#145: Coming Back as a Pet Dog

My two dogs have me thinking that if there were such a thing as reincarnation that I might like to come back as a caring person's pet dog.

My current two are strays. One, Baby the Boxer, appeared four years ago wearing a collar but without a tag. No one in different neighborhoods recognized her and there was no response to newspaper ads or signs. So she joined the family.

The other, Thumper the Shepherd, named Thumper because of the sound her tail makes as it thumps excitedly against a wall or door, showed up July 4th last year, frightened of the loud noise of firecrackers, her hair matted, dirty and wet and an infection on the inside of her left leg. The vet cured the infection but again, a collar but no tag and no response to ads or signs. So she, too, joined the clan, making Baby a terrific playmate.

If you have been or are a dog owner, then you know they are fiercely loyal to caring owners, craving attention and kind words, just like people.

Some reasons I might enjoy being a dog is the loving I'd receive from my responsible owner, the brushing and bathing and playing fetch and being fed regularly and the car rides.

But primarily, because I could fall asleep quickly.

Baby and Thumper get their bedtime treats and attention then within 20 seconds are stretched out snoring. All while my eyes are wide open for hours as the mind reviews the days concerns and worries. Oh, how many times have I envied them as I watched them contentedly dreaming while I so desperately wanted to be asleep.

All in all, such a dog's life doesn't sound too bad. I'd miss all of the foods I often avoid now -- pizza, milkshakes, pies, cakes -- but as a dog I wouldn't have them anyway, would I?

Whoever said a dog's burden is a "ruff" one hasn't seen my two. They are treated like royalty but give me back much more in return than I could ever ask for, just as my closest friends offer to me.