This is a very special day for dog lovers and close to my heart. The website National Dog Day lists a number of ways to celebrate this day by helping local humane societies, walking a neighbor’s dog, or pampering your own.
We raised these two darlings from puppies, long before we knew what a puppy mill was. They were such a big part of our family, and when they passed away, it left big holes in our hearts.
The sweet boy on the left is a schnauzer named Baron, our first furkid, and completely daddy’s boy. The gorgeous girl on the right was my forever dog. You know, the one that makes a place in your heart that cannot be filled with any other, the one that you bond with like no other. This is Ginger, a Welsh Terrier.
Next came Tessie, a rescue Welsh Terrier that was only with us for 20 months. She died at the age of 5 from a heart condition undiagnosed during the first three years of her life. Again, a puppy mill story. By now we knew better and made every effort to adopt our furkids from reputable rescue groups.
Sweet Tessie came to us frightened of everything, but gradually came to know that life could be fun, and running free was a delight!
After Tessie, we adopted our current Welsh Terrier, Psychodog. She is OCD, has traits of autism and ADD, and for years was on Prozac. I told the vet it was going to be her or me. She has never been the cuddly dog that Ginger was, she is her own dog.
She is older now, and takes medication for seizures. She is slowing down and sleeps a lot more, but still enjoys walkies. She is almost 14 years old now, a little deaf, and doesn’t see quite as good. She does enjoy being a bit of a fashionista. This black sweater with the faux fur collar is her favorite winter look. Here she is curled up in her favorite sleeping spot with her blanket that she loves to dig around.
Furkids add so much to our lives. They love us no matter what. They wake up happy, wagging a tail just to be near us. They are there when we need a lift, to lick our faces and make us smile. Their unfailing loyalty and unconditional admiration is a wondrous thing, spreading joy wherever they go. If only our own lives could be so simple and uncomplicated!!
We can learn a lot from dogs. Some years ago, I found this poem in a column by Ann Landers, and I still find it to be profound wisdom. I am not certain, but it may have been published in a Lake Wobegon book. I have been unable to find the original author to give credit.
“If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your problems,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when something goes wrong through no fault of your own and those you love take it out on you,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend’s limited education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you have no prejudice against creed, color, religion, or politics,
Then, my friends, you are almost as good as your dog.”
Isn’t she cute in her holiday sweater?
If you are thinking of adding a furkid to your family, please consider rescuing a forever friend from the local shelter, breed rescue or humane society. You can save a life today, and the rewards will be worth it. If you cannot have a dog (or another dog) consider volunteering at a local shelter. They always need help to clean cages, walk the dogs and just provide much appreciated ear scratches and tummy rubs. You can donate food or towels, toys or just cash, there is always a need. If that isn’t possible for you, please consider donating unused and unwanted items to a Humane Society Thrift store. Every little bit helps for those who cannot speak for themselves.
How will you celebrate National Dog Day?
From My Carolina Home 
Rosemary B here:
This is so sweet. I love meeting all of your babies.
I think it is wonderful that your sweetums Psychodog is in a safe and loving home. I love animabibbles very much.
I am a dog magnet. Seriously, they run to me when I am outside.
We have two Cornish Rex cats. They are each from a different breeder and their personalities are quite different, but they are both just silly and wonderful. Before Miles and Pierro, I got two cornish rex littermates in 1991. Caesar and Princess…. the girls named them. Anyway, they were the most beautiful and wonderful kitties. They lived to be 18 and 19. You are right, they become everything that is constant in your life. They take up your heart, move right in. The morning I discovered Caesar died in his sleep over night was the worst day of my life. I cried and cried for months. I have particular sewing projects I worked on at that time, and when I look at those projects I remember the sadness. they were happy projects though. Caesar must have been absolutely sick of my crying and found me Pierro the love cloud.
Years ago I kept a blog thecornishkitties @ blogspot.com, just for fun.
Thanks for sharing National Dog Day – I iwll get out and celebrate indeed
PS: At least 4 – 5 times a year I donate towels, blankies and $$ to my local animal shelter. they are wonderful people there that love and care for all of those sweetie furry babies, just like they are their own. You can get comforters and towels for cheap at Salvation Army and give them to the shelter.
What a beautiful post! My 12 yr old dog had to be put down this past December…cancer of the facial mask. No more outdoor dogs for us (husky rottweiler mix…too hot for the indoors), and will wait likely until next spring or summer. We will probably get one or perhaps two small, indoor dogs. We live in a house with small square footage. I’ve never been this long without a dog. At least I have my kitty to snuggle!
Lovely post Carole — dogs were an integral part of my life until I was about 25 years old and lost my last one and began collecting horses 😉 Now we’re dog and horse free and have a crazy Amazon Parrot named Cayman. He keeps the grandchildren happy and is quite the entertainer for anyone who cares to listen. My first dog was a stray Irish Setter named “Rookie” – the next was another stray mixed breed named “Barclay” after a lovely mountain in NE PA. Gosh they were special friends. Redbird Quilt Co. donates annually to the local SPCA (No Kill) In Ithaca, NY. It’s a great shelter to adopt from and give to. Thanks for sharing your friends with us — how can you not smile at that !!
Can’t help but love those little Furbabies! We have one named Benji who runs the household!
I had a chow, Miss Friday, who died of a heart condition when she was only 12 mos old. Then, I was living in Birmingham, AL. It is close to Auburn, AL where a vet school is located on the University campus. They diagnosed her heart condition at about 8 mos after she had several collapses. The breeder was not a puppy mill, but I found out the breeder had falsified the AKC papers. The “real” mother had been too young to be registered. Immediately, I found another Friday who lived 14 yrs. Now I have poms. My Iris celebrated age 13 in July. Reduced hearing and vision, but she continues to eat, drink and “use her piddle pad.” I have been an animal lover since birth.
If you have not logged onto THE GENTLE BARN on Facebook, ck it out. They rescue every type of animal. It is in CA, so I will probably never visit, but I enjoy the pics and stories.