fuonlyknew

This article was sent to me by a good friend and fellow dog lover. I wanted to share it with you.

Dogs Don’t Have Souls, Do They?

Written by: Charles B. Wells,Jr. from an Ann Landers Column.

I remember bringing you home. You were so small and cuddly with your tiny paws and soft fur. You bounced around the room with eyes flashing and ears flapping. Once in a while, you’d let out a little yelp just to let me know this was your territory.

Making a mess of the house and chewing on everything in sight became a passion and when I scolded you, you just put your head down and looked up at me with those innocent eyes as if to say,”I’m sorry, but I’ll do it again as soon as you’re not watching.”

As you got older, you protected me by looking out the window and barking at everyone who walked by. When I had a tough day at work, you would be waiting for me with your tail wagging just to say,  “Welcome home. I missed you.” You never had a bad day and I could always count on you to be there for me.

When I sat down to read the paper or watch TV, you would hop on my lap looking for attention. You never asked for anything more than to have me pat your haed so you could sleep  with your head over my leg.

As you got older, you moved around more slowly. Then one day, old age finally took its toll, and you couldn’t stand on those wobbly legs anymore. I knelt down and  patted you lying there, trying to make you young again. You just looked up at me as if to say you were old and tired and that after all these years of not asking for anything, you had to ask me to do one last favor.

With tears in my eyes, I drove you one last time to the vet. One last time you were lying next to me. For some strange reason you were able to stand up in the animal hospital – perhaps it was your sense of pride.

As the vet led you away, you stopped for an instant, turned your head and looked at me as if to say, “Thank you for taking care of me.”

I thought, “No – Thank YOU for taking care of ME.”

While posting this my eyes filled with tears, but I was also smiling. Look into your dog’s eyes and you can clearly see his soul. It is right there for you to see and it is wondrous.

I was given this book by my Read It & Reap for review on Goodreads.

Sometimes I like to start a new book without knowing what it is about. After I finished the last page there is one thing I do know, I will be looking for future books by Shewanda Pugh.

This story has a great plot line, with sub-plots that support the main one. Each character had their own place and were important in the progression of the story. i felt a genuine connection with the main characters and each of the secondary ones played a crucial role.

With well written descriptive scenes, the authors words painted powerful pictures. The dialogue was good and flowed nicely.

Deena, being half black and half white, is trying to find out where her place is in her family while juggling a new relationship and a huge project at work. Takumi, a Japanese American, grapples with the knowledge that his love for Deena is forbidden by his father and if discovered could destroy them both.

Having read this book in one sitting, I was captivated by all of the characters. Shewanda Pugh is a talented writer and I strongly recommend that you read this book. I will be on the lookout for more.

Title: Crimson Footsteps

Author: Shewanda Pugh

Received by: Goodreads group Read It & Reap

I’ll lend to you for a while a child of mine, “He said.

For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he’s dead.

It may be six or seven years, or twenty-two or three,

But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for me?

He’ll bring his charms to gladden you, and should his stay be brief,

You’ll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return,

But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn.

I’ve looked the wode world over in my search for teachers true

and from the throngs that crowd life’s lanes I have chosen you.

Now will you give him all your love, not think the labor vain,

nor hate me when I come to call to take him back again?

I fancied that I heard them say, “Dear Lord, Thy will be done!

For all the joy Thy child shall bring, the risk of grief we run.

We’ll shelter him with tenderness, we’ll love him while we may,

and for the happiness we’ve known, forever grateful stay.

But should the angels call for him much sooner than we’ve planned,

We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand.

This poem is titled  To All Parents and was written by Edgar Guest

    This is the story of my two best friends. They are different from you and me, being four-legged and furry. Meet Lassie and Quigley, my two dogs.

     Lassie is a white greyhound/retriever mix and Quigley is a black pitbull/hound mix. Hence the title the Ghost and the Darkness. At night you can see Lassie far out in the yard, but you can’t see Quigley until he suddenly appears in front of you.

     You would think being the female that Lassie would be a lady, but not so. She eats like it is her last meal and when she drinks, she leaves a trail of water behind her. Quigley, on the other hand, is a dainty eater, eating every crumb and gently laps his water.

     They are the best of friends but very different. Lassie is super hyper and the boss, while Quigley is very gentle and follows her lead.  Quigley waits patiently while she eats, accepting the mouthfuls she brings to him. He only goes to his bowl after she lays down.

     Unfortunately Lassie became ill with a fungus that hunting breeds get. The vet informed me that it was incurable and I made the decision to end her suffering. The sorrow hit me so hard I could not catch my breath. Poor Quigley would not eat after she was gone. I finally got him to eat by bringing him handfuls of food like Lassie used to do. He has gradually adjusted to her absence as have I.  But some days I think I hear her sneaking up on the sofa or getting  one of her toys out of her basket.

     Some people can not understand the loss of a pet, that they are more than an animal.  Lassie’s death was difficult not only for me and Quigley, but for my son also.  She was a part of our family and her absence  is still noticable.

     Sometimes I think I feel her presence and I smile,  remembering fondly  The Ghost and the Darkness.

My blog is under construction as of now. Please be patient while it is being created. It is a work in progress.

Thanks Ya’ll!