Aging with Grace

A dog wags its tail with its heart.

Martin Buxbaum

We have had a lot of dogs through the years and each one stole our hearts. Rex, the Irish Setter, would catch mice and leave them by the door as a gift. Our poodle, Melody would go downstairs and jump on the bed when our son told her it was time to go to sleep. Australian Shepard mix, Mattie would lay on the back of the chair and look out the window. All the neighbors knew her and would call to her as they walked by. We now have a Poodle Bichon named Hugo. He knows when it’s time for my husband to come home from work and looks out the window, watching for him.

Dogs have always become part of our family when we brought them home. In some ways they are like children and we feel the same responsibility for them. We would never decide they were too much trouble or no longer convenient to keep. We made the commitment when we adopted them to take care of them for the rest of their lives.

As we come to the Holiday season and some might be thinking about a dog as a gift, please consider the commitment. They will love you unconditionally. You, in return, owe them the best care you can give.