“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
~ Josh Billings, 19th century humorist & lecturer
Thanks to Home at Last Rescue, I got me one–a dog named, of all things, Twinkle, but that didn’t last long. Within days, she was Rosie, named after Thomas the Train’s good friend and my grandson’s favorite. About ten years old, she’s got a total of 2-1/2 teeth, suffers allergies, and, except for a little black nose and wondrous black eyes, is white all over. A Maltese.
The mama at a Lancaster County, Pennsylvania puppy mill, Rosie spent her years in a barn until all used up–a “dog’s life,” the phrase stemming from the 16th century when dogs, used as watch guards or for hunting, were caged, fed scraps, and overworked.
Of course, dogs show up in lots of other phrases, too, like the all-too-familiar “It’s a dog-eat-dog world,” “Let sleeping dogs lie,” and “Every dog must have its day.” Right now, though the one that’s having its day is “the dog days of summer.” None of those, however, get to the heart of the matter like these that follow:
- “Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” ~ Roger Caras
- “Be the person your dog thinks you are.” ~ C.J. Frick
- “Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen.” ~ Orhan Pamuk
- “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation, and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ~ Dean Koontz
- “Dogs lives are too short. Their only fault, really,” ~ Agnes Sligh Turnbull
- “I have found that when you are deeply troubled, there are things you get from the silent, devoted companionship of a dog that you can get from no other source.” ~ Doris Day
- “Before you get a dog, you can’t quite imagine what living with one might be like; afterward, you can’t imagine living any other way.” ~ Caroline Knapp
- “My little dog—a heartbeat at my feet.” ~ Edith Wharton
My little Rosie, all ten pounds of her…
~ With thanks, Carol
