Puppy Love

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an animal lover, and they also know that

my main animal love is the four-legged-pooch-type, also known as 

"Man's best friend." 🐶

My furry family has taught me a lot, but of all the things that I've learned from 

them, the most important two things have been forgiveness and gratitude. 

Forgiveness

Now I'm not implying that you can abuse a dog and they will easily forgive and 

forget. What I am saying is that when you have to leave them alone for an 

extended period of time (like on Sundays when we have church and work the 

monthly food pantry or the monthly missions' luncheon and end up 

being away from them for hours), even though they've given you their best 

sad-eyed-I-can't-believe-you're-leaving-me guilt trip as you're walking out the

door, the moment you return all is forgiven and they are right there, wagging 

tails and all, ready to play and be loved on. Or, when you have to take them to 

get their shots and they don't understand why you're letting some other human 

stick them with needles, as soon as you're back in the car with them (if it takes 

that long) they're all over you, lavishing you with kisses and love. 

Dogs forgive easily, perhaps it's because of their forgetfulness, as some people 

suggest, or maybe it's simply because of their strong desire to love and be 

loved (which I personally think is more likely), but whatever the reason, dogs 

have a great deal to teach us about forgiveness. 

Gratitude

Now when it comes to being grateful, dogs know how! They are grateful for the 

little things in life which many of us overlook everyday. They are grateful for 

our presence. Simply being with us brings them joy and they are grateful. 

Other little things that they are grateful for include: 

• Play-time with
• outside-time at home or at the park
• meal-time - anywhere, anytime
• walks
• nap-time by your side
• car rides (for some)
• laying at your feet or in your lap

The list could go on and on! There are so many things that dogs love and are 

grateful for, but the most important thing to them is the time they get to spend 

with YOU. 

Our sweet boy Braxton and precious Princess Fiona show they're gratitude for 

us and these things in many ways, from lavishing us with kisses to protecting us

and our home from harm and unwanted invasion. 

They are loyal and loving, playful and spirited, and our furry babies bring us so 

much joy and happiness! 

This is our sweet boy Braxton.

He is a Wire-Haired Fox-Terrier Mix who we adopted him three years ago from 

our local animal shelter. He loves to get attention, play outside, cuddle-time 

and our rescue cat, Storm. 

Abandoned by mamma cat and almost killed by a neighborhood boy, we took in 

this little guy, bottle-fed him and he is now a happy member of the family, too. 

Braxton sharing his toy with Storm

This is our sweet girl, Princess Fiona. 

We adopted her from our local animal shelter about a year ago and my how she 

has grown!! 

They put on her adoption card that she was a small terrier mixed breed, but 

clearly she is not! We believe she is actually a Jack-a-bee which is a 

Jack Russell Terrier - Beagle mix. We could be wrong, although 

it doesn't matter much - she has become a permanent member of the family 

who we love endlessly! 

Braxton & Fiona at the park