A Love
Story Celebrating the
Human/Companion Animal Bond
He is a
12-year-old blue merle Australian shepherd. He is my friend, my
constant companion, my confidant, and my soul mate! We have been
together since he was nine weeks old and there is an extremely
strong bond between us. This bond has existed from the very start of
our relationship. When I first saw him there was an understanding
between us that I had to choose him over his litter-mates. He exuded
"canine charisma". Intelligence and puppy curiosity emanated from
his bright little eyes (one blue and one brown). My other two dogs
immediately accepted Darwin. I slept on the floor with him the first
few nights so he wouldn't miss his brothers and sisters too much. It
helped to seal the bond. We became a pack!
Darwin was a fast learner
when it came to house training and obedience work He was dedicated
to pleasing me. Though strong willed and sometimes stubborn, he
always senses exactly what I want and expect of him. He knows that I
am the alpha. It has always seemed to me that he could read my mind
– always alert and watching me – and he often knows what I am going
to do before I have a chance to do it. His presence in my life is
one of my anchors. He is my most intimate companion, a comfort and a
joy to watch as he is playing and running and having a wonderful
time doing dog things.
Though I have a strong bond with all my dogs,
the one that Darwin and I have is especially so. We communicate. It
is a wordless bond. Words are not necessary. It is almost like we
read each other's thoughts. If I am tired, upset or stressed out, he
will come over to me and just lay his head on my leg. My spontaneous
reaction is to start petting him and telling him what is wrong. He
listens. I know he understands and I almost always feel better after
this interaction. And he can also communicate to me when something
is wrong or that he needs something. When he wants to be close, he
positions his head right over my lap and looks up at me with that
particularly earnest expression of expectancy. When I start to pet
him he just melts into me, and his expression changes to, "Thanks,
that is exactly what I needed!" We understand each other almost
perfectly. Time to go out for a run or to play ball? He lets me know
by bringing me his ball or getting that joyous gleam in his eyes and
furiously wagging his tail (unlike many Aussies, he still has his
beautiful tail). Something great has happened to me that day? He
knows about it right away and "celebrates" the way that dogs do.
Though he is not one of these dependent "Velcro dogs" who never
leaves your side, he almost always knows where I am, whether we are
in the house or out for a run together. But he allows me to be the
human that I am and I allow him to be the dog that he is! And
because of that, sometimes we don't understand each other at all or
we misunderstand some signal one of us is giving the other. We
always manage to work it out. It makes life interesting. It is all a
part of the mysterious and altogether wonderful human/animal
relationship.
I somehow don't feel complete without Darwin around.
Even when surrounded by many other dogs (as when I volunteer at Best
Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah or in the company of just my other
dogs), I think about Darwin and how much I miss him. I wonder if he
misses me. He is, after all, also a very sociable dog who loves
people, other dogs and making new friends (he always attends the
Humane Education classes I teach for children and looks forward to
each time he can "go see the kids"). Does he think about me when we
are apart or can he, as dogs do, take pleasure in the here and now
and the heck with everything else? But I know, when I return home,
that he has perhaps been wondering why I wasn't around for a while.
His joyous greeting makes me feel totally loved and as if all's
right with the world again.
Those who have never loved a dog can't
seem to understand this bond. “After all," they say, "It is just a
dog!" They cannot comprehend the unquestioning love and loyalty that
Darwin gives me. They cannot understand what it is like to return
the love of such a being, to be in the company of one who greets
each day with anticipation and a very positive zest for life. I feel
sorry for these people, for they are missing a great deal.
I have to
admit that I am already dreading the time when Darwin and I will no
longer be together as we are now. He is twelve years old and I know
there will come a time when we will have to say goodbye. I don't
even like to think about this because I know how hard it is going to
be to go on without him. When a bond as strong as the one we have is
broken it will be extremely painful. This profound grief at the loss
of a beloved and special pet is something that many people can't
understand. Those people are the ones who have never loved a dog,
people who have missed something very special in their life. But
right now he is here, he is my best boy, my handsome, loving, smart
"son,” and the one I love most in this whole world. Each day with
him is a gift. I know that he wakes up each morning full of life and
love and the feeling of, “Wow, this is going to be some great day
today. I wonder what cool things will come about!" He colors my life
with this enthusiasm! My "colors" because of my Darwin are always
bright, vibrant and very positive! |
Author’s Note: I
wrote this piece three years ago, and on June 18, 2003 I had to say
goodbye to my beloved Darwin, the being I loved most in the entire
world. He was 15 years and 3 months old. I have a gigantic hole in
my heart, which will take a long time to heal. He was truly an
extraordinary dog. In the last two weeks or so of his life, he
rested always on the mat right by the dog door. This way he could go
in and out more easily and not break his housetraining. I am sure
that is what was in his mind. Also he was totally blind his last
year and had lost most of his hearing, so he located himself in a
place that was close to outside and close to the water bowl. Even
with my three other wonderful dogs around me, I am going to miss
Darwin terribly. I truly believe we were part of one soul.
Copyright ©
2003, by Eva Vichules
Evichules@aol.com
Printed with
Permission of the Author
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