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This page is in memory of the wonderful dogs that were rescued by SOS and have left
us behind on this side of Heaven. They are missed by all whose lives
they touched.
The Journey
When you bring a pet into your life, you begin a journey - a journey that will bring you more
love and devotion than you have ever known, yet also test your strength and courage.
If you allow, the journey
will teach you many things, about life, about yourself, and most of all, about love. You will come away changed forever, for
one soul cannot touch another without leaving its mark.
You will learn the true measure of love - the steadfast,
undying kind that says, "It doesn't matter where we are or what we do, or how life treats us as long as we are together."
Respect this always. It is the most precious gift any living soul can give another. You will not find it often among the human
race.
And you will learn humility. The look in my dog's eyes often made me feel ashamed. Such joy and love at my
presence. He saw not some flawed human who could be cross and stubborn, moody or rude, but only his wonderful companion. Or
maybe he saw those things and dismissed them as mere human foibles, not worth considering, and so chose to love me anyway.
If you pay attention and learn well, when the journey is done, you will be not just a better person, but the person
your pet always knew you to be - the one they were proud to call beloved friend.
I must caution you that this journey
is not without pain. Like all paths of true love, the pain is part of loving. For as surely as the sun sets, one day your
dear animal companion will follow a trail you cannot yet go down.
And you will have to find the strength and love
to let them go. A pet's time on earth is far too short - especially for those that love them. We borrow them, really, just
for awhile, and during these brief years they are generous enough to give us all their love, every inch of their spirit and
heart, until one day there is nothing left.
The cat that only yesterday was a kitten is all too soon old and frail
and sleeping in the sun. The young pup of boundless energy wakes up stiff and lame, the muzzle now gray. Deep down we somehow
always knew that this journey would end. We knew that if we gave our hearts they would be broken.
But give them
we must for it is all they ask in return. When the time comes, and the road curves ahead to a place we cannot see, we give
one final gift and let them run on ahead - young and whole once more.
"Go now and run free, good friend,"
we say, until our journey comes full circle and our paths cross again. And our journey will come full circle.
Author
Unknown
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