Dogs Don't Have Souls, Do They? (Dedicated to the dogs of my childhood, Ginger, Misty And King)
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 flopping.
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 and watch TV, you would hop on my lap,
looking for attention. You never asked for anything more than to have me pat your head
so you could go to sleep with your head over my leg.
As you got older, you moved around more slowly.
Then, one day, old age finally took it's 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 that you were old and tired
and that after all these years of not asking for anything, you had to ask me for one 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."
 Ginger
This is Ginger, a Sheltie, my mother's dog before she married my father. I never really knew this dog, she kept to herself usually..or around my mom. However I do remember when I was 2, I pulled her tail and she nearly bit my toe off. Mom had to put her to sleep when I was..uh..5? I dont remember. She never really got along with Misty, they were always barking at each other..territory reasons I suppose. She was here first after all...
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 King
This is uhm..King, in my old backyard. Well its still the same backyard, but we had like 5 more acres than we do today. King was a Collie, yep yep, very nice dog. He looked like a King, acted like one and was quite spoiled as one..his personality matched his name completely! Spent most of his time outside. Again, I really didnt know this dog, but my father loved him. And I remember him most as a big fur ball. He mustve died when I was around... 7.
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 Misty Brown Nose
This was my first and favorite dog. My brother got her before I was born, and she had her puppies on my first birthday. Of course we had to give them away, all 8 of them. I remember that only one of them looked like Misty. Yeah, this is the original one. I loved this girl with a passion. She would sleep at the top of the steps everyday just in case I needed her..(such as waking up in the middle of the night). She proved to be a very faithful and loyal dog, through and through. At times she'd run away..but she always came back..it never took her long to. Old age took its toll when she was 13 years old and she died a week before my 10th birthday. So the first dog I got, Misty. (Note: MY Dog..not my parents) ..was named after my childhood best friend.
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