The Importance of Dogs

This vacation, my family was forced to put my dog to sleep. He was 19 years old and after a long and happy life, he no longer had any control over the bottom half of his body (legs,bowel movements, etc.) Though he was very old and his death was bound to happen sometime soon, this event was very painful and sad for me. Not only had I ever known life without him but the bound in between a pet, especially dogs (sorry cat enthusiasts), and his owner is one that is powerful, rewarding and wonderful.

For me, the best thing about having a dog is that this little being gives its owner a separate and happy universe, in which the owner can forget about all of the problems in his life. Indeed a dog is an innocent creature, who is completely unaware of the problems that exist in society and whose concerns revolve around eating, running, sleeping and being cuddled. Whether it be an unfair grade, school stress, a sports loss or any form of disappointment, I know that when I walked into my apartment feeling bad about myself or experiencing a rough period, all of my hurt, fears, anger or sadness disappeared when my little Jack Russell terrier came running towards me, his tail waging and his happiness of seeing me exuding out of his body language and cute little face. Whether I took him in my arms and wrestled around with him, played tug of a war with him and his favorite rag or played the classic game of fetch, for those instances, I was transported into his world, one free of all worries, pain or stress. My relationship with my dog is the only one in my life that has not had its ups and downs and has truly been a source of constant pleasure and comfort for me. Even though it might be a primitive form of love, the way in which my dog loved me was impulsive and unconditional; and this was reciprocal. In a life where all relationships (friendly, romantic, family) can be very complicated and overwhelming, dogs provide their owners with a simple and loving relationship that takes very little effort, but which is so rewarding.

This is what I want to thank my dog for. I love him so much, miss him like crazy, and he will forever remain one of the best and most important elements of my childhood. RIP Fergus <3