Love for a Lifetime

Posted by Joy Butler May 8, 2006

Dogs have nothing to do with entering this world and they have no control over their fate. We, as the higher species, are responsible for these domestic animals. We must control overpopulation with spay/neuter, and adopt the homeless. To me, "buy" means to purchase ownership of property, but "adopt" means to commit to care for another living being for a lifetime. I read somewhere that a very small percentage of dogs actually live out their lives with the same family. That's sad. All my dogs have been in that small percentage. I grew up with a Collie who was my best friend for my entire childhood. In my adult life, our Peke cross grew up with my daughter and lived for almost 18 years. I've had several other dogs who also lived out their lives in my family. My German Shepherd was my friend, my protector and my show dog for years. When he became paralyzed from Degenerative Myelopathy (prevalent in German Shepherds), I cared for him until his death at the age of 12. For those of us who believe in a lifetime commitment, we will eventually face our dog's old age, and we will do everything in our power to keep them healthy and happy as long as possible.