Dogs

Often referred to as "man's best friend" it has been my experience that dogs can teach us a great deal about how we ought to behave. I'm familiar with only four dogs in my lifetime. The first was a Springer Spaniel named Jockey who was a childhood dog. Then, later, my own children owned an American Eskimo named CB (ceebee). He was a spunky but friendly (to us!) little dog that fiercely guarded his own family and home.

But the dogs with which I am most familiar are two Boston Terriers (affectionately known as the "B.T. Brothers" - not related) that go by a variety of names. Spot was so-named because of two black spots - a large spot on his head, and a smaller spot above his cold, black nose. An absolutely wonderful dog that loved to run in the woods or bound through tall grass looking for anything of interest. It may have been a field-mouse or an insect, but whatever he would pursue he did it with untiring enthusiasm. I would throw a small stone into the long grass, and he simply wouldn't quit until he found it and brought it back to me! For a brief period he was named Erskine, but the name he liked best was Bubba! (It's easy to change a dog's name: for several weeks, use both names together, then drop the old name).

Bubba's "brother," a smaller and older B.T. named Lucky is also known as "Sweetie-Boy," or sometimes "HoneyPot" - but whatever name they would go by, I would never have imagined that two dogs could be such excellent companions.

I inherited both dogs when they were only a couple of years old. Sadly, Bubba only made it to about five years of age, and we lost him to a "perineal hernia."  Lucky left us on July 10, 2008 after being boarded at a local veterinarian where something went sadly wrong - he went in happy and healthy. Forty-eight hours later he was going to be released to us but was unable to walk - they said he got "flesh-eating disease" and we had to have him put down. We were not told the truth and we likely will never know exactly what happened, but is was not a good day.

I suppose we can't stay away from B.T.s because now, in July 2010, we have another one. He's 4 years old - we bought him from a couple that could not keep him in their new apartment, and he is adjusting well to his new home and his new owners (and, we might add, a new vet)! His name was Duke but we may rename him in recognition of his new location. His picture will be available here in the next few weeks.

B.T.s are wonderful, intelligent family dogs and absolutely great with children. Visit the American Kennel Club website to learn more about B.T.s. You can register your dog free so that if it is lost anyone who finds him or her can contact you.

It's interesting that Scripture does not have one good thing to say about dogs; in fact, it compares man's propensity to sin with a dog returning to its vomit (Proverbs 26:11). Throughout the Bible, God provides powerful object lessons by making a comparison between a natural object and a moral principle. For example, the foresight of the ant, the diligence of the spider, and the cooperation of the locust. That made me think about God and my relationship with Him. Here is a few comparative thoughts (admittedly simple and perhaps even childlike) that I have observed with my dogs. 

     Proverbs 12:10 - A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal ...

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