Oh for the love of dog...

We are presently going thru a bit of dog drama with our little Kippy.  He's gotten an infection in his eye, from what the vet is not sure ~ but long story short he can either recover, be blind or lose the eye completely. While the last two aren't great options, they are better options than losing the whole dog. 

 I guess when you lose a dog or two... too young, to things that can't be cured ~ a one eyed dog sounds pretty good.  Our standards have lowered accordingly over the years, death is a tough teacher.

At present, the medicine he's taking has made him feel much better, and he's got his 'happy' back; and that's a couple of steps in the right direction!

I didn't want a third dog... and I didn't want a tiny dog.... and now I don't want anything to happen to him! My, my what a difference a year makes....

He has become a wonderful little friend, despite his small stature. He's been raised with love and the same strict set of rules as the big dogs ~ and he's a great little boy.  He gets along with everyone; people, dogs, the horse, the cats... he does sometimes like to do a drive by on the 3 skittery chickens when they are out pecking around ~ simply for the joy of watching them scatter, but there's no malice... just a little twinkle of fun in his eye.  He does like to have fun... and preferably at top speed!

So it is with dogs on my mind, that I'd like to share the following tribute, a favorite of mine since the first time I read it 20+ years ago... and it still gets me every time... anyone who has ever had occasion to love a dog should probably get a tissue now... to save time.

George Graham Vest

Tribute to the dog

George Graham Vest (1830-1904) served as U.S. Senator from Missouri from 1879 to 1903 and became one of the leading orators and debaters of his time. This delightful speech is from an earlier period in his life when he practiced law in a small Missouri town. It was given in court while representing a man who sued another for the killing of his dog. During the trial, Vest ignored the testimony, and when his turn came to present a summation to the jury, he made the following speech and won the case.

Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.

The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.

If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.

George Graham Vest - c. 1855



This is me with my very first dog, Buffy Ruffles circa 1975

And then, many years later, I got to have a dog again!

Bonnie the crazy dog, 1990 



Krystal  when we were living in California, 1991  (She was Scott's dog when we met...)

Then I moved back to the East Coast, and Cheyenne was my free parting gift....a few years later, when we all reunited ~ we liked to play at the beach!

 

 After we lost Cheyenne at 9..... Our handsome Luke came along.

 

My Luke at the farm, 2006

Then came the little fluff balls.....

Awwwwww, they were so little!  February 2008

and then little Kippy.

 Kippy, napping on his big sister Ava's tail, October of 2010

I leave you with this... another quote I came across just recently and enjoyed.

It came to me that every time I lose a dog they take a piece of my heart with them.

And every dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart.

If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become

as generous and loving as they are.