Sunday, November 26, 2017

All Good Dogs Go to Heaven--And All Dogs Are Good


Passing Softly into the Night
Arrow the Perro 
2004-2017

I Kept Expecting a Miracle
I kept expecting a miracle... 
Though perhaps the miracle is to be loved
And then loosened into the greater love
And to go out on a river of tears~fully lived, fully loved, fully ready to be loosened.
Lee Bryant


Place where the Dogs are Loosened
'Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really.'
Agnes Sligh Turnbull


Me and My Arrow


The Con Man and the Dumpster Dog

Arrow found his way to my son when Sean was a homesick 17 year old exchange student living in Guanajuato, Mexico. Sean, away from home for the first time in another country, was lonely and missing having a sense of home so he found a way to create it. He got a dog.

Now that's the truth of the matter, but that's not the story Sean told us almost 14 years ago. No, the story he told was more heart-wrenching and dramatic.

When I first saw Arrow the Perro on a webcam I told Sean, 'You'd better find a home for that dog in Mexico. If you bring him back he's going straight to the pound!'

Sean, my little con man who knew his mother well just smiled and said, 'I'll take my chances on you.' He went on to say, 'I found a litter of pups in a dumpster and I tried to turn them in to the local shelter. They were full. But they said if I was willing to take one of the pups, they'd take the other two, so what could I do?'

So Arrow the Perro came home to live with us, becoming my dog while Sean went off to college and then on to adult life. 

It was much later--only after it became clear Arrow was going to be our forever dog despite eating Sean's bed and my jewelry; taking nips out of a few friends behinds; and generally being harder to train than our other soft-mouthed, Ginger-dog--that the truth came out.

'Oh Mom,' Sean confessed with a laugh, 'That was just a story I made up. I was lonely and I went to a vet's office where a friend got a pup.'

And there it is--home is where the dog is--and even young con men living far away from home and family can create a home with the comfort of a dog. 

Thanks to my little con man, I had a full-time companion who didn't leave my side for almost 14 years--unless I left him. He never tired of my company.

'There is nothing truer in this world than the love of a good dog.'
Mira
A dog is grateful for what is--which I am finding to be the soundest kind of wisdom and very good theology.
Carrie Newcomer


Bright-Eyed and Basenji-Tailed


'Dogs are often happier than men simply because the simplest things are the greatest things for them!'
Mehmet Murat Ildan



'The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.'
Samuel Butler
'You can usually tell a man is good if he has a dog who loves him.'
W. Bruce Cameron
'If your dog doesn’t like someone you probably shouldn’t, either.'
Unknown




The last walk together

We're all just walking each other home

'Many of the qualities that come so effortlessly to dogs—loyalty, devotion, selflessness, unflagging optimism, unqualified love—can be elusive to humans.'
John Grogan
'Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog.'
Sidney Jeanne Seward 
'I love a dog. He does nothing for political reasons.'
Will Rogers
'Dogs lead a nice life. You never see a dog with a wristwatch.'
George Carlin


RIP

💓Arrow the Perro
💙My Gringo Dingo
💚My Optimistic Opportunist 
💛My dog with the question mark of a tail
💗My Dog



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For more than 35 years, Susan Meyerott has been helping people lighten up and step over invisible barriers to change one step at a time. She speaks to your heart, puts you at ease, and makes letting go and moving forward with life easier than ever before.


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17 comments:

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Sue, what a beautiful tribute to your sweet and loyal friend! I've often wished ogs and cats had the lifespan of parrots, turtles and alligators. So sorry for your loss. Hugs.

Unknown said...

Love it. Arrow the Perro AKA wheelbArrow AKA spArrow, Rest In Peace !! All Dogs go to Heaven.

Susan J Meyerott, M.S. said...

Thanks, Jean. I wish dogs and cats would have much longer lives. Cats do tend to last longer than dogs. It is a very tender heart that loses it's shadow being who lived alongside it for so many years.

Susan J Meyerott, M.S. said...

Tracy Ann--Yes, I forgot Wheelbarrow and spArrow. All dogs go to heaven and don't you forget it!

Love Mama G

Heidi said...

Glad you had a great dog in your life. It's a lovely tribute. Thank you for sharing.
❤️

Unknown said...

One of my favorite quotes: "We're all just walking each other home."
Lucky you to have such a loyal shadow companion along the road for so many years, Sue.

Susan J Meyerott, M.S. said...

Thanks, Heidi. Everyone needs a great dog in their life!

Susan J Meyerott, M.S. said...

Steph--That's one of my favorites too--and that picture of the last walk together was perfect for thinking about walking each other home. I have been lucky to have such loyal shadow companions to keep me company along the way.

Unknown said...

What an inspiring and uplifting tribute. Your capacity for expression even in times of grief and deep sorrow amaze me. Arrow was one loved pup, there is no doubt. Fly free, Arrow ❤️

Susan J Meyerott, M.S. said...

Oh dear Susan! Thank you for your kind words. I have been thinking about you in Hawaii but I've been so focused on dealing with Arrow's health for 6 months that I failed to reach out. Grief is hard. It sucks your attention. And you're right--Arrow was one loved pup. Sending you love.

Unknown said...

Love this remembrance of him, mom. You are such a great caregiver. I thought about the Giving Tree this morning, and now that I'm older and an aspiring parent, it made me think of you.

<3

Susan J Meyerott, M.S. said...

Thanks, Sean. Your photo album for Arrow provided such a great base for the fond memories of Arrow. You'll make a great father. I am honored you'd associate me with the Giving Tree. Love you bunches. Mama G

Unknown said...

Sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your memories, what a great dog.

Susan J Meyerott, M.S. said...

Thanks, Stephanie. We have a 'collective dog memory'. We can all share in the great memories our dogs provide. Dog lovers know the great joy these furry beings bring to us..one and all.

Deborah Cowden Pierce said...

Your blog continues to delight my heart in many ways and this post overfills my heart with painful joy. Thank you to Arrow and all the dear dogs who come and came into our lives. As you pointed us to remember and I now feel again is that when a dog loves us they make us the lucky ones because we have been given the opportunity to experience having to have been truly loved.

Deborah Cowden Pierce said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan J Meyerott, M.S. said...

Deb we have shared the painful joy of romping with these dear dogs only to grieve their loss only too soon. We are truly blessed with their presence in our lives. It is good to be part of the dog pack.