Just a Dog by Richard Biby

When Zoey tore her ACL, I can't tell you how many people balked that I spent $2700 to fix her. They said "I can't believe you spent that on a dog". Clearly, they never knew the love of a dog.



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 traveled, 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 will probably understand phases 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 it's not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a human."

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

Re: Just a Dog by Richard Biby

Beautiful

Re: Just a Dog by Richard Biby

People can be jerks

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and I love that

Re: Just a Dog by Richard Biby

Posted by MrsFishstick

People can be jerks

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and I love that

Re: Just a Dog by Richard Biby

LOVE THIS! People have said the same thing to me when my Porter tore his ACL. "why would you spend that kind of money on a dog" Or we had a diabetic dog that cost A LOT of money on just insulin and supplies, but when he almost died one night and he was rushed to the emergency vet, we were asked, "he's 8 years old, why would you spend that kind of money on a dog". I hate people sometimes!

Re: Just a Dog by Richard Biby

Buddy was "just a dog" to a lot of people and they didnt understand why I spent over 20K on "just a dog" for allergy and seizure tests, pills and many many vet visits. They kept saying to me you should just put him down.

Thanks for sharing this.

Re: Just a Dog by Richard Biby

So true. My dogs ARE my children to me. Everyone said when I had a human child I would feel differently towards my dogs. But I do not. If anything I feel even more so that they are my babies b/c my human baby is growing up before my eyes but my pups are still like babies and always will need me to care for them.

Message edited 2/17/2011 10:48:10 AM.

Re: Just a Dog by Richard Biby

I love love love this... so beautiful.. made me a bit teary.

I don't have a dog, but really tugged at my heart..

Re: Just a Dog by Richard Biby

Beautifully stated. Thank you for posting this. I plan on reading it to Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead Board at the next town board meeting. There have been so many issues raised about the care of our homeless shelter animals there and I feel that the members of the board (who do not have animals themselves) "just don't understand" Maybe this will spark something in one of them and things will begin to change for the animals there.

Re: Just a Dog by Richard Biby