Just a dog

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From time to time, people tell me, 

“lighten up, it’s just a dog,”

or

“that’s a lot of money for just a dog.”

 

They don’t understand the distance travelled, the time spent, or the costs involved for

“just a dog.”

 

Some of my proudest moments have come about with

“just a dog.”

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Many hours have passed and my only company was

“just a dog,”

but I did not once feel slighted.

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Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by

“just a dog,”

and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of

“just a dog”

gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

 

If you, too, think it’s

“just a dog,”

then you probably understand phrases like “just a friend,” “just a sunrise,” or “just a promise.”

 

“Just a dog”

brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.

 

“Just a dog”

brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person.

 

Because of

“just a dog”

I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

 

So for me and folks like me, it’s not

“just a dog”

but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future,

the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

 

“Just a dog”

brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away

from myself and the worries of the day.

 

I hope that someday they can understand that its’ not

“just a dog”

but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being

“just a man” or “just a woman.”

 

So the next time you hear the phrase

“just a dog,”

just smile, because they

“just don’t understand.”

 

 Author,

Loretta  Lambdin Shepherd

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 How much?

For just a dog?

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Today I had one call, one email and two text messages asking for Christmas puppies, and this was the question from all four.

 

HOW MUCH FOR A PUPPY?

 

Allow me to say a few words to those who write an email or text a message or call to simply ask for a price without reading the information on the website. I also address this to those who surprisingly state:

 

“…for ‘just a dog’? I can buy a cheaper dog elsewhere”.

 

Well, behind every pure bred dog is a responsible BREEDER. I’m using capital letters to differentiate a breeder from a pet factory that say they have puppies available all year for any type of individuals. When you choose to buy a dog from a breeder, this breeder is responsible for the well being of every dog in their care. From the parents they own, to the newborns that are sold. This responsible breeder will skip holidays, sleep, social gathering, vacations, dinner outings... and for most, their own home space will be turned into space for their dogs that live inside the home with these breeders and not in a barn or outdoor kennels. These breeders are truly passionate breeders. They love what they breed and put their whole heart into it. Not only in the puppies that are sold but also their hearts ache for those who get sick and those who die.

 

A breeder will get their hands dirty, often covered in placentas, sometimes blood, poop and even mud. Because that’s one aspect of what breeding is about. A responsible breeder will do progesterone tests, echos, ultrasound, xrays, analysis, c sections, vaccinations, research pedigrees, deworm, cytology test, and even getting them evaluated by specialists. A responsible breeder will also do daily monitoring, constant cleaning, caring, interacting, nurturing, and loving their puppies to build a stable foundation for a life time; and that’s without mentioning the long list of supplies, including medical supplies, nutrition, utilities, special housing and accommodation needed to maintain and produce quality puppies.

 

Last but not least; a responsible breeder CHOOSES the family lucky enough to have one of their puppies. Yes, you read that right. A truly responsible breeder chooses who they sell to. And those that are chosen not only become a lifelong extension of this breeder’s love and care to their puppies, but they also understand and appreciate what a breeder is all about.

 

This is why, it is not “just a dog”.

 

Author: Unknown

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