Do you know the song “Sweet Emotion” by the American boy band Aerosmith? Many humans think a dog is just a dog. In my mind that is hateful ignorance.
Master Robert had two dogs before me Suzy and Ginny. Both were French poodles. Suzy was the daughter of champions Pierre of the Studio and Josephine. She was with Master Robert for 23 years. And there was Ginny a white poodle who he helped raise as a puppy but her owner died tragically bashing his head on the sharp edge of a television set after too many gin and tonics. Much to the chagrin of Master Robert Ginny was sent to elderly parents of the deceased in a small Saguenay town in Quebec but the parents could no longer care for Ginny and she returned to Master Robert six years later. She lived until 17 and even Mistress Fotini met her and they went for a few walks on Mont Royal in Montreal. Suzy and Ginny tell me they received the best care, love and attention from Master Robert. But they too were euthanized so we all have that in common. We are best friends in The Land Beyond.
So I suppose I can say it was with huge emotions that Master Robert became master of me Dylan the Westie some 35 years after the passing of Ginny. But it was only when Master Robert met Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog that he started thinking seriously about the emotions of dogs. Reggie was a pet of a middle-class family in Cairo who threw him out on the street when their daughter tired of him. Attacked by a big dog and hospitalized he was brought to Toronto by Snookie’s Rescue Society and all of us in The Stephen Family met him in a park in Toronto. We heard his story and The Stephen Family started visualizing the terror and fear of Reggie. Yes he was terrified and it took a lot of love to have him trust humans again. Some rescue dogs never can regain an emotional equilibrium after suffering abuse. I despise all forms of animal abuse.
Yes we dogs have emotions. I mean I cried when I was in pain. I barked when I was afraid or wanted to make a point. Master Andrew told a story after my death about me being in Kensington Market in Toronto. The Stephen Family were having Jamaican patties at Patty Palace out on the street and I barked saying that I should not be forgotten as I wanted a piece of patty. I also felt shame after biting that poor old guy’s pant legs on the street. I wagged my tail indicating happiness. I nuzzled Master Robert’s pant legs showing my gratitude and happiness at being at Don Valley Golf Course for a walk. I barked to be picked up on occasion so I could nestle in the comfort and security of a lap. I showed anger by growling. In the spring and fall I ran around a planter in circles showing my sheer joy of being alive. When Master Robert sneezed I came running to check out if he was OK. Yes my point is that all dogs are more than “just dogs”. We show our emotions so pick up on them and recognize just how intelligent we are. Of course, we can’t speak so clue into the clues how we are feeling. That is called part of the canine human relationship. If you dare abuse any dog I swear I will pay you a visit in spirit to admonish you low life coward.
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