A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa,

and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the

euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure.

They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog

for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why.''

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has

changed the way I try and live.

He said, ''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?''

The Six-year-old continued, ''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Del ight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

'Animals come into our lives as gifts from God, for companionship, to teach us, and to heal us.

They deserve our very best efforts in caring for them'...Dr. Ihor Basko, DVM

The Sack Lunches

I put my carry-on in the luggage

compartment and sat down in my

assigned seat. It was going to be a

long flight. 'I'm glad I have a

good book to read. Perhaps I will get

a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of

soldiers came down the aisle and

filled all the vacant seats, totally

surrounding me. I decided to

start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?'

I asked the soldier seated nearest to me.

'Petawawa. We'll be there for two

weeks for special training, and then

we're being deployed to Afghanistan.

After flying for about an hour, an

announcement was made that sack

lunches were available for five

dollars. It would be several hours

before we reached the east, and I

quickly decided a lunch would help

pass the time...

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a

soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch.

'No, that seems like a lot of money for

just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth

five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base.'

His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers.

None were buying lunch. I

walked to the back of the plane and

handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill.

'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.'

She grabbed my arms and squeezed

tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she

thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq ;

it's almost like you are doing it for him.'

Picking up ten sacks, she headed up

the aisle to where the soldiers

were seated. She stopped at my seat

and asked, 'Which do you like

best - beef or chicken?'

'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why

she asked. She turned and went to

the front of plane, returning a

minute later with a dinner plate from

first class. 'This is your thanks..'

After we finished eating, I went

again to the back of the plane,

heading for the rest room.

A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did.

I want to be part of it. Here, take this.'

He handed me twenty-five dollars

Soon after I returned to my seat, I

saw the Flight Captain coming down

the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers

as he walked, I hoped he was not

looking for me, but noticed he was

looking at the numbers only on

my side of the plane. When he got to

my row he stopped, smiled,

held out his hand, and said,

I want to shake your hand.'

Quickly unfastening my seatbelt I

stood and took the Captain's hand.

With a booming voice he said, 'I was

a soldier and I was a military pilot..

Once, someone bought me a lunch.

It was an act of kindness I never forgot.'

I was embarrassed when applause

was heard from all of the passengers.

Later I walked to the front of the

plane so I could stretch my legs.

A man who was seated about six rows

in front of me reached out his

hand, wanting to shake mine. He left

another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my

belongings and started to deplane.

Waiting just inside the airplane door

was a man who stopped me, put

something in my shirt pocket, turned,

and walked away without saying a

word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the

soldiers gathering for their trip to the base.

I walked over to them and handed them

seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some

time to reach the base. It will be about time

for a sandwich. God Bless You.'

Ten young men left that flight

feeling the love and respect of their

fellow travelers.. As I walked briskly to my car,

I whispered a prayer for their safe return.

These soldiers were giving their all for our country.

I could only give them a couple of meals.

It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one

point in his life, wrote a blank check

made payable to 'The United States of

America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many

people in this country who no longer

understand it.'