Faith & Living

Dogs & Devotion

mcherkezian — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:44:45 -0500

The photos from a newly published and inspiring book, Dogs & Devotion, will tug at your heartstrings. And the words will remind you of just how much a dog can teach a human being.

Pathways to the Soul
How easy to get lost in a dog's eyes!

Springtime for Cookie

mheller — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:37:29 -0600

My daughter Maria and I were watching the dogs play at the park.

We used to bring our bichon frise Cookie here to watch her play with all the other dogs, but that seemed long ago.

At 12, Cookie is long past rambling in the park. Her sight almost gone, she can barely amble from her bed to our backyard, her legs stiff and tired.

The Anxious Cocker Spaniel

mheller — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:13:21 -0600

One thing that breaks my heart is to see Sally, my 15-year-old cocker spaniel, worry. I've begged God to tell me what goes through her head when she paces or whines or simply taps me on my leg with her paw and gives me a plaintive look that isn't about food.

The Tracker

jbloustein — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:41:47 -0500

Shepherds and Collies are both known for their tracking and searching skills.

My shepherd/collie mix, Lacy, was an expert. Nothing makes a dog happier than being given a job to do. All I had to say was, “Lacy, please find Daddy’s lost wallet,” and she’d be off. Sniffing under tables, chairs and beds. Pawing at the couch cushions to let me know she found my misplaced wallet.

Sometimes I suspected Lacy had a guardian angel that helped her find lost things. When Lacy died, I was on my own.

Thanks for Our Pets

jbloustein — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:33:51 -0600

I’m thankful for the way my dog Kelly greets me at the door, as if my return is the best thing that happened to her all day.

I’m thankful for her soft reddish fur, and I’m especially thankful that she loves me every day.

Although we express our gratitude for our pets by feeding them, loving them and playing with them, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to remind ourselves just how lucky we are.

Buckwheat, the Singing Dog

jbloustein — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:31:16 -0500

It was over twenty years ago that a lovable, golden-haired mutt named Buckwheat came into our lives.

A photograph had appeared in our local paper, featuring him as “Pet of the Week.” We dashed over to the animal shelter and adopted him into our family, right in time for our oldest son Matthew’s ninth birthday.

As we sang “Happy Birthday to Matthew,” we discovered that Buckwheat had a special talent. He sang.

Faithful Companions

jbloustein — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:05:24 -0500

They break our hearts. They don’t mean to—they wouldn’t hurt us for the world.

They’re never here long enough, and rarely outlive us. Yet once they come into our lives we never forget them.

The first dog Julee and I said farewell to together was Rudy, her burly cocker spaniel who introduced us one spring night on West 72nd Street.

We didn’t talk much about Rudy’s passing, perhaps because we immediately went out and got Sally; Julee simply refused to go home to an apartment that didn’t have a dog.

Our Guard Dog

admin — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

My very first assignment as a minister was to an inner-city parish in Camden, New Jersey. There was drug dealing and violent crime within sight of our home, and rough characters knocked on our door at all hours of the day and night.

Not long after we arrived, I had to attend a week-long church conference out of town. I dreaded leaving my wife and three children alone in our new neighborhood. God, I prayed, take care of them.

Leading the Way

admin — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:15:43 -0600

Dustin, my California-bred guide dog, was having trouble outside our Long Island apartment. This was his first snowstorm and he was confused. I'm blind, and I wasn't doing so well, either. No one was out, so there were no sounds to steer me. Contrary to what many people think, guide dogs do not find the way for a blind person. The blind person directs the dog.

Findings: Max and the Lost Keys

jbloustein — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:22:04 -0500

Let me begin by introducing you to Mighty Maximus Slattery—better known as Max. Max is not like most dogs. Pointers, for example, point. Retrievers retrieve. Hounds hunt.