dogs fill our
hearts & lives.....
A friend recently lost her
companion of more than a dozen years to a condition that had never
been diagnosed, despite the fact that he'd had excellent veterinary care during his life.
She and this pup went everywhere together, and social invitations included his
name, as well as hers. He was deeply loved and he is terribly missed.
Talking
with our friend, our thoughts went to our sweet boy Critter,
whose health problems inspired us to start the
canine cookery. We knew we'd
adopt again after Critter, not that dogs are "replaceable," as people who don't
know any better seem to think. But, rather, his absence left a space as big
as the Grand Canyon in our lives, and it had to be filled with the kind of love
that only dogs can give.
What is
it about dogs that makes us love them so deeply and want to do fun things with
them, like give them parties and dress them up? We say dogs love us unconditionally, but what
does that mean, in the context of everyday life?
their love
is THIS
big.....
We think it means they accept us even
when
we don't accept ourselves.... on really bad hair days or curled up
in bed recovering from a broken heart and after financial loss.
They don't care if we look our best and don't judge us when we make a mistake, even a really big one.
They accept us, period.
They
love us purely. They may want more treats than we give them, want to
play when we can't stop working, want to walk farther than we have time for or want
food that's not good for them. But when we say
"No," they still love us, full-out. They don't threaten to
withhold affection or emotionally punish us for it.
When no one else seems to get us, they
do. When we're stressed out because
a project isn't going right, they do something that makes us laugh.
And when we're worried, they give us sweet looks that melt away
concerns and remind us what's important. They keep us real, and
they make
us better people.
With our dogs we're able to be ourselves, open, vulnerable,
knowing that our love for them is well placed. Over and over,
they show us that they're trustworthy with that
love.
That's
why the canine cookery
keeps making such really good stuff for dogs---it's the least we can do for them
and for the people who love them.....
