Dad and Duke had 14 years of adventures together. Hunting, fishing, camping and just walking in the woods together. Til the day they took that Last Walk in the woods and only Dad came home. It was rough on him, and he said, "No more dogs."
Fast forward a couple years and my mother asks to get a dog. Her Christmas present that year was a literal handful of a Beagle. That refers to both her size at the time and her personality in life. I never met a dog with more personality than Lucy. She was my mom's dog not his, but my dad loved her just as much as he did Duke. When she eventually wore out too, they had to put her down. "No more dogs."
Fast forward a few years and my mother's friend passes away. None of her kids wanted Sophie, her mini schnauzer rescue pup. Sophie was the opposite of Lucy, she had no personality. She didn't seem to understand the concept of play. She had been beaten before my mother's friend had adopted her and for her whole life, she would skitter out of the kitchen if you picked up a spoon or a spatula while cooking. me and my father both agreed what would happen if we ever found her original owner. When my mother passed, we were a mess. Including Sophie. She slowly spiraled down and six months later my father had her put down. You got it. "No more dogs." This time he meant it.
In the years afterward, every time I mentioned getting a dog his eyes would tear up and he would say, "I just can't." Wasn't long after he began to go downhill. It's terrible what time does to a man. I often wonder if his decline would have been as steep if he had had that constant companion, but he had seen enough loss and was terrified of it happening again.
What dogs do for us can never be repaid. No amount of doggy spa days, gluten free organic dog food, and the best rawhide bones can equal the simple act of loving with all your heart, every minute of the day and night. they deserve a month instead of just a day.
I don't have a dog, but I'm sure Goose the cat would agree with me, if he gave a damn about stinky dogs. Uggghhhh.
So, I say to all of the truly boon companions pictured in this thread: Thank you. Good doggy. Good doggy.