After All, It's Only A Dog

A dog is not a family member. It is not capable of human emotion, and it is certainly not worth any tears. A dog is disposable. After all, its only a dog.

In the three and a half years Ive been a dog mom to my mastiff Henry, Ive met countless subscribers to this philosophy. They are quick to cheapen Henrys worth and to discount his role in the family. They are anxious to poke fun at my attachment to him and my overwhelming love for him. They ask things like, Does that thing live in your house? and How can you stand spending so much money on his food?

After I loosen my fists and tell myself to partake in deep breathing, the anger slowly dissipates and another emotion takes over: Pity. Ive come to realize that those willing to say a dog is only a dog simply havent been given the beautiful gift of ones love.

They havent known the unconditional love in its truest form as I have.

They havent known the special bond expressed through ice cream trips and long walks. They havent felt the radiating love as you sit on the sofa, his paw on your shoulder, watching your favorite movie. They havent felt the comfort from his brown, soulful eyes as you cry over lifes harshness. They havent experienced joy in its deepest form as you run through a sprinkler, his excitement contagious as he leaps in the air at such a simple moment. They havent felt the connection that pulls you home after a long days work, that lets you know exactly what he wants without a word.

They havent looked into their dogs eye to see how his whole world is right in front of himyou.

They havent had to watch the agonizing decay of their aging friend as he limps into the final stage of life as I someday will. They havent had to worry even now, when their dog is only three, about this day that will inevitably come because they know it will break them. They havent had to think about the final goodbye because, as anyone who has loved a dog knows, the goodbye always comes way too fast.

I know if they had the chance to feel any of these things, they would see that Henry isnt only a doghes so much more than that.

A Dog Is a Worthwhile Sacrifice

In truth, Ive never seen Henry as only a dogbut that doesnt mean Ive always loved him like I do now.

When my husband first introduced the concept of a dog to me, anger welled. We didnt have time for a dog. I didnt want a dog. I threatened divorce if he brought the dog home against my wishes.

He did it anyway, and for once, Im glad he didnt listen to my opinion.

When the twenty-four pound mastiff puppy came home, I still didnt see only a dog. I saw hours of work and responsibility. I saw stress, puddles of pee, chewed shoes, and frustration. I saw stress. I saw countless negatives and not many positives.

And it was all true. There were puddles of pee, and I lost my favorite pair of kitten-heeled shoes. I came home to a chewed up sofaas in the whole sofaand I had many hours of frustration chasing a wily mastiff in our backyard.

But along the way, something else crept in.

Love. Unconditional love.

Joy uncontrollable.

Fun. Life. Memories.

Over the months as Henry grewand boy did he grow fasthe wormed his way right into my heart. Slowly, he melted my frozen heart and made me realize he wasnt only a dog, and he wasnt only a heap of stress.

He was family.

I have sacrificed for Henry, and Ive had plenty of stresses. Just like any relationship, he is a lot of work. Still, the love I get in return for the sacrifice makes it worth it tenfold. Ive come to realize the love of a dog is something you have to experience firsthand in order to truly appreciate the value. Once you do, you realize the sacrifice is small in comparison to the returns.

I am, in all respects, obsessed with Henry. He is basically like a child to me. Some people still dont understand why he means so much. There are some who look at me like Im crazy when I blow off plans to spend time with him or when I rush home to see him. There are some who think Im weird when I worry about him. When I tear-up over an aging dog because I know this will eventually be him and I cant imagine life without him, I get plenty of judgmental looks.

They dont understand how I could be so attached to Henry because he is only a dog.

But thats okay. Because in some respects, theyre right. It is only a dog.

Its only a dog who can show us the true meaning of unconditional love in its purest form.

Its only a dog who can open us up to the joys of the simple things in life.

Its only a dog who can show us the meaning of friendship, loyalty, and companionship long after his final paw prints have faded from this world.

Its only a dog who can awaken us to the real beauty of life and what it means to be alive.

So yes, after all, it is only a dog.

Lindsay Detwiler is a high school English teacher and contemporary romance author. To learn more about her novels (Henry appears as the mastiff in all of her romances), visit www.lindsaydetwiler.com .