What do our dogs teach us? Why do dogs live less than people? What can we learn from their short and fleeting lives? This small and moving story teaches us. Today, I want to tell you and share with you a beautiful and moving story from Ireland, and a 6-year-old boy answers this:
“Being a vet, I was called in to examine a 13-year-old Irish dog called Belker.
The dog’s family, consisting of her husband Ron, his wife Lisa, and their son Shane, was very close to Belker and was waiting for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found out that he was dying of cancer. I told the family I could do nothing for Belker and offered euthanasia at his home.”
The next day, when the family surrounded Belker, I felt all the love of that family tie a knot in my throat. Shane looked so peaceful, petting the dog for the last time, and I wondered if he understood what was happening.
Belker would sleep peacefully in a few minutes, never to wake up. The child seemed to accept Belker’s transition without difficulty. We paused for a moment, wondering why dogs’ lives are shorter than those of humans.
What our dogs teach us, and this was the child’s reply.
Shane, listening attentively, said, “I know why….”
What he said next surprised me; I had never heard a more comforting explanation, and this moment changed my outlook on life.
He said, “People come into the world to learn how to live a good life, love others all the time and be good, right?”
“Well, since dogs are already born knowing how to do all that, they don’t have to stay as long as we do.”
What is the moral about what our dogs teach us?
If a dog were a teacher, it would teach things like:
- When your loved ones come home, always run to say hello;
- Never let a chance to go for a walk pass you by;
- Experience fresh air and wind;
- Run, jump and play every day;
- Improve your attention and let people touch you;
- Avoid ‘biting’ when only a ‘growl’ would suffice;
- On hot days, lie down on the grass.
And never forget: ‘When someone is having a bad day, stay quiet, sit close and gently make them feel that you are there….This is the secret of happiness that dogs have taught us every day.
Conclusion
The story of Belker and Shane's poignant explanation highlights a profound truth: dogs live shorter lives because they’ve already mastered what we spend a lifetime learning—to love unconditionally, to forgive effortlessly, and to find joy in the simplest of moments. Their brief presence is a beautiful reminder of what truly matters in life. By cherishing these lessons and applying them to our lives, we honour our incredible bond with our canine companions, even as they cross the rainbow bridge.
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