RIP Cotton

Jason's dog, Cotton, passed away this morning. It's been a sad, mournful day, but also day of reflection, at least for me.

I arrived at the thought of why dogs lived such short lives compared to us humans so of course, I googled it.

This is what I found :

"Being a veterinarian, I was called to examine an ill Irish wolfhound named Balfour. The dog’s owners, Don and Mona, and their little boy, Sean, were very attached to Balfour and were hoping for a miracle.

My examination of Balfour found that he was dying of cancer. I told the family the sad news.

There was no miracle left to save Balfour so I offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Don and Mona told me they thought it would be good for their four-year-old son to observe the procedure. They felt as though Sean might glean something positive from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Balfour’s family surrounded him. Sean seemed calm, petting the old dog for the last time that I questioned if he understood what was about to transpire.

Within a few minutes, Balfour slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Balfour’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Balfour’s death, wondering aloud about the fact that animals live such short lives compared to humans.

Sean, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.”

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, “When people are born they must learn to do what’s right– like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The four-year-old continued, “Well, dogs are born knowing how to love and be kind to others, so they don’t have to stay as long.” "

Brilliant.

There's a lot to learn from a dog's life. We humans often think ourselves as superior, but if we sit and actually think about it, we realize there's a lot our canine friends can teach us :

-When loved ones come home, always run to greet them. ( This struck me hardest. Jason was telling me how Cotton crawled to greet him at the gate when he got home last night despite all the pain she was in. It moved me and I'm not easily moved.)

-Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

-Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

-Take naps.

-Stretch before rising.

-Run, romp, and play daily.

-Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

-Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

-On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

-On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

-When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

-Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

-Be loyal.

-Never pretend to be something you’re not. (Spanky never likes me putting on costumes on him)

-If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

-When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

-Love selflessly.

Thank you, Cotton, for the short time we've spent together. Thank you for being such an inspiration with your strength, unwavering courage and immense will to live. Your fight is over now, please rest in peace.