A nice story.........

[Russinator]

With this note I am attaching a story about a dog that will warm your heart regardless of whether you are a dog lover or not. If you read the short story you can decide whether it might be a true one or not. Having had dogs in my life, I want to think the story actually happened as dogs are surely capable of the action portrayed in the story.

Until another time, focus on the closing paragraph for in it one has the key to a "way of being" that is so much more beautiful than its alternative.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Anyone who has pets will really like this.

You'll like it even if you don't and you may even decide you need one!

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog named 'Lucky.' Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would

help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably, someone would forget and something would come up missing.

Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's other favorite toys. Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.

It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease - in fact; she was just sure it was fatal.

She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders. The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her - what would happen to Lucky?

Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim, he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die, Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than

thinking of her own death.

The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening

walk faithfully, but the little dog just drooped, whining and miserable.

Finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to nap. Lucky stood watching Mary but he didn't come to her when she called. It made

Mary sad but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.

When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot.

But panic soon gave way to laughter when Mary realized the problem.

She was covered, literally blanketed, with every treasure Lucky owned!

While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement bringing his beloved mistress all his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love.

Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking

further and further together every day. It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky - He still steals treasures and stashes them in his

toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.

Remember - live every day to the fullest. Each minute is a blessing from God. And never forget - the people who make a difference in our lives are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care for us.

If you see someone without a smile today give them one of yours! Live simply. Love seriously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

[harleywolf]

Nice story Russinator and yes I believe it can be true.

We had to put down our 14 year old 140# Alaskan Timber Wolf, Harley, in January and I could write a book on similar experiences such as this story. When we got pregnant we were concerned about our then 9 year old wolf dog and how he would react to the new addition to the family. There are not so favorable experience with that kind of canine and children.

However Harley slept at the foot of her crib every night and before she came home he NEVER went in what was then the spare bedroom. He was SO gentle with her as she got older and mobile, pulling on his tail, climbing all over him etc. He would come in her room in every night during our bedtime routine and rest his big ol head on her bed for a few pats goodnight then he would leave the room until mom and dad went to bed, at which time he

[Russinator]

Rick, thanks for the story of your dog. I'm very sorry about his illness.

A few years ago we had a rottweiler who was the same size as your guy. He developed a heart condition [CHF] and we had to put him down.

If I ever get in bad shape, where's there's no hope, I hope someone will put me down.