Just a dog...
 

I was talking to a friend of mine tonight. One that I had always considered to be a good friend. We know so much about one another - the good & the bad. But I never really knew that she didn't know me as well as I thought because when I told her I had to pick up Deegan from day care after work her reply was: "You take him to day care?? You waste too much money on him, it's just a dog."
I was offended by that comment... I really thought she knew me better than that and even though she didn't agree, I thought she'd be a bit more supportive or understanding. Afterall, I didn't judge her every time she went and got some sort of plastic surgery done. I was there taking care of her afterwards and taking her to her follow up app'ts. I was just a little hurt, that she would say that to me. Then I found this poem a few minutes ago...

Just A Dog

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 traveled,
the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog."

Some of my proudest moments have come about with
"just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company
was "just a dog", but I did not once, feel slighted.

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 will
probably understand phases 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 it's
not "just a dog" but the thing that gives me humanity
and keeps me from being "just a man".

So the next time you hear the phrase
"just a dog"
just smile, because they
"just don't understand".

I'm sorry your friend said that. I know just were you are coming from. The poem said it all. BEAUTIFUL! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Ohmygosh I LOVE this poem. Thanks so much for sharing it. I get those sorts of comments all the time from my friends. That poem really embodies my sentiments.

That poem was beautiful!! Thanks for sharing and now you know that your "dog" is a better friend to you!!

Beautiful Poem :love:
Our "dogs" are really our children, I know most of us feel that way!

Well said!
 

I too have heard those hurtful comments from time to time. Dog lovers know all to well that no two dogs are alike, and that each one is a gift with his/her own little personality. As my sister often says, "They are just little people in fur coats". They deserve to have as much love given to them as they give, but too bad we humans don't often see the beauty in that. I often find myself wanting to spend more time with my dogs than I do most humans because I know they truly appreciate all that I do for them.
As the saying goes, " I wish I were half the person my dog thinks I am." The next time someone says to you "it's just a dog", consider yourself blessed that you see your dog's true value, and pity the person who said it to you because they can't.;)

sorry that you were hurt but what you friend says...mine says it all the time...but i don't bother me because i know exactly what they do for me...hehe...

that poem said it all!

My family and friends all say that!! It's just a dog! It is really getting to me recently coz I want to get another yorkie and they are freaking out.

Their reasoning is that I am young and that I shouldn't saddle myself with so much responsibility.

Oh well, I like dogs (am allergic, but not to yorkies!! How cool is that!) and I like responsibility. I just wish I didn't care what they say. But thank you for the poem... it greatly reassured me!! I say: Each to his own. They don't have to agree with me or feel as I do. That is not going to change how I feel.

I run my own doggy playcare and I have that poem posted on my web site.
There are just people in the world that won't ever "get it".
Keep being a good yorkie mom and don't let it get to ya:D

I get that sometimes, but I simply reply, Yes, she is just a dog, but she loves me unconditionally, she gives me great pleasure and joy, she never dumps a guilt trip on me and when I leave her to spend time with you she never says, "Oh she's just a person." :eek::p

My family knows how I am and doesn't say much any more and luckily most of my friends are animal lovers too...because basically they make the best friends!! :D

Hurtful
 

I hear that from my Mom. She is an animal hater. Which I find pretty weird. Everytime I mention something about Bella, she always says, "it's a dog. Well I don't think she is just a dog, she is like a tiny, furry person:aimeeyork, with the best personality. This upsets me but by now I should be used to it.:mad:

I love that response! Perfect! I have friends that are by no means animal haters but just do not have the desire to have a dog (or any animals). They do understand what mine mean to me and were by my side with complete understanding when I had to put my toy poodle of 16 years down. Maybe they didn't understand completely but still sympathized. Not everyone understands and the poem says it perfectly.

i love it.. i must print that out and save it,, thankyou

Thanks for posting that! Deegan is adorable by the way!!

The poem says it all! Thanks for sharing it. Some people just don't understand. :cool:

The poem says it all... Nothing for me to add :)

I am supposed to move to Australia next year, but I will not go if I cannot take Mocha, or if the flight there will pose danger to her. I intruded into her life, and she deigns me with her love and obedience. I will NOT leave her even for a better future.. because I will be alone then. I would have left my heart behind, and then what good would I be?

My friends waiting down under do not understand it.. And I was really mad about that, still am. They think I am throwing my future, but they "just don't understand". I would do this for any dog I own. She is my family. She will go with me, or I will stay with her. Period. :)

People who do not love animals just don't understand the bond between
human and animal. Period!
That was a beautiful poem, thanks for sharing it.

Anyone who says "it's just a dog";) feel sorry for. They don't know what
they are missing in life. It's our secret.

I often get thoses kinds of comments to. And times when I am telling someone how small dogs cannot be treated the same way big dogs can or I am worrying about liver shunt, LP etc, etc... I am often called a yorkie "snob" or something similar. Oh well, I guess there are worse snobs to to be then a yorkie one! :D

*I* understand! My (former) husband was in the military, and we moved from Arizona to Germany. And I insisted the dog (a German Shepherd ... *big* dog!) go with us. While we were there, we were adopted by a stray cat ... and he came back to the States with us, too.

I could not have taught the kids the value of life if our pets - members of our family! - became "disposable".

Start checking NOW about what it will take to import a dog into Australia. Don't wait until the last minute to do your homework .. do it now while you have a chance to comply.

Thank you for the story.

I did check, and I don't think I can afford it... but you will never know, maybe some friends or relatives will help me raise the money. I am hopeful :) It doesn't have to be next year. I will take all the time I need to get Mocha to go with me. It will be more because I am planning to take BOTH my dog and my mom's dog, Lulu the shihtzu, who have somehow becomes mine. I just do not have the heart to separate them, and *if* I go to Oz to work, if there's just one of them, it will be lonely. I cannot do that. I know loneliness. I will not let any of my dogs become lonely.

Speaking about "exes"... I have an ex-bf of 4 years. One day he told me the story of how his dad beat his dog to "teach" him :mad: And he didn't think it was abuse. I lost any kind of respect for him then. I could not even speak because I was so mad. It was not the main reason of why I dumped him, but it was a defining point. God help all these abusers... Because if I come into contact with them, they will have a 5'2", chubby chinese girl kicking their petunia :D

I get this daily from at least one person! It does not matter to me though because I know that Bruce deserves everything I give him because he gives me so much more. That little guy came into my life and a really rough time and brightened everything up, since then he has faithfully seen me through even tougher times, he has always been a shoulder to cry on and an ear when there was no one else to talk to, he has encouraged me to make positive changes in my life, entertains me, helped my disabled mother get up and walk again after numerous dibilitating surgeries, He has even risked his own life to try to defend me once from a would be mugger and once from an aggressive dog...There is no relationship like the one you can have with your fur kids...So when you hear things like "just a dog," feel sorry for the people that do not know what it is like to be close with one of their own.

Great poem!!!

I have been thinking about this poem ever since I read it this morning.
It is great and so, so true! I love it. I copied and pasted it and did it up nice and printed it up nice. I am getting a frame asap for it.

If anyone wants what I made for it, I can send it to you as an attachment. It is cute and I decorated it accordingly. So private message me with your email if you would love to get a copy!

And for your friend just saying "it's just a dog", please. To most of us, it is our children!!!
Try not to let it get to you and if it bothers you look at your Yorkie and it should be ok! Yorkies make it all better! :)

Such a great great poem, I had never seen it before and I also want to frame it.
I think I'll frame one and take to my vet so they can hang it in the waiting room.

That is such a great idea!

Hahahaha. This is so funny. I love your spirit!!

I think I have posted on here many times that my friends don't like dogs. The one who does is all the way in Atlanta. My first inclination when I read this was to send it to them in email.....but you know what....I still don't think they will get it or care.

Nice post by the way.

I feel sorry for people like your friend because they'll never know the love of 'just a dog'.* Boy, are they missing out! xxx

That was a beautiful poem. I've heard comments like that from time to time but I ignore them, my yorkie is like my child and I will always treat her as such no matter what.

A real friend would know how you feel about your dog and would never say something to hurt you. A real friend would accept the things you love and not belittle them. A real friend is aware of what he/she says and doesn't say hurtful things. I would re-evaluate a real friend that said things like that. Friends that hurt you aren't real friends.