I Am A Trusting Soul

November, 2004

Interestingly the catalyst for "A Trusting Soul" was not even one of my dogs. It came from a story in the local news about some young thugs stealing a Doberman from his yard and then forcing him to fight other large dogs, simply for their twisted idea of entertainment. This dog, battered and beaten found his way home and after several months of costly medical procedures did recover. The story outraged many in our community, as it did me, and it made me realize just how vulnerable an animal is in the hands of a human being.

I began to see just how vulnerable my sweet little dogs are. Every day life, where they are concerned, began to take on a different meaning to me. If I do not feed them they cannot eat. Every time I open the door to let them out, they cannot come back in unless I let them. They must trust me to do the right thing! They depend on their humans for every basic need and they also depend on us to make decisions on their behalf. What an incredible responsibility that is!

On any given day there are countless dogs and cats placed in shelters around the world for any number of reasons. Many of these reasons are simply laziness on the part of the human - the dog has not been trained and has become hard to live with so it is dumped in a shelter. Other reasons are lack of planning on the human's part. These pets are the most vulnerable. Whether they languish in a shelter with no one-on-one loving attention, or go on to live happy lives, or are put to death is all decided for them.

To be a human being is a unique privilege. To love and share your life with an animal is a unique blessing.

I am your dog. I am a trusting soul.

From my first moments in this world you were there. Maybe not you, but one like you - a human. From that moment on, I have been vulnerable. I am at the mercy of a human because I am a dog.

I was brought into your home one day. I was frightened, but since that very moment, I have had to trust you for everything. That is who I am. I am one who must trust.

I must trust you to give me my food and my water.

I must trust that you will help me learn the right things rather than just discipline me when I do wrong.

I must trust that you will let me in every time you open the door for me, that you will not leave me alone in the dark and cold night.

I must trust you every time you reach out your hand to me, that you will offer me comfort and kindness.

I must trust that you will not allow strangers to harm me every time we meet one.

I must trust that when you hand me to someone, it is only for a moment and then I will return to your arms.

I must trust that when you leave me alone, you will not be gone for long and will always come back for me.

I must trust that you will try to understand me, especially when I don't understand you, remembering that English is my second language.

I must trust you that you will forgive me, knowing that even dogs have bad days.

I must trust you when I am young and silly and when I am old and sick.

I must trust that you will do what you can to help me live out my golden years with security and dignity.

I must trust you to be patient with me when I can no longer do the simple things I once did - when my old body begins to betray me.

I must trust you that when my time on this earth is over you will hold me gently and then let me go with love and tenderness.

I must trust you that yours will be the last face I see.

I must trust that you will always remember me and not have any regrets about sharing your life with me.

I must trust that you have loved me as much as I have loved you.

I have trusted you with my very life. That is who I am. I am your dog. I am a trusting soul.