A Special Tribute to our "Little Daisy"

     Much has been written about what you can learn from your dog.  Today, we put our little Daisy, a.k.a. Shmooshie, down.  It was the saddest thing I have ever done.  It was time.  Daisy was diagnosed with cancer just about one year ago.  The vets, at the time, told us she had maybe 3-6 months, maybe a little longer.  We got almost a full year more with her, which, of course, wasn’t enough.   She was so sweet and loving, and she fought like hell to stay with us right up until the very end.  But today was the day; it was the right time for her, but not for us.  We loved her so, so much.  I, for one, learned so much from our “Little Daisy”.   She was almost 12, and we had her for almost 11 years.  She was a rescue Tibetan Terrier/Poodle mix, and she most definitely helped me raise David and Aly.  Daisy knew how to live and how to teach,  and definitely knew how to get her way all the time.  She would look at us with her big black eyes and we would melt.  She was totally spoiled and we loved to spoil her.   We will miss her dearly, and never forget all the joy she brought to our family. 

This “poem” has been around for a long time, but every word in it is so true.  The author is unknown, but anyone with a dog could have written it:

Everything I Need to Know I Learned from my Dog

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

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.

When it’s in your interest, practice obedience.

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

Let others know when they’ve invaded your territory.

Take naps and stretch before rising.

When you’re excited, speak up.

If you stare at someone long enough, eventually, you will get what you want.

Don’t go without ID.

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.

No matter how often you’re scolded, don’t buy into the guilt thing and pout…run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you’ve had enough.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

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

If it’s not wet and sloppy, it’s not a real kiss.