Winning Words 7/26/11
“Who knew that a dog’s saliva could mend a broken heart?” (Jennifer Neal) One of my “dog relatives” has had training as a therapy dog, one who is able to go among the sick and shut-ins and give them comfort. Some dogs, without special training, have a way of bringing comfort. Have you had a dog like that? We got “Tiger” from the dog pound, and he brought joy to our home. ;-) Jack

FROM TS IN MICHIGAN: It is shown that petting an animal, dog or cat, will reduce a person's blood pressure. There is something soothing about having a pet by one's side.////FROM JACK: Last night I took my "dog relative" to the Silver Dairy (a kind of DQ) where they give dogs free samples. Kids, with smiles on their faces, came up to pet her, and she smiled back with her tail.

FROM LK IN OHIO: Yes, "GUS", our beloved yellow lab, died of cancer at age 10 (70?), March 11, 2009, six mos. to the day before Mary Ann lost her own battle with cancer. Thanks for asking.////FROM JACK: There's a reason why dogs are referred to as "family pets." They become part of the family.

FROM SH IN MICHIGAN: Calvin--he knew all of us in our home so well. We will always miss him. He never changed up and down with emotions and was just simply affectionately with us, with each of us.////FROM JACK: Is there anything more enjoyable to watch that the happy way a dog greets you when you come home? There's another saying..."A dog is a man's best friend, because he wags his tail and not his tongue."

FROM PEPPERMINT MARY: lucy pugglestien, our late-in-life puppy, is making our life complete and completely happy. ////FROM JACK: There's got to be a story behind that name. Dogs have person-alities, don't they?////MORE FROM PM: just saying...we didn't know our hearts needed mending until lucy pugglestein entered our life. we had no intention to bring her in. she chose us...pure and simple. she knew.

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY: All of our dogs have been special. Over the years we have had all kinds of dogs, all large breeds. They have all left a wonderful mark on our lives. We don't have one now. After Taffy passed away, we decided no more. However, we have three granddogs....Chief, Opie and KoKo. They are special to us too. They love to come to Grandma and Grandpa's house and are over often. They fill in the gap for us! ////FROM JACK: Dogs have it made. The whole world is their outhouse.

FROM TAMPA SHIRL: Everyone seems to be into dogs lately. Another phenomenon seems to be that they all have human names, like Charlie, Emma. Wally, Sofie, Jack, Lulu-for examples. Another neat thing is that another family with a high schooler who would like to have a dog of her own, compromises and dogsits for friends who are on trips. She takes the dogs to her home temporarily and earns spending money besides the enjoyment of the dog. Our dog in Moline was a black cocker spaniel named Smokey. At first my grandpa, who was in his 80's, was jealous because Smokey was getting so much attention. Later they became great friends, and Smokey would sit by grandpa for hours.////FROM JACK: I know a man whose name is, Rex; but I don't know anyone named, Rin Tin Tin. Our Moline dog would walk by himself up the 15th St hill and over to 1313 - 18th St, knowing that my aunt and uncle would take him to the DQ for a treat

FROM JH IN OHIO: Sheefa (meat pie in arabic) Teddy Tashka Casey Mandy Keela Maizy Jersey All brought/bring me joy via saliva.////FROM JACK: There's a song, "Lips That Touch Whiskey Shall Never Touch Mine." That doesn't apply to a dog whose name is, Whiskey.

FROM CZB IN COLORADO: Linda has trained her dog, Raven, to be a service dog at assisted care facilities. It's pretty wonderful.////FROM JACK: We trained our dog to pick up things from the floor and put them in the waste basket. "Put it in the waste basket!" A treat would follow...Something like with kids.

FROM PH IN MINNESOTA: we love our pets because they, unlike humans, love us UNconditionally!!//// FROM JACK: Do you ever watch the TV show, Animal Cops? It's amazing how some people mistreat a dog, and, still, the dog wag its tail. Sometimes spousal abuse is like that, too.

FROM JE IN MICHIGAN: Our dog Baxter brings comfort and joy daily. He’s amazing. We so lucked out in bidding on him at a Christ Child Society benefit almost five years ago. He is smarter/more perceptive than some people. He has more costumes than most kids.////FROM JACK: Names are interesting. My Name Book says that Baxter has a Saxon origin and means, a baker. Judy means, one who praises.

FROM PLAIN FOLKS CHESTER: Isn't it interesting that dog spelled backwards is God? No wonder they are so comforting.////FROM JACK: "To err is human—to forgive, canine (divine). "

FROM BLAZING OAKS: One of the best dog books I have read this year is author Dean Koontz'a book about their "daughter" Trixie; who was adopted by them (who were childless) when she couldn't function as a trained dog which helped the handicapped. Truly delightful. And of course that great dog book "the Art Of Racing in the Rain"...there are so many, and probably for a good reason: They bring joy to a lot of lives. My daughter's friend had a beautiful dog, Dancer, who was trained to go to nursing homes and hospitals and "visit" the sick and disabled. A terrific ministry.Son Mark brought home an abandoned puppy from Augie, which we enjoyed for 14 years. (Even when a misadventure at the park resulted in her getting sprayed by a skunk...gallons of tomato juice baths finally eased the stench!! :-( ) Pets are a pleasure! (Most of the time!!)////FROM JACK: We enjoy the James Herriot books, especially All Creatures Great and Small. We considered naming one of our dogs, Augie-- Augie the Doggie.////FROM BO: All of Herriott's books are delightful! Bill and I read some of them to our younger 2 kids, and we all had hysterics over the dog plagued with highly odorous flatulence, owned by the high society dame who gave formal dinners and teas: She had to find him another home, and Dr. Harriet finally found the perfect home with a WW1 vet who had been gassed in the war, and had no sense of smell! Too funny! Augie the Doggie has a nice ring to it..should've christened our "Queenie" with that appropriate monicker!!////FROM JACK: It's always convenient to "blame it on the dog."

FROM CWR IN B'MORE: Pam and (after her death ) My dog Shep (a Collie) was a Registered Pet Therapy dog. We would take him to some hospitals and to a Nursing home there. At Moon Lake , he was a Greeter , and after Pam's death ,he and I were "buddies" and just horsed (dogged) around together at Moon Lake until, several years later (at 13) he died. ps: Pam always commented that I married her for her dog. PS:2 Pat comments to friends that I married her because my dog died. ////FROM JACK: I suppose that Shep was a therapy dog for you, too. One of my favorite songs is, "Old Shep." Do you know it?

FROM ILLINOIS LIZ: You brought joy to his home, too!////FROM JACK: No saliva, either. BTW, I had an aunt in Moline who used to call her salvia flowers...salivas, just to be funny.////MORE FROM LIZ: One of my favorite Archie Bunker running jokes is the "Salivation Army."