If you’re a dog-lover, you know: there’s no love quite like the love between human and dog. I love my family; I love my friends; but I love my dog. When I’m alone or cold or lonely, he’s right there, wanting food and belly-scratches, and needing to go out.
And I’m not exaggerating when I say he makes me a better person.
A few weeks ago, early in the morning, a man was collecting bottles in our lane- in the city, because there’s a recycling rebate, some people go around and collect bottles for the recycling money. Usually, it’s people who are down on their luck. (Once, in university, I did it with a friend – we cleared out all the recycling at the coffee shop we worked at – it took us about 2 hours, but we ended up with a little over $20 each. Score.)
This man looked like he was having a hard time, and I was a little afraid. He was yelling to himself, mumbling, and had a scar across his face.
Our dog ran right up to him, tail wagging. I was apologetic – I didn’t want to disturb this man or assume that he liked dogs.
The man waved me off, so he could pet the dog. The man stopped yelling and started smiling. Our dog was ecstatic – he loves attention, and he clearly liked this man. The dog wagged his tail so hard, his whole body shook.
“You have a beautiful dog”, he said.
I thanked him, and thought about how the dog had changed my interaction with that man. The dog brightened both our days.
Dogs don’t care if you live in a tent or a palace. They don’t care if you drive a fancy car or a bike held together with duct tape. If you wear couture or whatever you found at a thrift store.
To quote another dog lover, Oprah:
Dogs are my favorite role models. I want to work like a dog, doing what I was born to do with joy and purpose. I want to play like a dog, with total, jolly abandon. I want to love like a dog, with unabashed devotion and complete lack of concern about what people do for a living, how much money they have, or how much they weigh. The fact that we still live with dogs, even when we don’t have to herd or hunt our dinner, gives me hope for humans and canines alike.
- This story, a couple of weeks ago, made me cry – dog-lovers, beware! A Farewell to the Dog Who Helped Him Off the Streets
- This one made me laugh – on labs and obesity. Labs love to eat, poor things.
It’s been a couple of weeks since I posted any highlights, so I do have a couple that aren’t dog-related (of course):
- This oral sex rape ruling in Oklahoma was shocking. Apparently, if you’re too intoxicated to give consent there, if you literally cain’t say no, you cannot be raped. She’s unconscious? Go to town! (Note: avoid Oklahoma.)
- This vandalized car made me laugh – scorned lover antics usually make me laugh. With cars, they remind me of Shania Twain: “You make me take off my shoes before you let me get in.”
- I loved this interview with Dionne Osborne, Drake’s vocal coach. Voices, particularly singers’ voices, are tools – so interesting to see the work that goes in to taking care of them and expanding them. I also loved her comments about Drake being open to direction – at any workplace, it’s so nice to work with people who are open and collaborative.
