Who Wouldn’t Give Their Life For Fido?

Is the joy of having a dog worth the inevitable pain of its loss? What can dogs teach us about love & grief? That their unconditional companionship throughout their short life is worth far more than the tears shed at the end? YES!

At least, that’s roughly the conclusion of the WSJ’s Katherine Bindley who had written an essay on the subject & based on hundreds of comments from readers in response. As the follow up story relates: “Owning a dog can teach a person as much about herself as about her companion … From the beginning, owning a dog requires both love & resolve. But the most enduring lesson a dog can teach might be its last … The inevitable passing of a pet & the processing of the subsequent grief [even anguish] is a powerful lesson in resilience.”

Tell me about it. As one reader agreed, one of the most heartbreaking experience in my own life was being told of my Nappy’s death by car & without being able to say “farewell” to my unconditional companion of nearly a decade.” I cried for days in public as well as in private; to this day I am uplifted by the many happy moments we shared together. My ONLY regret is not having given my dear friend more of myself. And, I learned how to be a better dad for his successor, Lincoln, who just celebrated his 4th b-day with a doggy ice cream cone …

Davd Soul