By Tanya M. Ursual

From The Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) L.A.W.S., P.O. Box 156, Smiths Falls, ON, K7A 4T1:

The Purpose of a Dog - from a young boy's perspective

A Veterinarian was called to examine a ten-year old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.
The vet examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. The vet couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
Ron and Lisa felt it would be important for their son to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, Belker's family surrounded him to give him their last final kisses and kind words. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that the vet wondered if he truly understood what was going on.
Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion
They all sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."
Startled, they all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned them all and they had never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life - - like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?"
The four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
May you always live simply, care deeply and have a DOG or CAT to LOVE along the way!