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Welcome To
The Top Dog Club!
Recently, I had lunch with my eccentric and
overbearing mother at one of the many dog-friendly sidewalk cafes
just down the street from my house. As we both sipped white wine,
she softly stroked the head of my adorable golden retriever Owen,
who lay blissfully underneath the cool shade provided by the iron
table. My mother threw a loving glance at Owen and murmured loudly
enough for me, and the table directly behind me, to hear, You have
no idea what a dog could do for my mental health. She added a
melancholy sigh and continued to softly rub his grateful ears. At
the time, I gave a dismissing smile and turned again to my Panini
Later that evening, when
I returned from a much-needed coffee run, I experienced a distinct
pang as I realized what she had meant. Growing up, wed always had
dogs. Even after I, the youngest of five children, had moved out
and moved on, the dogs had stayed with her. But that was years ago
and my mothers current living situation prohibited any pets. I
finally felt how sad that must make her as Owen licked my fingers
greedily and nudged me with his nose, his eyes screaming Love me,
mom! Pay attention to me, mom! I missed you so much, mom! And
I had only been gone fifteen minutes. My heart sank a little when I
realized what an important part of coming home this greeting was,
and my mom hadnt had it in a very long time.
After that day, I began
to take a decided notice of the mannerisms of dogs and of
dog-owners. At the park, people protect their dogs like children,
dressing them up and kissing them sloppily, never looking around to
see how clearly ridiculous the scene always is. The fact is that
dogs provide us with the feeling of being loved without the negative
emotions usually accompanying such a comfort. We dont worry about
impressing our pets. We dont watch what we say to avoid offending
them. We dont cloud the relationship with facades or games that
are all but impossible to understand. You can literally and
figuratively strip down to nothing in front of your dog and he wont
leave you. You can yell at him or ignore him when life hands you a
bad day and he is still there, waiting for you to come around, to
turn back into your old self so he can cover you in affection that
you know you dont deserve.
So maybe the medicinal roles of
sloppy, hairy messes waiting to pound us when we arrive home isnt
entirely fictional. Maybe loving a dog like a child isnt just a
passing trend, but a lesson in humanity. A dog will never ask if
you had an extra slice of pie at dinner or what your father does for
a living. A dog will never berate you for coming in too late or for
blowing a big promotion. A dog will never demean you for not having
the perfect haircut, handbag or tailored suit. All they do is wait,
wait to disperse endless supplies of unconditional love and
attention just for you.
As painful as it is to admit, it
seems that my mother got this one right. A dog can give us gifts
that humans seem to be unwilling or unable to offer. We could all
learn a lot from the loyalty and dedication a dog brings to a
relationship. Id imagine that if we all treated each other the way
our dogs treat us, the world would be a much healthier and happier
place.
Again, welcome to the Top
Dog Club! Take your time, have a look around and I sincerely hope
you enjoy what you discover..........
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