Image by eyespi20 via Flickr
My dogs are pretty interesting creatures. They have very definite ideas about right behavior and wrong behavior. I think we could take some examples from dogs to apply to our every day lives.
For example, as I was slaving away today over a hot laptop, I heard an odd noise behind me. I turned around to see Jewels (no I did NOT name this dog!) scooting along the mats I have from the back door into the kitchen. It was obvious from the position of his hips and butt that his anus itched and this was the most effective way for a creature with no hands and arms that only bend backwards so far to handle this serious situation. It got me to thinking of when my hemorrhoids bother me and what I do to handle the situation.
If you’ve ever had these, you’ll know that they itch like mad from time to time and for no apparent cause. My outbreaks always seem to happen when there’s no drugstore in sight ergo no Preparation H. So what’s a gal to do? If I was a dog, I could just scoot my butt on the floor and be done with it. I’m not so I have to squirm in my seat until I can get away from wherever I am to go find a drugstore and relief. Thankfully anyone seeing me squirm just assumes I have to relieve myself of the coffee I’ve been drinking.
This also points out how flexible a dog is. I mean every dog I’ve ever seen can literally reach every part of his or her body with their tongue. I cannot say the same for most humans (human rubber bands excepted). Everyone I know has to use their hands to reach those parts of their bodies that are in back and below. I may at one point in my life have been able to reach my toes with my nose, but not in the last 20 years. I can remember as a child being amazed at a kid in my class who could touch the tip of his nose with his tongue. No, I don’t remember his name.
Dogs just like to hang out. They don’t have any agenda, but do like a schedule. They want to eat at the same time every day so they can poop at the same time everyday. My grandmother was like that, too and Ken is to a certain extent (especially the pooping part).
They are honest with their feelings. They like most people, but when they don’t like you, they let you know it right up front. I wish I were so brave. Dogs don’t whine that life is unfair because Fifi down the road has a 3″ pillow where theirs is only a 2″ pillow. Although they’ll steal Fifi’s pillow the first chance they get, they do have some sense of ownership — if you’re not looking it’s mine. If I forget to feed them and they can, they’ll help themselves to the dog food.
But, dogs are DOGS. They are not little people in fur coats. They don’t have rights and don’t need guardians. They just need we humans to care for them humanely, not treat them as if they were disposable toys and for this they will give us unconditional love.
Take a page from the dog’s book — love everyone who isn’t an asshole and bite those who are.
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I agree with most of your post… but I have to disagree about the rights part. I believe animals have rights, just as human animals do.
They have the right to being treated fairly and positively, living a happy healthy life, and given proper medical care, and having a good home (among other things). I think all living creatures have these basic rights. But then again, I tend toward being an AR person, not a AW person.
I love your closing sentence. I must take a dog with me to work, there will be a lot of biting, of that I’m sure.
@Cynthia — we’ll have to agree to disagree on that point. I’m a “less government is better government” kind of person, so giving animals “rights” makes my hands sweat. I believe that if people operated in a moral way, this would be a non-issue.
@Lyndi — yeah that’s one of the reasons I don’t bring mine to work with me
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I love your slogan at the end. That’s a good motto to live by!
Another Very Nice Post.
Beamer
Maybe the dogs should be voting in this presidential election instead of the people, eh?
So true. Dogs are such a nice combination a total honesty and total devotion. What more could you ask in a companion? Actually, when I was little I could hold a hairbrush between my toes and brush my hair. Can’t do that now.
Nice words of wisdom. I have a few people I need to bite right now.
yeah, my dogs are pretty cool too. I agree with you on the “rights” thing. I am, and have always been, an animal lover, but I draw the line on animal rights. They do not have the same abilities as humans to make moral judgments and such, therefore it is the owner of the animal who is held accountable. Unfortunately, due to human stupidity or irresponsibility, it’s the animal who pays the price for the lack of judgment – but this doesn’t necessitate giving animals full equal rights. It just points out the need for people to be responsible pet owners. There will always be bad pet owners, cruel evil people, and just plain assholes in this world to contend with, but it’s just a fact of life.
@Daisy – thank you! That’s a very handsome new fellow in your life! Congratulations!
@Beamer — thanks — I do try
@Matt — There’s an idea! Totally unswayed by rhetoric, sniff the candidates and vote for the one the dog likes best — yeah! I can see that working! Although my birds are pickier than my dogs, they could choose elected officials, too.
@Patricia — I could do cool things like that when I was a kid, too. No more and not for a VERY long time.
@IA – I hope you’ve had your shots!
@hparis — RDO day is this Saturday here in Greenville. If you’re close enough, do come and help us celebrate!
Nice post.
I have a ‘dog story’ in draft for a future post but I’m genuinely worried that it will alienate some of my pet loving visitors. It’s one of my true stories where I inevitably mess up but there’s something in it that – although it is true – might not sit well with some of my new friends… perhaps when I’m finished it you might consider throwing a critical eye (geddit?) over it and let me have your opinion? I would appreciate that.
I’m so loving that last line. I don’t know if you know about my new dog Max and what all he went through before we took him in but i swear, he’s proof of everything you posted. I’m so grateful that dogs are smart enough to see that not all of us are bad. My Max would have died a horrible death if he’d lumped me in with everyone else he’d come into contact with……instead he endured pain knowing i was trying to help and now he stays up my ass all day lol. I literally cannot take a bath without him sitting faithfully outside the door waiting for me to come back out. I hate that he had to be abused and abandoned for me to have him, but i love that he let me love him through it.
@Ken A — I am honored you thought of me to ask and ubetcha I’ll do it.
@Nessa Wow! He sounds like an awesome dogs. Some can go through the fire and it just makes them all the better. That’s beautiful that he’s a Velcro dog.
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