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To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (865)	7/16/2001 9:47:30 AM
From: Rambi	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1857

What a wonderful essay, JC! I think dogs are very like children in that they reflect their upbringing-- they can be absolute joys, or obnoxious as hell. Yours are no doubt the kind of dogs I would want my dog to bring home. Our neighbors have the sweetest golden retriever. He spends a lot of time digging his way through to us (and they spend a lot of time repairing the fence). It's really our cats, not our company, he craves. Myers and Tesh sit close to the fence and stare at him until he's in a frenzy wanting to join them, or maybe eat them. I'm not proud of my kitties, but then, cats aren't known for their hospitality and thoughtfulness. Tesh disappeared a few weeks ago....hmm. I wonder if he got too close to the fence. On the other side, our neighbors have two pitbull type dogs that are not socialized at all. They are in a pen. I don't know why they have them-- except as guarddogs, I guess. I am terrified they will get out and kill my cat and then me. I didn't get the feeling that anyone here thought loving dogs was wrong or not understandable-- just that it shouldn't be placed on the same level as that of a child. I thought that woman saying that it was like watching her baby be killed, equating losing a pet to the loss of a child, offensive. But that's just me. It WOULD be strange if you said to someone who had lost a child, "I know just how you feel, I lost my dog last month."

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (865)	7/16/2001 9:57:33 AM
From: epicure	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1857

You misinterpret what you saw on this thread yesterday.

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (865)	7/16/2001 10:48:59 AM
From: TradeOfTheDay	Respond to of 1857

A wonderful post... and I hear you loud and clear.

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (865)	7/16/2001 11:50:18 AM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1857

Your essay was just lovely. It improved my morning mood to read it, just as it did yours to write it. As someone who has risked life, limb, and the pokey to rescue animals, I am obviously biased, but I think that children versus animals is an unnecessary bifurcation of our love and compassion. One can assert that pets are more than property without implying that they are equal to children. Kindness to animals and people, IMO, is synergistic. Karen

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (865)	7/16/2001 12:19:17 PM
From: elpolvo	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 1857

mr. dithers- thanks for the essay. life and love flow through all living things. being a "species" snob isn't very attractive. i never was one because... <begins to reveal a secret that very few have ever heard about polvito> ...when i was three years old i learned that my older brother and i were collies when we were born. there used to be a photo of two collie pups on my grandmother's wall. i asked who they were and my brother told me it was him and me when we were little. this is a true story. but don't spread it around. <G> -el perro pequeño

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (865)	7/16/2001 2:04:02 PM
From: abuelita	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1857

J.C. You're a man after my own heart. rose

To: J. C. Dithers who wrote (865)	7/16/2001 9:05:59 PM
From: Poet	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1857

Dear JC, I've read your lovely post on dogs a couple of times now and each time I get tears in my eyes. What an honest and loving man you are, and how generous to take the time to share that with us. Thank you for your gift. I really needed it today. Of all the things you wrote, this sentence struck me the most: The love in a human heart is not finite. We need to love, just as we need to breathe, I believe. Having companion animals in our lives is a great help to those of us who, for whatever reason, did not receive the open and safe love so necessary in childhood. Sally, the abandoned pit bull we adopted, has done more for me in this regard than years of therapy. The depth and selflessness of her love, her physical craving for me and complete acceptance of me, are a wonder I will never completely understand. That said, I accept the fact that there are some people, good people, for whom animal companionship is not important. The most fascinating thing about life is its incomprehensible complexity. I've become a happier person by changing my focus from trying to understand that complexity to trying to accept it with an open heart. I hope everyone who posts on this thread will speak honestly, even passionately, about the whole gamut from the silly to the sublime.