Do you remember

thinking it was time that the kids learned some responsibility
and scanning the newspaper ads for a cheap dog for sale?

Do you remember

bringing home this little ball of shivering fur and putting her
out in the yard on a chain that was too heavy on a night 
that was too cold?

Of course you don't remember this. After all,

she is only a dog.

Do you remember

this baby crying because she was afraid and alone?

Do you remember

screaming at her to be quiet and finally going out there to 
kick her to drive home the lesson?

Of course you don't remember this. After all,

she is only a dog.

Do you remember

the many times you noticed her water bowl was empty and 
her food bowl was covered with mold and thinking that it was
the kids'  job to take care of her?

Do you remember

seeing that her coat was dull and lifeless and, in many places, chewed away down to the skin.. because of the parasites no
one took the time to rid  her of?

Of course you don't remember this.

After all, she is only a dog.

Do you remember

her first heat and the neighbor's male visiting her night after
night?

Do you remember

thinking that letting her have the puppies would be a good
experience for the kids?

Do you remember

that every one of those pups died because their mother was
no more than a puppy. 

Of course you don't remember this. After all,

she is only a dog.

I know you remember

the animal control officer coming to the house, accusing you
of animal cruelty and taking her away because you couldn't
understand what all the fuss was about.

After all, she is only a dog.

I thought you might be interested in how this girl is doing
today.

You see, once she found a home that gave her love, 
attention and proper care, she blossomed into a beautiful,
loyal companion.

To these people, she is much more than only a dog.

She became a therapy dog and now goes to nursing
homes and hospices where she brightens the lives of
the infirm and dying.

To some of these people, she has given hope. To others,
she's given them a reason to keep living.  To even others,
she's given them the will to die peacefully, with a smile on
their lips.

To these people, she is much more than only a dog.

Just last week, she helped find a little boy that was lost in
the woods. She spent a long, cold winter's night, lying over 
him to keep him warm and risked her own life to protect his.

To this little boy and his family, she is much more than only
a dog.

What is the difference? Why did that filthy, flea ridden
animal chained in your backyard suddenly become so 
important to so many?

Because she never gave up her trust in people and she 
never once thought,

"After all, he is only a human."

Bev Raby 1996