Have you ever wondered why God created the dog? Throughout human history, dogs have been by our side, helping and assisting us in a myriad of ways. Known as “Man’s Best Friend,” dogs have traditionally served their human families in many roles as protectors, companions, and partners in work, faithfully completing jobs like herding sheep or retrieving game.
Due to their incredible sense of smell and ability to quickly learn, dogs support law enforcement during investigations by sniffing out drugs or searching for missing persons. Specially trained dogs are also used in disaster relief efforts as they can locate people trapped beneath the rubble of an earthquake or a tornado.
Those who are visually impaired rely on seeing eye dogs to get around independently. Some breeds are trained to alert people with epilepsy or diabetes that they are about to have an episode. Therapy dogs are brought into nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and detention centers. Dogs are known to encourage a sense of calm, reduce anxiety, and create positive feelings when interacting with people of all ages.
Although they are clearly a completely different species, the intimate relationship one can share with a dog is truly astounding. Anyone who has ever had a cherished pet will certainly agree. We recently said goodbye to Sergeant, our faithful dog of 13 years. He was a special boy and taught my family so much about living a good and wholesome life. Here’s what we learned from sharing our lives with this furry friend:
- Be loyal to and protect your family at all costs. Sergeant had a big bark and always alerted us to strangers and possible danger. He let everyone know not to mess with us.
- Offer unconditional love. Don’t hold grudges; when you’ve been away from home, always greet your family with excitement and joy upon your return.
- Enjoy the simple things of life. All you really need to be happy is a soft bed, a fresh bowl of water and a good meal. Anything more than that is just gravy.
- Love life, play, and be a positive influence on others. Sergeant made us laugh at his goofy antics and encouraged us to let go of our silly problems, if only for a few minutes, to play with him.
- Go for a walk and lose yourself in the beauty of creation. One of his favorite pastimes was to run around, taking in the sights, smells, and sounds of the great outdoors.
- Ask for help when you need it and realize your limitations. Sergeant often barked when he needed help with something, like a toy that had rolled under a piece of furniture, or when he needed to go outside.
- Don’t care what you look like – it’s what inside that counts. As he aged, Sergeant had patchy sections of missing fur, raw spots on his paws and a greying muzzle. No one cared. To us his spirit was still as endearing as when he was a puppy.
- Sleep more – work less. We are all guilty of trying to succeed and achieve at the expense of our health and often our sanity. Sometimes what we really need to do is to slow down and take a nap.
- Be yourself. You are the happiest when you do what you were created to do. Sergeant was a water dog built to swim with strong muscles and webbed feet. Splashing in the lake with him was among the happiest times our family spent together.
- Share what you have with others. When Sergeant poked his nose under our arms at the dinner table, we were always prompted to save a few savory table scraps for him.
- Cheer someone up when they are sad or hurt. Sergeant had an uncanny way of knowing when we were feeling down. He would often stay with us when we were sick or offer a lick or two when we were blue.
- Face adversity with courage. Even in his last days, when his health was failing, Sergeant still came up to offer a snuggle and brighten our day. He lay down by us while we worked or watched T.V. Although it was hard for him to get up and walk around, he did his job right up until the end.
I do believe that dogs are a gift from God. Why else would they be such an integral part of the human experience and remain a mainstay of every culture worldwide? I often imagine that the shepherds who visited the baby Jesus brought their sheepdogs with them. These beasts, who we consider inferior to us in many ways, were among the first to worship the newborn Savior. They can teach us a thing or two about living and loving. But first, we must have the humility to realize and accept the many lessons that these wonderful animals can teach us.
“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired Saint Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.”