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Thursday, March 8, 2012

Just A Dog

It was our buddy Remington's  "Gotcha Day" on Tuesday and in his post he had a copy of the letter he wrote the night before he went to his forever home with Beth and Mike 3 years ago. From a dogs perspective it tells how scared he was.  You can read it here.  One line that stood out for me was "Some people will do bad things to you and then say, it's just a dog."  Remington's letter really touched my heart and that one line reminded me of the poem "Just A Dog" author anonymous; which donnes the front page of of our friend Becki's web page at Autumn Blaze Bassets.  I had never read this before meeting Becki and it was just a glimpse into how caring she was about her bassets before we got Fred and then Gloria.    It still brings tears to my eyes just like Remington's letter did. Thanks for the reminder Remington of just how hard some dogs have it!

So for those of you who have never read "Just a Dog" before, here it is.

Just A Dog

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog,"
or "that's a lot of money for just a dog."
They don't understand the distance travelled, the time spent,
or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog."
Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog,"
but I did not once feel slighted.
Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by
"just a dog," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch
of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog," then you probably understand
phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship,
trust, and pure unbridled joy.
"Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience
that make me a better person.
Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look
longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog"
but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,
the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.
"Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts
away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that its' not "just a dog"
but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being
"just a man" or "just a woman."

So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog,"
just smile,
because they "just don't understand."

~Unknown Author~

And this folks............


.....is not "just a dog".  This is my friend!

41 comments:

  1. WOW!!! that is a fab poem, its what most people i know in my day to day life say to me all the time. so glad i found all my blogging buddys so i dont have to hear that saying quite so much anymore and it fills my heart with joy to know that there are many many dogs out there all over the world who have such wonderful lives with owners who treat them with the love and respect that they deserve xxx

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  2. Oh...oh.... leaky eye alert over here. What a beautiful post. HH is just sniffling away beside me. Thanks so much for posting that poem. It is wonderful.

    pawhugs, Max, Bugsy, Knuckles and HH

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  3. Beth here....AGREED! Beautiful! That said it all! I do not have just a dog OR just a cat -- they are my very best friends and I love each one of them....I don't know what I would do without them....Thanks for mentioning Remington's letter....he was a bright guy even at 8 weeks old....ha ha! AND thank you for sharing the "Just a Dog"....I can't tell you how many people say that and it makes me SO upset! Have a fun day, my friend!

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  4. Very nice! I happen to be my Mom's and Dad's best friend! I am one very lucky pup too! Lovies, Miss Mindy

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  5. What a beautiful poem! They are not only 'just a dog' but also our family and our beloved ones!

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  6. Love this! I've always loved that poem on Becki's site as well. I think all pet lovers can relate and you're right, they're not JUST dogs or cats, or even fish? (Harold hehe). They're part of the family and you know I think of Fred and Gloria as my furr-lings and proud of it too! Great post Mom!!

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    Replies
    1. Beautiful! I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't understand all of the emotions you get from having a dog. While my 3 dogs drive me batty at times, those bad moments are quickly wiped away by the joy, laughter, love, and snuggles I get from them. They are not "just dogs", they are part of my family.

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  7. That's a lovely poem. Mum's always sais she needs her dogs just as much as we need her. Deccy x

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  8. My pups have changed my life. I love them so much. What a sweet picture of Fred!

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  9. Best friend you can have that's for sure.
    Blessings,
    Goose

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  10. I have that poem sitting right next to my desk. I love it. Sniffs, The HoundDogs

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  11. I admit, I has had it good but my sissy Whitney hasn't always. Mum says we ber her bestest furiends, her companions, cheerleaders, and yadayadayada...sometimes her says I be her worst nightmare though...hehehe. But whatevers, we is family...not just a dog.

    Puddles

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  12. THAT is my favorite Poem. I wish MORE peeps would read and memorize it.

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  13. Great poem. Thanks for sharing.

    Love and licks, Winnie

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  14. I was lucky enogh to be born and raised into love, and never know pain of suffering. Still this is a beautiful poem
    Dachshund NolA

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  15. Thank for sharing this wonderful poem. It touched my heart. There is no love like a dog's love.

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  16. That is such an adorable photo!

    Meowm completely agrees with "just a dog", or "just a cat". No animal is "just".

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  17. I have read that poem before. It is a good one. I just love that picture of Freddie. One of the best yet.

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  18. I love this poem.
    People have learned not to to say "It's just a dog" around me, if they do, they get an earful and then I tell them that they are just person.

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  19. This is one of my favorite dog poems and it's so true. My dog will never be just a dog.

    Thanks for posting this. :)

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  20. Really touching poem and very true!

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  21. ´*•.¸(*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´
    ♥«´¨`•°..HAPPY GOTCHA DAY REMINGTON!!°•´¨`»♥
    .¸.•*(¸.•*´♥`*•.¸)`*•.
    I love this verse--Each time it touches my heart and I am reminded why I'd never live my life without dogs!!

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  22. What a beautiful poem!! I just may post it on my blog someday!! I only wish we knew the poems' author!! It was so well written!! ;-D
    You know.... In my opinion, the only people who utter "It's just a dog" are not canine owners. They have never been touched by these beautiful creatures!! Their loss.... ;op

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  23. Oh my, that poem really hit home, nothing said was untrue. Really beautiful.

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  24. Wow, that is an amazing poem. It made my mom person cry!

    Thanks so much for sharing it.

    Nubbin wiggles,
    Oskar

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  25. So here's to us and those like us...and most of all to the dogs we love!

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  26. Fabulous poem and...what a great photo! Thanks so much for the link to Remington's letter. It's really beautiful!

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  27. Yes, we love this poem. Brings us to tears every time we see it! Thanks for sharing it,

    Wyatt's Mom

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  28. Wonderful poem, but that picture - it's just a picture. It's a fabulous photo.

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  29. That is so great! My mom so completly agrees, to her I am way more than just a dog!!

    ~Higgins

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  30. Beautifully written!

    Hugs,
    Lily Belle

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  31. What a nice pen, never heard that one before
    Benny & Lily

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  32. Hi Bassetmomma
    Greetings from Germany! I am absolutely new to blogging but a friend sent me your blogging address because she saw that one of your bassets could be a twin to one of mine.
    That is why I went to look at your blog - and found this "letter" Just a dog.
    I have never seen it in German and wonder if it would be ok to translate it and add it to my homepage and/or to my blog?
    Best regards from Christine

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    Replies
    1. I don't see why not as the author is unknown! :)

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  33. Thank you for telling me about Remington (I just visited), and for sharing the beautiful poem. "Just a dog" has made my life so much richer... It's sad for people who don't get it.

    The photo is fabulous!

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  34. Thanks for reposting the poem.

    Nice photo, too. We've been playing in the snow a lot lately. ^_^

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  35. I love the picture! It is precious :) And the poem is awesome. It couldn't be said any better!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, me too I love those photos. they look so sweet.,also this is a an awesome poem

      Dog Fence for Any size yard.
      Pet Solutions

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  36. Poetic inspiration and deeply thought provoking. We are all indebted for such awareness and the values we share with our loving companions.

    The photo is delightful and captivating.

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  37. Last week we heard the news of some 32 pugs getting abused and thought exactly what you did. It is NOT just a dog. Pugs are their humans' best friend and stand by them all the time. I don't understand how some dogs can be treated so badly. :(:(Thanks for this post and reminder.

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