Been married for 32 years - to the same, wonderful woman. (That’s why we’re still married). Started off with Muffet, a poodle-terrier, who-knows-what-else-breed dog we got free even before our wedding. One year later we got a cat. (My dad hated cats, and I inherited that feeling until my sister brought home a cat in 1969 that was discovered in her college dorm and the cat had to be evicted). I thought, oh man,a stupid cat. But I was not going to abuse it. Before long this guy, a male, had completely wormed his way into all our hearts and lives. He got sick, and I cried with my sister at the vet’s office over this “stupid” darn cat when we had to have him put down in 1972.
My wife and I got Brindle in 1974, a German Short-haired Pointer. Great hunter and pet. Her & Muffet were buddies, but with one year’s seniority the little terrier mix at 20 pounds dominated this 65 pound female GSP. Had Brindle for ten years until she died of a heart attack I guess. A few lears later we lost Muffet.Then we got Samantha, another GSP. She pulled her stake and got hit by a car at 1 yr. old. Later on we got Molly, a Black Cocker-Border Collie mix that was slated to be drowned unless the “owners” could find a home for her.
That brings up another point, people should not breed pets unless they have a better plan than drowning the litter.
When Molly died in May of 1999, I was away from home for two days of guiding. Got home at midnight to find out she died the day before. Fortunately my father-in-law buried her on our property. (All our deceased pets are located in the fields near our home).
So intense was my grief over Molly that my wife and I agreed 'no more dogs." Even four years later, all it would take was for me to see a picture of her and I would begin to get emotional. It would even happen to me while talking to others who had lost dogs. As I recalled Molly, I always told how the first two years we owned her I could have killed her many times over. She could be such a bad dog! Once she settled down, she became “my” dog and we were almost inseparable.
Long story short, my wife surprised me on my 50th birthday celebration with a black-and-tan Cocker Spaniel pup whom was named Abigail. Not previously named by others, that’s the divine part of this. Within minutes after this eight-week old pup was placed on my lap as I had to keep my eyes closed, my cousin said, “Now you’ll have to come up with a name for her.” In a flash I had a thought, but did not actually think it. It was as if I already knew this information. Not saying it out loud, the answer rang loudly in my mind. “Her name is Abigail.”
A couple hours later when everyone went home from the birthday party, I asked my wife, “What do you think of the name Abigail.”
She was awe struck. “That was her mother’s name!” my wife declared. Considering the many things going on at that time in my life, there’s far more here than meets the eye.
Finally - I love dogs & cats like I love people. I don’t particularly care for the ones that misbehave in a huge way. No person or pet is perfect. But an uncontrollable dog that jumps up on your clothes, drools on your pants, won’t stay down from the kitchen counter, claws up the screen door, etc. You understand what I mean. People can be much worse. Just look at today’s headlines.
People who have never experienced the bond of love with a dog have no understanding of the tremendous depth of grief we feel upon their loss. This is a very unique and lonely type of loss that can only be shared and comforted by those who have gone through it. It is lonely because the loss of a pet usually does not gain the support of friends and family as does the passing of one of your friends or relatives. At least then, it seems that others care.
Eponymous - As for me, not having another dog might avoid the eventual grief upon their loss, but if you offered me an unlimited supply of gold nuggets, champagne, or even a million dollars I would not yield my beloved Abigail in the trade. With all due respect I kindly suggest your personal preference not to own a dog or cat could have been made public in a manner slightly less insulting to those of us who dearly love our pets.
[This message has been edited by Don Bastian (edited 22 March 2005).]
Edited as an add-on:
The dogs that I referred to as “not liking” would actually be those dogs that I do not actually dislike, but rather would like better were they better “behaved.” A dog that does not come whan called, stay down when told, or better yet, stay down without being told - they just need a bit more training and stricter discipline. They are like our children - if we give in they will totally run and dominate our lives. Who knows how they’ll turn out unless we demand the best they are capable of? This is acomplished through love and firmness, not punishment and meanness.
[This message has been edited by Don Bastian (edited 22 March 2005).]
[This message has been edited by Don Bastian (edited 22 March 2005).]
