Our Buppies!

It's been one year since the snake attack, and it's also a Thursday.  This article is not intended to be overly sad or sappy - but rather a celebration of Patches and Rooney (and EVERYONE else’s Buppies - living and/or gone!!!!!!!!!!!)

Very little of this article is from our own brains … but it IS from our HEARTS!  We hope all of you take at least something from it.

Should I Feel Guilty About Grieving My Dog’s Death? ^[i]

You shouldn’t feel guilty that you are grieving.  We might be saddened or distressed when we break a valuable heirloom or lose a valuable antique in a fire.  But grief at the death of a pet dog is – and should be – deeper.  A dog may not be “worth” nearly as much in dollars as an antique, but the real value of your dog is not monetary.  Dogs aren’t things; they’re companions.  They’re not man-made objects, but masterpieces of the Creator, conscious beings with souls.

Although they aren’t created in God’s image like human beings, higher animals share many remarkable qualities in common with us.  They exhibit emotions like joy, loyalty, affection, and courage.  They also teach us much how to live fully in the present moment and enjoy the beautiful world that God has made.

Grief for a pet dog is real because the relationship between human and dog is real.  God established the relationship between human beings and His other creatures.  There are ways in which a pet dog in its innocence can be our “best friend,” touchingly responsive to our moods and emotions.

The emotional impact a family dog’s death is similar to the loss of any family member, although on a lesser scale.  It should be taken seriously, because it offers opportunities for learning important lessons and preparing for future losses that will be worse.

We often find it easier to love our pets unconditionally than it is to love each other.  If our sense of loss at the death of a pet is more severe than the sense of loss of human friends and relatives who have died, we should consider why.  Even in a world cursed with sin, we should miss human relationships more than relationships with pets.  In this sense, the grief at a pet’s death can bring an awareness of our need for deeper relationships with the people in our lives.

Because the loss is real, it is not healthy to suppress and deny your grief.  Openly express your grief when alone or in the presence of others who understand.  Realize that grief at the death of an animal that has shared your life experiences for years will be painful, and any attempt to deny it will have negative consequences.

Don’t try to forget the relationship that you had with your dog any more than you would try to forget the relationship with a human loved one who has died.  We gain some sense of God’s immense sadness at the suffering and evil in the world when we realize that the Bible offers no indication that we will ever be reunited with the animals that mean so much to us in this world.

A Dog’s Purpose (according to a six year old)^[ii]

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year old Irish Wolfhound named Belker.  The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found that he was dying of cancer.  I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year old Shane to observe the procedure.  Thy felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him.  Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.  Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.  The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion.  We sat together for a while after Belker’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.

Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him.  What came out of his mouth next stunned me.  I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.  He said, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life – like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?”

The six-year old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”

Will I See My Pets In Heaven?^[iii]

A final quick story that I believe provides us some insight to an animal’s place in heaven:

There was a man who died and in the afterlife his dog met him.  They romped and bounded together just like old times.  Upon reaching the first gate a man came out and said: “Welcome to heaven.  But you can’t bring that dog in here.”

The dog growled and barked at the gatekeeper.  Dejected the man said, “Well, if he can’t come, then I guess I can’t go either.  I can’t imagine that God wouldn’t allow him in.”  And he went away saddened by this.

A bit more up the road, he found a second gate.  And a smiling young man came to the gate and greeted him and the dog wagged his tail and the young man came over and gave him a pat on the head and a belly rub and some doggy treats that he had in his pocket.

He reached out his arms to the man and embraced him and said, “Welcome to heaven!”

Surprised the man said, “But I was just at another gate and that guy told me THAT was heaven.  But he wouldn’t let my dog come in with me.  So I left that gate and was sad that I’d never get to see God.”

The young man said, “Oh by the way, I’m St. Peter.  And that last gate was hell.  They only take people in who are willing to abandon their best friend.”

And off they went.  Amen.

Just remember, my dear friends ...

smile at someone,

pat a dog,

hug your spouse,

help a neighbor,

help a stranger,

get involved in something worthwhile,
but remember, EVERY DAY, you need to share a laugh with a friend!!!

You can make a difference - START NOW!!!!!!!!

Amen Again.

May God Bless You and Yours (including your animal family members - even cats!).

With Much Love ...

From Us!