a 22 caliber and shot her. We found bullets by our back door, and a week later my dad found her by the river where she went to die.
Needless to say, our hearts were broken, and it was a very long time before we could consider getting another dog. We’ve never had a dog like her since.

By: mwarren

mwarren — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 16:46:00 +0000

We have a pic-a-poo who is 1 year old. Her name is “Izzy”. My Dad gave her to my wife for Christmas last year. My wife grew up afraid of dogs but last year softened up and hinted at having a small one. So my Dad obliged and got here one. She absolutely adores it (and okay, so do I). It does worry me that she will not always be with us, and I know the pain of losing a dog (I have gone through three tough deaths). I know it will be really tough, because of how much she loves this dog, and how much happiness she brings to her, bu it brings me a lot of joy to see her love Izzy so much. Pets really are a gift from God.

By: Lisa E

Lisa E — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 13:24:00 +0000

We adopted a 5 year old golden retriever named Dexter. He was unique - he had 3 legs (missing a front due to a run-in with a car). He came into our lives B.K. (before kids) in Colorado. We loved him although he was obviously Colorado fan, and we were Colorado state fans. We did have the Broncos in common.

Dexter and I made it to just above 13000 ft on Mt. Bierstadt, while my husband and Bonnie, our other dog, made it almost to the top. Pretty good for an out-of-shape woman and a 3-legged dog!

Dexter slept on the couch, our bed, wherever he could to be off the floor. He weighed 90 lbs! He was part billy-goat - eating everything he could. He repeatedly ate our youngest daughter’s pacifiers.

This summer, when he was 14.5 yrs old, the pain of his arthritis got to be too much for him. He just quit walking (hobbling truly at his age). At 90 lbs, we just couldn’t carry him.

I truly think God sent Dexter to us. He was a great companion, and adored the ground we walked on. He was faithful to a fault and we miss him so much! Our daughters talk about how Dexter is in heaven, has 4 legs now, and is running without pain. I believe them!

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 02:49:00 +0000

My first love was a pointer bird dog named Brownie. We did everything together until that fateful day that he got stolen–just before hunting season started.

My last special dog was a golden retriever I rescued from the pound. He was precious. I ended up giving him to a friend who lost a german shepherd that she had had for over ten years. She has more time to love on him than I do.

By: RG

RG — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 00:35:00 +0000

I had a Buffy as well. It seems I had a psychic connection with her like Deana had with her dog. When I was a teenager and Buffy was getting pretty old, my family went on vacation. Before we left I remember saying goodbye to Buffy and knowing that she wasn’t going to be there when my family got back. I could see it in her eyes, and I just knew. Sure enough, we never saw her again….she probably went off to die in the woods somewhere. My other dog, Buffy’s daughter, mourned for weeks. My sister’s boyfriend (now husband) felt terrible b/c he’d been dog-sitting….he and his friends searched and searched for Buffy before we got home but never found her. (Ironically, my other sister’s boyfriend (now husband) was fish-sitting when my sister’s fish died….I was the last to marry and now my family doesn’t have any pets for my husband to *kill*.)
I always loved my dogs though. I had a debate going with a middle school teacher about whether dogs can “wonder”…I was so frustrated that he didn’t think they do! Buffy would literally cry we would return from a long trip b/c she was so excited. Whenever I was upset, I could hug my dog and cry and not have to feel embarassed. …And she could lick my tears away:) I look forward to being able to get another dog.

By: EBC

EBC — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 21:42:00 +0000

After being dogless since 1980, it’s time to reconsider if Cody is available for relocation.

We had Honey, the master of laying around inside on the sunfilled carpet. It was a sad day when he couldn’t outrun a German Shephard.

Didn’t you have a hyperactive runner named Scorch?

By: John

John — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 21:03:00 +0000

It is amazing the concessions you have to make once you are married. I grew up never having a pet of any kind (except a fish tank…but does that count?) and the thought never crossed my mind that I may someday be a pet owner. My wife had had a dog since Kindergarten. It died while we were on our honeymoon 18 years later. Within the year, we ended up with a blonde Cocker Spaniel. (I can relate to the not-so-smart thing) For the first year she was contraband in Harding Married Students Apartments. This past May, fourteen years, two kids, four states, and 11 moves later, we had to put her to sleep. My wife and kids are dog lovers. I guess I am more of a dog tolerator. I thought maybe my “dog days” were over. But I only experienced three months without dog hair on my clothes and furniture and not cleaning up messes. Now we have a five month old Dachshund-Beagle mix. (Don’t even try to imagine it). I have a feeling I will ALWAYS have a dog.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 20:18:00 +0000

I’ve always been a dog person. I grew up with cocker spaniels, too. So the story goes, I was about 3 or 4 years old when we lived in Conroe, Texas and we had a cocker named “Buffy” (for its buff color, I guess). Buffy died after she was hit by a truck when she ran into the street. I was mortified and cried and cried.

My mom says that every week at Sunday school, I prayed for a new dog. (Aren’t kids cute?) Apparently, that really touched my teacher Mrs. Barbara and she surprised me with one of her dog’s cocker spaniel puppies. Callie grew to be about the meanest cocker spaniel alive and all my friends were scared of her (but she loved me so I didn’t care!). She moved with us to Searcy a year or so later and we had her for about 8 years. After she died (heart attack), I wanted another dog so bad, but my parents said that was it. No more dogs.

And wouldn’t you know it? I move away after graduating from college and they get a dog…Dixie, a.k.a. The World’s Most Spoiled Bichon. That dog is so sweet and loves everyone…and definitely rules the roost. (Gets a scrambled egg every morning for breakfast!)

I’m getting a dog after I get married.

By: Leland

Leland — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 18:57:00 +0000

We moved to the Pacific Northwest and did not need a dog. The one we had in Texas was great but he was great ouside. He did not smell up the house but he did do a number on the backyard (no pun intended).

In the Northwest it rains from October to May. The backyard is always wet. We could not have an outside dog, therefore we could not have a dog.

I told my then 4 year old daughter we could not have a dog. My wife, daughter and sons worked on me for two years. I told them we would “look” at them.

“Look” means something different to my daughter. We went to the pet store and my daughter found a dog to “look” at. I reiterated we were just looking. The genuine tears started to well up in her eyes and just she silently looked at me.

I begin to laugh. I was not making fun of my girl but I was astonished. I was amazed this worked on me. If she were 17, she could have gotten a car with that look. We bought Daisy that day.

I have already began to “toughen” up in anticipation. Thanks Daisy for exposing my weakness while there was still time.

By: Crista

Crista — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 18:00:00 +0000

Nancy…who didn’t get bitten by Woody? I recall my brother having a bloody, then fat, lip.

Love ya.

By: annie

annie — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 17:36:00 +0000

I am so curious! So many dogs are named Lucy. Ours was, but that was the name we would’ve named a daughter–had we had one. Why is it such a popular name, do you suppose? Our Lucy was a sheltie, & she was just darling. She is buried out in the woods behind our house. I like to go out to her spot & meditate about her & God–both who loved & love unconditionally.

By: Clint

Clint — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 17:08:00 +0000

I love animals just not in the house. But when you are intent on spoiling your little girl you make small adjustments. We acquired Pharaoh a Siamese cat 14 years ago when Nichole was 8 years old. They became best friends. Over the years I would complain whenever we had to spend money on any pet. Last year we kept Pharaoh while Nichole was on her honeymoon. To save the reputation of others no names will be used, but Alana accidentally let the cat out. After all night searching and worrying we got a call. Pharaoh had been in an auto accident and was paralyzed from the waist down. Normally, I would offer to put a bullet in his head but this time it was different. I had been in an auto accident and paralyzed from the waist down only months before. Now there was no limit to the money I would spend to help Pharaoh. We drove to Dallas to see a specialist knowing if the doctor could help it would cost thousands of dollars. I watched my little girl kiss Pharaoh as he took his last breath. When we got home it was going to be a few days before we could bury him so we put him in the freezer. When the time came we made a tombstone with Pharaoh’s paw prints and laid him to rest. Sometimes it is not the love of animals that inspires us, but the love for others.

By: monniecoco

monniecoco — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 15:41:00 +0000

I have had to put down 2 dogs because of illness. The first one was a poogle (part poodle, part beagle)named Angel. She had developed cancer of the tongue. When the time came I held her while the deed was done. The vet didn’t even charge me his fee because I was crying so hard I couldn’t see how to write my check. We said we wouldn’t get another dog until the summer so our girls could help with the housebreaking task. Six weeks later we came home with a new puppy (part cocker, part poodle), Buffy. What I learned from this experience is that somehow knowing how much the love will cost makes the loving sweeter. Just about a year ago she died of a tumor at the vet’s before I could get there to be with her. I regret she was alone.

Since we are dog people we also have more than one dog at a time. Three years ago we had to have both the eyes removed my beloved Beau Regard, a toy fox terrier. Not all grief revolves around death.

By: Shawn

Shawn — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 15:00:00 +0000

We have had Lucy, a yellow lab, for 12 years. She was introduced to our family in secret as we lived in Stafford apartments in Searcy, AR. I will say that she is the greatest dog of all time. Smart, loyal, obedient and energetic.
We now have four children and Lucy has slowed down quite a bit. Her vision is failing, her hearing is gone, yet is the happiest while be wrestled by the kids.
The greatest memory was walking into that playroom and there Lucy was laying on her side while my youngest boy played with her. She was the parking lot for Matchbox cars that were lined up on her from her nose to the tip of her tail. As I peeked in the room she immediately noticed me and I motioned for her to stay. She looked at me as if to say “why would I ever leave this place, I am in heaven.”
I agree with DU, dogs make our lives whole.
Great subject today! Thanks.