A Dog's Purpose

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 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. They 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. '

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

*When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

*Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy-ride.

*Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in
your face to be pure ecstasy.

*Take naps.

*Stretch before rising.

*Run, romp, and play daily.

*Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

*Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

*On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

*On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a
shady tree.

*When you're happy, dance around and wag your
entire body.

*Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

*Be loyal.

*Never pretend to be something you're not.

*If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

*When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit
close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Dog spelled backwards is.. God