It Just Doesn't Get Better Than This

It Just Doesn't Get Better Than This
They say that men and dogs formed their historic symbiotic alliance shortly after men congregated in communities. More adventurous wolves would set aside their fear of men and approach them in their refuse dumps. They had so much to give to each other that a historic cooperation of the two species formed and grew rapidly. Dogs provided men with security, protection, and hunting cooperation and received food from mankind's leftovers. Both species offered the other faithful commitment and received companionship, the most valuable gift of all.
Now, thousands of years later the bonding has continued and permeates most of our lives. Hector, a Cuban boy in the early grades, walks home in his school uniform and comes across a stray puppy, pausing to play with him. When he knows he must get on home, he walks off, but the puppy follows, crossing streets wisely only when Hector does. By the time they get to Hector's house, the dog has a name, Coco, after Hector's best friend who moved away months ago.
"Can I please keep him, Mom? Please?" We all know how those conversations go. This mom loves her son enough to allow Coco into the family in spite of the extra cleaning work he'll cause and the need to share out the family's food a little further. She knows what the dog can add to Hector's life.
She has given him a great gift--something far better than a toy soldier or a bike. That gift will last longer in Hector's life than even Coco will. In no time Hector will learn what a true friend his dog is. He'll learn loyalty, dedication, companionship, and responsibility, and sadly, even separation and loss someday when Coco dies. But Hector will replace Coco with other dogs and enjoy their company his whole life.
This story is repeated millions of time a year. It took place in Cuba, but something like it is happening everywhere, everyday. It has happened to me perhaps 20 times in a long life, and I can still feel the presence of dogs long gone while I love the ones still here. Sometimes when I put my arms around Peachy, our big Golden Doodle as she walks by my chair, I feel Boy, a German Shepherd who used to sit next to me on our back porch stairs. Even though Boy left us twenty years ago, it's all still there, the love, the feelings, the happiness.
I couldn't imagine a life without dogs. I hope I never have to.
Les Inglis