1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It's crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment, but I only have you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when you're speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will not forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I could hurt you, and yet, I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long, or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You, too, will grow old.
10. On the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there, because I love you so.
Reposted from Rico's notes.
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pets. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
vet reflections
For as long as I can remember, I've always loved dogs. It has never mattered to me if the dog is pedigreed or not, nor am I particular about their personalities. I just love dogs.
I have gone through the vicious cycle many times: falling in love with the pup, adoring its positive qualities and learning to live with the negatives, comfortably co-existing with the adult dog, and the inevitable heartbreak of losing the aged dog. Time and again I've wondered why God chose to give us a bestfriend whose lifespan is at best one-fifth of ours. I still don't know the answer, and I probably never will, because often when the question begins to haunt me, a new pup will arrive and distract me from that question for the duration of its life.
Most of the time I love being the dog's human. Most of the time it's easy to be the dog's human: you just spend time together, feed and bathe the dog when needed, and in return, the dog gives you his/her undying love and loyalty. But before we reach this stage, the dog and I have to undergo the boot camp stage: potty training, establishing feeding time, instilling in the dog that he/she simply can't destroy plants in the garden and in the house, and basic obedience. This is not so hard for me now, having been a dog's human for almost 3 decades. For first timers though, it can be hell.
My friend Marose, a veterinarian, told me of her blog that gives tips to pet owners. Today I checked out her blog, and it's wonderful! It gives information but not too much information. It deals with practical solutions for the mundane problems that can lead to hair-pulling situations. The blog is a treat even for veteran dog humans like me, so it will surely be helpful for the newbie dog humans. If you'd like to check it out, click on the link at the right portion of this blog or enter this url in your browser: http://vetreflections.blogspot.com/
Understand though, that this blog does not substitute for an actual consultation with a vet. Most of the information given here are for the pet's health promotion and practical tips for easier co-existence among humans and pets. Any medical problem should still warrant a visit to the vet. If you'd like to visit Doc Marose, her contact details are on her blog.
I have gone through the vicious cycle many times: falling in love with the pup, adoring its positive qualities and learning to live with the negatives, comfortably co-existing with the adult dog, and the inevitable heartbreak of losing the aged dog. Time and again I've wondered why God chose to give us a bestfriend whose lifespan is at best one-fifth of ours. I still don't know the answer, and I probably never will, because often when the question begins to haunt me, a new pup will arrive and distract me from that question for the duration of its life.
Most of the time I love being the dog's human. Most of the time it's easy to be the dog's human: you just spend time together, feed and bathe the dog when needed, and in return, the dog gives you his/her undying love and loyalty. But before we reach this stage, the dog and I have to undergo the boot camp stage: potty training, establishing feeding time, instilling in the dog that he/she simply can't destroy plants in the garden and in the house, and basic obedience. This is not so hard for me now, having been a dog's human for almost 3 decades. For first timers though, it can be hell.
My friend Marose, a veterinarian, told me of her blog that gives tips to pet owners. Today I checked out her blog, and it's wonderful! It gives information but not too much information. It deals with practical solutions for the mundane problems that can lead to hair-pulling situations. The blog is a treat even for veteran dog humans like me, so it will surely be helpful for the newbie dog humans. If you'd like to check it out, click on the link at the right portion of this blog or enter this url in your browser: http://vetreflections.blogspot.com/
Understand though, that this blog does not substitute for an actual consultation with a vet. Most of the information given here are for the pet's health promotion and practical tips for easier co-existence among humans and pets. Any medical problem should still warrant a visit to the vet. If you'd like to visit Doc Marose, her contact details are on her blog.
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