goodbye old friend

What is a dog that leaves the world a better place?

Chewy

What is a dog? Canis familiaris, domesticated wolf, man’s best friend.

My daughter brought Chewy home from a friend when he was a puppy. He soon earned the name as he did indeed chew up many things including shoes, toothbrushes, clothes, electronics, books… if he could chew it, he did.

We returned home one evening and the red leather sofa and love seat had been completely stripped bare of red leather. It was quite an impressive destructive feat. Chewy.

We made it through the destructive years, the aggravation and resentment and loss of personal property- those memories fade and are replaced by the love and loyalty and companionship moments.

People have all sorts of opinions about the soul and essence of a dog. Some say the animals have a soul an go over the Rainbow Bridge. Others say, no, intelligent animals, that can be trained, that is all. Dumb animals. That was an attitude of mine quite often, through the years. Chewy helped change that, to see some remarkable things a ‘dumb animal’ could do, which made me realize an ‘intelligent person’ could do better. Sounds alot like saying he made me a better man.

When you were happy, Chewy would rejoice with you. It did not matter what vain and silly moment had brought this joy to his owner- the only thing that mattered- was that you were happy. It did not matter to him what exaggerated temporary crisis was causing you grief and tears, the only thing that mattered to him was your grief and tears. He only cared about the things that really mattered- how you were, the state of your soul. That is quite a lesson to learn.

Chewy gave us love, loyalty, comfort, companionship, kindness- all unwavering. I believe these are gifts eternal.

Many things are done and said for a good man. Tributes and statues, books and poems, honors and memorials. What do we say for a dog that leaves the world a better place?

He was our friend. Goodbye old friend.  Until we meet again.

Proverbs 12:10- A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.