An Animal's Eyes
~An animal's eyes have the power to speak a universal language~
That's Emil with Maggie. Over on the left is one of sixteen cats I had the privilege of knowing. His name was Mr. Parfait and as you can see, he was a darling. To the right? That's Kafka, she's fifteen and we've had her for fifteen years!
The animals that we've been privileged enough to share our lives with have each taught us valuable lessons. The lessons an animal teaches can be much more profound than lessons taught by those of our own species. Animals don't set out to teach us, we're simply taught from being part of their lives. We're taught the lessons of love, pain, patience, sadness and joy simply being surrounded by them. By being allowed to love and care for them. Not everyone is fortunate enough to be gifted with the love of animal.
About a year ago, Emil asked for a dog. He had grandiose plans of "ordering" a Cavalier Spaniel. He read every book he could find about dogs; wanting to make a "mature" decision. It was important to him that he knew the dogs requirements, the dogs habits and any possible health issues down the road. Would the dog require a lot of brushing? He didn't mind brushing but he didn't want a dog that needed to be groomed frequently. He was ten. He wouldn't mind sharing his room with his new friend, but he didn't want to spend his allowance having the dog groomed!
The Cavalier wouldn't require frequent grooming. He wasn't going to insist that the dog be show quality. He just wanted a plain old Cavalier Spaniel.
On his own, in a most "mature" move, he contacted a breeder (in England) and agreed that WE would like more information on her establishment. When was the next litter due? Could one be flown to the states?
And what is the current asking price of one her puppies?
Oh.
Only $4,000?
After reminding him of animals in real need, Emil agreed that yes, the humane society would be a good place to look for his new dog.
He felt sure he would still be able to find a pure bred dachshund.
A dachshund would be just fine.
Maggie is not a dachshund. But Maggie'seyes eye spoke to him.
Her face told a story with no words we could hear but with words he could hear.
Why was Maggie here anyway?
Why did Maggie sit alone in the corner obviously sad, pained beyond any words any human could have spoken?
He decided he didn't want a dachshund. He had thought about it and actually wanted a larger dog anyway. Could he please have Maggie?
Maggie was born with one eye. Maggie was also one day away from deaths door, just as her previous owner had walked through that door about a month before.
The family of the deceased mother had brought Maggie in because they didn't really want to keep Maggie. They all had their own dogs, their own lives. Maggie just didn't fit in the plan. That was their mothers dog; not theirs.
Emil and Maggie have been together for about a year now.
He saved her life. She has given Emil a precious, precious gift. She taught him a lesson when she spoke to him.
About a month ago, Maggie started acting differently. Her habits changed , she wasn't herself. After visiting the vet, we found out that Maggie has a large tumor growing and there is no chance of surgery. She's too old and the type of cancer she has is untreatable.
I've never seen a dog love a child the way Maggie loves Emil. Her face lights up when he enters the room. She waits patiently for him to return from school each day.
Maggie spoke to him that day in the shelter. Emil spoke to her that day also. He spoke with
the same eyes that watch over Maggie today, the same eyes that will cry countless tears when Maggie is no longer there.
I think she said something to him; something about carrying on when you think you can't go on.
I think she taught my son a lesson he will not forget.
When you think that life is just too hard, when you think you can't go on, that only means you haven't gone quite far enough. You need to hang on.
She will always be with him carrying on, as she taught him a very important lesson;
just by letting him love her.
This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes
sponsored by Burger King Corp.
Burger Kings latest line of toys, iDogs come with their very own costume!
Hurry in to BK as Club BK iDogs are only available through November 2.
Thanks Parent Bloggers!
That's Emil with Maggie. Over on the left is one of sixteen cats I had the privilege of knowing. His name was Mr. Parfait and as you can see, he was a darling. To the right? That's Kafka, she's fifteen and we've had her for fifteen years!
The animals that we've been privileged enough to share our lives with have each taught us valuable lessons. The lessons an animal teaches can be much more profound than lessons taught by those of our own species. Animals don't set out to teach us, we're simply taught from being part of their lives. We're taught the lessons of love, pain, patience, sadness and joy simply being surrounded by them. By being allowed to love and care for them. Not everyone is fortunate enough to be gifted with the love of animal.
About a year ago, Emil asked for a dog. He had grandiose plans of "ordering" a Cavalier Spaniel. He read every book he could find about dogs; wanting to make a "mature" decision. It was important to him that he knew the dogs requirements, the dogs habits and any possible health issues down the road. Would the dog require a lot of brushing? He didn't mind brushing but he didn't want a dog that needed to be groomed frequently. He was ten. He wouldn't mind sharing his room with his new friend, but he didn't want to spend his allowance having the dog groomed!
The Cavalier wouldn't require frequent grooming. He wasn't going to insist that the dog be show quality. He just wanted a plain old Cavalier Spaniel.
On his own, in a most "mature" move, he contacted a breeder (in England) and agreed that WE would like more information on her establishment. When was the next litter due? Could one be flown to the states?
And what is the current asking price of one her puppies?
Oh.
Only $4,000?
After reminding him of animals in real need, Emil agreed that yes, the humane society would be a good place to look for his new dog.
He felt sure he would still be able to find a pure bred dachshund.
A dachshund would be just fine.
Maggie is not a dachshund. But Maggie's
Her face told a story with no words we could hear but with words he could hear.
Why was Maggie here anyway?
Why did Maggie sit alone in the corner obviously sad, pained beyond any words any human could have spoken?
He decided he didn't want a dachshund. He had thought about it and actually wanted a larger dog anyway. Could he please have Maggie?
Maggie was born with one eye. Maggie was also one day away from deaths door, just as her previous owner had walked through that door about a month before.
The family of the deceased mother had brought Maggie in because they didn't really want to keep Maggie. They all had their own dogs, their own lives. Maggie just didn't fit in the plan. That was their mothers dog; not theirs.
Emil and Maggie have been together for about a year now.
He saved her life. She has given Emil a precious, precious gift. She taught him a lesson when she spoke to him.
About a month ago, Maggie started acting differently. Her habits changed , she wasn't herself. After visiting the vet, we found out that Maggie has a large tumor growing and there is no chance of surgery. She's too old and the type of cancer she has is untreatable.
I've never seen a dog love a child the way Maggie loves Emil. Her face lights up when he enters the room. She waits patiently for him to return from school each day.
Maggie spoke to him that day in the shelter. Emil spoke to her that day also. He spoke with
the same eyes that watch over Maggie today, the same eyes that will cry countless tears when Maggie is no longer there.
I think she said something to him; something about carrying on when you think you can't go on.
I think she taught my son a lesson he will not forget.
When you think that life is just too hard, when you think you can't go on, that only means you haven't gone quite far enough. You need to hang on.
She will always be with him carrying on, as she taught him a very important lesson;
just by letting him love her.
This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes
sponsored by Burger King Corp.
Burger Kings latest line of toys, iDogs come with their very own costume!
Hurry in to BK as Club BK iDogs are only available through November 2.
Thanks Parent Bloggers!
8 comments:
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I just cried my eyes out! We didn't have a dog growing up until I turned about 15, see we had cats we were CAT people! One day, I was walking home from Orchestra practice and came upon some young kids throwing rocks at an obviously frightened dog. I screamed obscenities at them and asked if they would like me to throw rocks at them (not actually what I said but children may be reading this!). They ran off and I walked over to that dog and gave it a soft pat on the head, making sure she was uninjured.
That dog followed me home, and waited at my back door, when I left to go to a friends house, she was out there wagging her tail so hard she seemed to be doing a dance. I called for my mother and she new what I was thinking. We would keep this dog, until her owners realized she was gone and started looking for her.
When we got her in the house and took a closer look, we realized she had what I will put lightly as some issues in the vaginal area, my mother ended up taking her to the vet the next day. What I had stumbled upon was a Vizsla. Only this dog was no show piece, she had been used up, the vet estimated she had upwards of 25 litters to have the permanent swelling she had. She was a puppy mill, literally.
We decided that we didn't CARE if someone started looking for Athena (I picked it out) they weren't getting her back. Athena was just a wonderful pet to us all, she may not have been very pretty, she may have had her teeth knocked out, she may have bladder control issues, but we loved her and she obviously loved us.
That's what being a pet owner is I think, taking something that life sucks so terribly and making it happy, maybe for the first time in it's life. And in return you get something that will be there as long as it has breath (if it's their choice), to love you to listen to you, and just make you feel like you have somebody.
She had cancer in her "breasts" and had to be put down 5 years ago, and I still miss her. Maybe someday we'll find another animal to help and enrich our lives as well as its. One can only hope.
I wasn't expecting a tear jerker in this one.........oh, I'm so sorry to hear about maggie.....how is Emil taking the news? What a wonderful love they share for each other!
I am so sad to hear about Maggie. Was Emil aware that she was one step from death's door when they choose each other? I hope that your whole family is okay as you prepare for Maggie's demise.
Oh my gosh, you are making me cry! How wonderful that your son has learned so much from his dear canine friend. And how wonderful that he rescued her from death's door.
Oh, so sweet. We're not getting a dog until the kids can care for them. I'm seriously wanting to boot a couple of the cats. Rex is peeing on everything. I am starting to hate him.
You just made me cry. In a good way. What a wonderful child you've raised!
Da Goddess
dagoddess.com
I'm sorry, but that is not the way that story goes. Maggie lost her eye in an accident, she was only in the shelter three days when Emil and I adopted her and as for her cancer, I tried three different Doctors in the hopes of saving her. With all the animals suffering in shelters and at the hands of true monsters, I suggested to Emil that it was the right thing to do, to save an animal waiting for someone to love them and that is what Emil and I did, when Maggie passes, there will be an empty spot by the bed, a water bowl that no longer ripples from her lapping, and no more greeting from a gentle creature that only needed love and Emil was willing to share, that's my angel too.
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