Goodbye to an old friend… (click here)

(The following is from Jaye’s monthly column, Paws Up! in GET Magazine…March 2012)

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.” — Unknown
The loss of Love…

To love unconditionally is a beautiful thing. Dogs give it freely and many dog owners who are willing to open their hearts to it get to experience it.

I have had the joy and privilege to share this kind love with several beautiful furry souls over the years. Recently a dear friend of mine passed to another state of being.

Orso was a unique dog. He had natural people skills and could work a crowd. He’d bring people together, offer his unique brand of love, get us to worship and love him, and then he’d be off to the next crowd and new adventures. What a great way to journey through life! His joy of life and his love of butt scratches matched no other dog. I loved every moment spent with him.

As companions to our dogs, we can choose to learn to accept this kind of wonderful love. As the weather in New England begins to shift to warmer temperatures, finding time to play and exercise with our dogs is the perfect way to revel in the experience. Almost all dogs want to run, jump and breath the fresh outdoor air. They already know it is the best place to have fun, and they just want us to be happy. After all, we are on this journey together.

I was one of the lucky humans who got to spend some time with Orso and his humans. He was blessed with long, flowing dreadlocks of hair that totally covered his body. Due to his unique look, travelling with Orso was never under the radar. You couldn’t just go for a walk with Orso. People everywhere would stop us and ask questions. He even had a blog called Where is Orso so people could keep tabs on him and his adventures.

He never grew tired of the never-ending flow of onlookers that curiously asked, “What kind of dog is that?” Depending on the day, one of us would answer “Bergamasco,” and if we got the blank stare back at us, another of us would add “Italian sheepdog.”

That would often get a smile and a request for a photo of Orso, for which he would gladly pose and give his best doggie smile. The price? A simple butt scratch or an occasional vanilla kiss cookie, his favorite treat of treats.

Orso was a gentle dog with a bark that commanded attention, recognition and respect. He loved everyone. I now know this kind of love is the love we all seek. If you ever find it, I say, treasure it, embrace it, hold on to it until the very last moment that you can. It is truly a gift. Orso will always have a special place in my heart and will always bring a smile to my face whenever I think of how he beautifully wagged his tail through this crazy thing we call life. Thank you Orso. Remember to hug your dog everyday … yes, everyday!