| said that a dog wears his heart on his tail and that | | | | becomes so intertwined with ours that they can |
| the tail of a dog acts as a barometer for his | | | | be trained as eyes for our blind, ears for our |
| emotions. This meter of emotions can be held | | | | deaf, as well as they can give independence to |
| under complete control through a human’s | | | | our physically disabled. Dogs have the natural |
| tone of voice, let alone the off the Richter Scale | | | | instincts to become therapists, without obtaining a |
| excitement from a scratch in a favorite spot. The | | | | doctorate’s degree. Where the average |
| emotional bond between humans and dogs is | | | | pet is not permitted or allowed in our society, |
| strong and runs deep between both parties. | | | | service dogs are welcome as they perform a |
| Losing a tail wagging companion is never easy. | | | | valuable function and duty for their guided human |
| When dealing with any type of loss, books, | | | | partner. |
| movies, poetry and inspirational tapes provide a | | | | Dogs have proven to be able to blend their |
| mechanism to help sort through mixed emotions. | | | | senses with ours on such a profound level that |
| These items also help to facilitate healing, which is | | | | they forget they are a separate entity. Guide |
| fundamental to the process of closure needed at | | | | dogs act as human extensions rather than just |
| the end of any meaningful relationship. | | | | merely a human’s pet. These special |
| The book Marley & Me deals with the loss of | | | | creatures have the incredible ability to mirror their |
| a tail wagging companion and brings to light many | | | | partner’s needs, while they give up their |
| important aspects of a human-canine relationship. | | | | individuality to become a reliable source of |
| For anyone who has ever sat down to read this | | | | instincts and survival for humans. |
| book, the first chapter is one that creates a real | | | | The canine is among the few creatures who |
| choke hold on dog lovers. Marley so captures the | | | | serve alongside our police and military officers. |
| essence of the emotional bonding that takes place | | | | The U.S. Military has been using working dogs |
| between a person and a special canine that for | | | | since World War I. Dogs were used in WWI, |
| most readers it brings about the experience a | | | | WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Bosnia, |
| joyful-cry. Author, John Grogan’s words | | | | Kosovo, Afganistan and Iraq. During Vietnam |
| captured the hearts of readers in such a way | | | | alone it is estimated these courageous canine |
| that his first book propelled with ease to the top | | | | heroes saved over 10,000 lives. All branches of |
| of the best seller’s list in 2005. | | | | our Armed Forces utilize Military Patrol Dogs |
| Although written for an adult audience, | | | | specialized in drug and bomb/explosive detection. |
| Grogan’s work quickly became popular | | | | Currently in the Middle East there are |
| among young readers. Along with his latest | | | | approximately 600-700 Military Patrol Dogs being |
| memoir, The Longest Trip Home, Grogan has | | | | used. |
| since authored several books geared for children. | | | | Of all of the tributes there are to our canine |
| Grogan’s highly acclaimed collection of fully | | | | companions, one that exemplifies their unique |
| illustrated children’s books includes: Bad | | | | capabilities and special role they have in our lives is |
| Dog Marley, Marley Goes to School, and A Very | | | | the book Dog Heroes of September 11th. This |
| Marley Christmas. Grogan’s books are | | | | book is one that should grace every dog lovers |
| ones that help an individual cope with the loss of a | | | | coffee table, as it is the first major publication to |
| tail-wagging companion as his works expresses | | | | salute the dogs who came to the aid of our |
| both the joy and sorrow encountered in the | | | | nation after the terrorists’ strikes on |
| privilege of sharing one’s life with a canine. | | | | America. Written by award winning canine |
| Because of the special nature of dogs, many | | | | journalist, Nona Kilgore Bauer, the book pays |
| classic books that are composed around canines. | | | | tribute to the dog and handler teams that were |
| Included in canine literature are the books: Old | | | | deployed after the attacks. A portion of the |
| Yeller, Lassie, Beautiful Joe, Big Red, Rin Tin Tin, | | | | proceeds from the book benefit the National |
| White Fang and The Incredible Journey. Of course | | | | Disaster Search Dog Foundation and its mission to |
| no children’s classic canine-book collection | | | | produce certified search and rescue teams to |
| would be complete without the novel, A Dog of | | | | protect our whole nation. This book is a must |
| Flanders. Most of these books have been adapted | | | | read, the stories are amazing and truly |
| for film or TV, but the books serve more as a | | | | inspirational. |
| form of literary art, rather than entertainment. | | | | In trying to access how and why dogs impact our |
| Dogs are such unique creatures that various | | | | lives, it is important to point out their many varied |
| canine-ality types have been immortalized in | | | | attributes, from being integrated as life saving |
| cartoonland, with some of our favorites including: | | | | heroes to a cuddly tea cup pocket pooch, dogs |
| Snoopy, Scooby Doo, Blues Clues, Hunckleberry | | | | give us so much of themselves to human |
| Hound, Underdog, Odie, Droopy Dog, Pluto, Goofy | | | | existence. Perhaps the most extreme example of |
| and Quick Draw McGraw. Both the big screen and | | | | human-canine relationships is shown in the annual |
| the little screen have produced its share of | | | | Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. Even the |
| celebrity hounds and animated classics such as: | | | | Tour de France takes second place to this test of |
| Lady and the Tramp, 101 Dalmatians, The Shaggy | | | | human-canine endurance, willpower and survival. |
| Dogs, Turner and Hooch, Wishbone and Benji. | | | | Where riders in the Tour ride as a team, the dogs |
| Clearly, and as exemplified by celebrities like Paris | | | | of the Iditarod act as a single unit with their |
| Hilton and Oprah, dogs rule Hollywood. | | | | musher. The mushers and their team of typically |
| The emotional bond that develops between | | | | 16 dogs cover 1,161 miles in eight to fifteen days. |
| humans and canines is like no other human-animal | | | | During this highly competative race, teams |
| relationship on the planet. In light of the many | | | | frequently race through blizzards causing whiteout |
| important roles and services dogs provide, canine | | | | conditions and sub-zero weather, along with |
| attributes deserve special recognition and praise. | | | | gale-force winds that can cause wind-chill factors |
| With all due respect to the other creatures with | | | | to reach -100 degrees Fahrenheit. To be able to |
| whom we share this planet, it is the diverse | | | | endure this race takes the will power equivalent |
| nature, skill set, and intelligence of the canine | | | | to that of cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. It is |
| species that comes into play with so many | | | | no wonder that humans bond so closely with |
| important aspects of human existence. | | | | these tail wagging creatures and their death can |
| With over 400 recognized breeds of dogs around | | | | have such an emotional impact on us. |
| the world, the canine species is the most varied | | | | It is easy to become attached to our pets and it |
| mammal on the planet. The selective breeding of | | | | is difficult to let go of this attachment. One way |
| dogs to enhance particular characteristics has | | | | of viewing the loss of our tail wagging companion |
| created a plethora of new shapes and sizes over | | | | is to realize how intertwined their spirit becomes |
| the past 150 years. Many of these characteristics | | | | with our soul. Perhaps it is their loving spirit that |
| were breed for task-orientated purposes, as dogs | | | | ascends to a higher dimension that carries our |
| have historically held positions as herders, | | | | senses and perceptions to a new level. Letting go |
| guardians and rescue animals. The annual | | | | is just a matter of realizing how blessed we were |
| Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, considered | | | | to have enjoyed their tail wagging companionship |
| to be America’s most prestigious dog | | | | for the time that we were able to. Although the |
| show, judges a wide variety of breeds during the | | | | pet that we lost will always have a special place in |
| two-day event. More than 2500 dogs, from over | | | | our hearts, carrying the happiness they gave us |
| 150 breeds are judged closely by eminent | | | | benefits much more than carrying grief over our |
| American Kennel Club (AKC) judges. One can truly | | | | loss. What they gave us were sharper instincts |
| see how varied this species has become during | | | | and intuition, that is something that we can give |
| the past century and a half by watching the | | | | back and pass along in an attempt to keep those |
| Westminster. | | | | tails waggin! |
| The dynamic essence of the canine spirit | | | | |