More than just a dog
We’re all here with a shared passion – the unconditional love for our pooches both big and small, the young and the not so young.
The inspiration for starting Doggy Smiles has come from two special doggies who are very close to my heart – Katie, my beloved furry bestie (above) when I was growing up and Luna, our gorgeous working cocker spaniel who’s now a huge part of our family in all her craziness – and also my furry PA ‘Puppy Assistant’!
Every dog I’ve met over the years has enriched my life in some way – they’re never ‘just dogs’ in my eyes.
Over three decades later I can still vividly remember the brilliant fun and amazing companionship I was so lucky to share with Katie for 16 years. I also remember very clearly the painful day when she left us … just heart-breaking for all our family.
If someone says to you “it’s just a dog” maybe they’ve never known the pain of losing a dog and maybe they’ve also never known the huge pleasure of loving one. They probably can’t figure out how our fur buddies can make us laugh and cry, the joy as well as the tears.
I came across this emotional poem by chance and it really touched me on so many levels – I hope you’ll find it moving too.
I’d love to hear what you think … let me know on woof@doggy-smiles.com
Just A Dog
by Richard A. Biby
From time to time people tell me “relax, it’s just a dog” or “it’s a lot of money just for a dog”. They don’t understand the distance travelled, the time invested or the costs incurred by “just a dog.” Some of my proudest moments happened with “just a dog.”
Many hours passed being my only company “just a dog”, but not for a single moment I felt despised. Some of my saddest moments were for “just a dog,” and on those grey days, the gentle touch of “just a dog” gave me the comfort and reason to spend the day.
If you also think “it’s just a dog,” then you’ll probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.” “Only a dog” brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust and pure and unbridled joy. “Only a dog” brings the compassion and patience that make me a better person.
For “just a dog,” I’m getting up early, going for long walks and looking forward to the future. So for me, and for people like me, it is not “just a dog,” but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the memories of the past and the absolute joy of the moment. “Only a dog” brings good in me and diverts my thoughts away from me and the daily worries.
I hope one day you can understand that it’s not “just a dog”, but what gives me humanity and prevents me from being “just a human”. So the next time you hear the phrase “just a dog,” you just smile because you “just don’t understand.”
