Why do dogs leave first?
Why Do Dogs Leave Earth First?
a child answers
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found that he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything more for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. The young boy, Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a long time after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try to live.
He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"
The Six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
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Damn crop dusters!
It's a great sentiment and I'd hate for others to miss it because their eyes are as bad or worse than mine.
Oh, and text to voice software won't read an image, if I remember correctly, so anyone using that software should be able to enjoy the story with the text included.
Please feel free to copy and paste my transcription into the OP if you'd like.
I felt a tug at my heart at the beauty and truth coming from this child. Truly good words to start my monday. Thank you.
But even at my worst, my dogs always loved me. 
This may sound heretical or even downright mean. But let's not mince words: pandas are evil. Oh, but they're so cute, you say, and chubby and fluffy and bumbling. They have those sweet, complacent smiles, and they eat bamboo! Well, listen here. The first step to getting over pandas is to imagine the coloration of their black-and-white fur as being the inverse of what it is — you see? Now it's less of a cuddly exotic woodland creature and more of a freakishly large raccoon. Slothful to the point of being circumspect, pandas loll around, knowing full well that most of the humans in their midst will fall for their deceptive, charming spell.
What most people don't realize is that pandas have us duped. They are the one species in the animal kingdom that seems to live outside the realm of Darwinian science. Most creatures in the universe follow German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche's axiom: a creature "will strive to grow, spread, seize, become predominant ... because it is living and because life simply is will to power." Pandas didn't seem to get the memo. They have no will to live or reproduce. To this day, scientists have to perform grotesque procedures to keep the panda population from collapsing into oblivion. Forget about the fact that pandas are mean-spirited, mate-abusing, progeny-mauling, deviant monsters. Forget about the fact that these hoodlum bears have conned humanity with their supposed cuteness. The most evil thing about pandas? The cunning with which they expose the stupidity of humans.
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2074429_2074446_2074791,00.html #ixzz2HKSBE261
On December 3rd our Yellow Lab Hunny reached an extraordinary milestone for a large dog -- her 16th birthday.
She still eats her food, gets up and goes outside without help, and doesn't appear to be in pain. As long as this lasts, her time has not yet come. But my wife and I know her time remaining with us is short. We both hope that when we come home from work one day we'll find she passed away peacefully in her sleep, because taking her in to put her down will be hard. Very hard.
Thank you for posting this heartwarming story. Every little bit helps.
Lady Leigh was pure love from beginning to end.
I love having dogs for what they unselfishly give to me.
I hate it that their time on earth is always too short.
May all of Hunny's days continue to be good ones.
12 years is a much more typical lifespan for retrievers. They give so much to us, but how well and how long they live depends on what we give to them. Several of my friends have dogs they love, but they're very "liberal" with food and the dogs are obese. Our Hunny has always been a trim 70-75 lbs, with a healthy canine diet. She's traveled to many states with us on vacations where the activity involves lots of hiking. Summer 2012 was the first year we didn't go, because sorry to say Hunny's hiking days are over. But we do whatver she can do, and it makes me feel better knowing she's had a very good life.
In August we added a new member to our family, a black lab/terrier mix named Winnie. She's a bundle of energy and very smart. Many good years to look forward to. Life is good, when shared with such companions.
Maybe he just stepped on a thorn or something.
I'm a little worried about you from your post... you have a community of people here who care about you. Of course it's not the same as a best friend who lives with you and adores you unconditionally, and vice versa, but he isn't your only friend. And should the news tomorrow not be what you hope for, you could always volunteer at a shelter or work with animals in a way that honors him; it sounds like you have a lot of love to give and dogs are the perfect recipients because they return it with their whole hearts. But mainly I just wanted to say that I hope that the vet tells you that the limp is nothing and that the news is all good. 
... one of whom left us last year at age 14, and the other - 13 years young with a bad heart murmur - still my closest pal.
They have made - and changed - my life in so many ways.
Isn't it remarkable how each dog is so different in personality like people.? To me that is the saddest part of losing them, there will never be another like them.
I miss you "Ruth" you could say your name, so loyal and and always tried your very best. I miss you "Axis" a huggie boy golden who was always a good boy.
bath day
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yes, I can understand how you will always think about your girl and miss her.
I can understand your pain. They always leave such a big hole when they go, don't they?
to cancer. 
Thanks for the story.
I lost a 7 year old dog to cancer almost 26 years ago and I miss him every day . There have been other dogs since Smokey (including the two I have now). Gone too soon....hope your good memories will help ease the sadness.
It wasn't a great Christmas this year, but I know I gave her a good life while she was with us.
Even when it's far better to ease the suffering of the beloved pet -- a family member, actually -- it still tears one's heart, sometimes irreparably.
I had a very special bond, unusually close, to my snowshoe cat, Dobbs. He'd had a rough start in life, losing a hind leg to an animal bite; to me, his disability made him all the more unique and endearing, and I adopted him on the spot. From that day forward, every time life threw something difficult my way, or when I ran into my own medical headwinds, I'd just think, "If Dobbs can lose a leg and still be loving and cheerful and funny and nutty, well, whatever I'm facing is small stuff."
Two years ago, my little boy quite suddenly lost his life to a saddle thrombosis. It was swift and unexpected. He was a good friend for 11 years, and taught me so much. My wife and I have other cats, but the connection I had with Dobbs was one in a million. I expect I'll miss him until the day I die.
Well, now that I've cheered everybody up...
"A dog is the only animal on earth born with a love of humans in its DNA."
Your post is a beautiful tribute to them... "Dogs give comfort and take care of us." Yes, they do. Thanks for sharing this. As someone who is still mourning the loss of a beloved dog, I will remember your words.
Lord Byron's Inscription on the Monument of a Newfoundland Dog:
Near this spot are deposited the remains of one who possessed Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferocity,
and all the Virtues of Man, without his Vices.
This Praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery if inscribed over human ashes is but a just tribute to the Memory of Boatswain, a Dog.
