Amy Newmark - Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons from the Dog

Changing the world one story at a time

www.chickensoup.com

You can usually tell that a man is good if he has a dog who loves him.

~W. Bruce Cameron, A Dogs Journey

I had an audience as I put on my old, beat-up tennis shoes. Everyone in the house was familiar with my mowing shoes, and one member of the household was always thrilled when I put them on. She wagged her tail as I laced up the tattered strings. It was time to mow; Emmy, our Golden Retriever, was ready. Unlike me, the dog enjoyed every aspect of mowing.

I went to the shed to get our mower, and she followed along. She glanced up at me as if to say, Lets do this. I took out our mower and tugged the pull string that started my trusty Toro. Emmy barked with joy as the engine revved. It was as if she were trying to compete with the mower to see who could be louder.

I began mowing rows of grass in our back yard, and the dog followed me as I cut each row. She marched in unison with the mower. It was as if she were a soldier; she followed along in perfect step.

As I made turns at the end of each row, I gently rubbed her head as if to say, Thanks for helping me. Each time I did this, her tail wagged, and she looked up at me lovingly.

Once in a while, I came across a stick or a rock. I slowed down, picked it up and tossed it aside. Emmy chased after it every time and brought it back to me. She is a Retriever, so chasing after stuff is what she does best.

Every time she brought back a stick or rock, I gave it another hurl. After a while, Emmy settled down and sat in the shade as I continued to mow. She glanced up at an occasional bird or the wind blowing the trees, but mostly she kept her eyes on me.

Once in a while, she walked over to me and the mower, begging for another pat on the head. I would pat her again, and she would walk away satisfied that she was getting the proper attention. Finally, the back yard was finished, so I stopped the mower and went for a drink.

I pulled up a chair and sipped on my bottle of water. It gave me some relief after an hour in the summer sun. I made sure to fill Emmys water bowl, and she lapped up some water as well. Then she came over and sat right next to me. She looked up at me again as if to say, Are you ready to mow the front yard yet? We rested a bit longer, and then she followed me to the front. I started the mower, and Emmy barked loudly again.

I mowed row after row, and Emmy followed in unison again. She was still able to keep in perfect step and still in need of a few pats on the head. She retrieved a few more sticks and rocks, just as she had in the back yard. I finished up as Emmy watched me from the front porch.

She followed me to the back door and watched as I took off my old tennis shoes. We went inside, and I washed up and grabbed more water. The summer heat had done me in for a while, so I headed for my favorite recliner in the family room. I dozed off for a little bit. When I woke, I looked down to see Emmy resting comfortably next to me. One of my mowing shoes was tucked under her furry chin. She was enjoying an afternoon nap, content as could be.

Emmy loves every aspect of mowing the shoes, the rev of the engine, the pats on her furry head, chasing sticks and getting extra attention but, most of all, she loves the company. I seldom enjoy mowing it is tedious, and often hot and grueling but thanks to our dog Emmy, I do love one thing about it: the joy we bring to each other!

David Warren

When I look into the eyes of an animal I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul.

~Anthony Douglas Williams

T heres not enough time in this world. I rarely socialize with my classmates or walk up to strangers. All work-related dinner invitations are typically declined within an hour. The only humans who know me well are family members and potential future partners. My version of an exciting night includes sitting at home, reading a good book while petting my dog, and minding my own business.

Rei is sleeping comfortably on his oversized doggie pillow as I write this. He will be two in November. Its hard to believe two years have passed already. I remember him at eight weeks, so small and fuzzy. The night I held him for the very first time, he fell asleep on my shoulder. I wanted the moment to last forever, much like the way a mother feels while holding her newborn baby.

I stare at him as he continues sleeping peacefully. In a few minutes, Ill wake him for his afternoon walk. I keep him on a tight schedule. After all, hes my baby and deserves the best. I crawl over to Rei and gently rub his belly. He jumps on all fours and stretches his legs in delight.

Come on, Rei, I say. Time to walk.

We walk across the golf course, enjoying the beautiful scenery. Golfers drive by in golf carts and wave hello. Most of the time, the waves are aimed at Rei. Sometimes, I wave back; other times, I dont. It sounds harsh, but typically strangers will engage in conversation with Rei while ignoring me. I find myself constantly reminding people that Im the owner.

The golf course is part of a hotel that I often visit to retreat from my daily life. Rei always accompanies me because I hate walking alone. Occasionally, the manager reiterates the hotels rules, which forbid walkers because golf balls could land on our heads and knock us unconscious. Needless to say, Reis cute face comes in handy under these circumstances. I rely on his cuteness to get me out of trouble. Besides, Im always careful, scanning my surroundings for danger zones, and trying to walk when no one is around.

I love the coffee shop inside the hotel. It serves my favorite drink: cafe mocha, a mix of coffee and dark chocolate. The hotel seems busy today, and the line is quite long. As we patiently wait our turn, I hear a sound behind me, and I turn my head to investigate.

A young man in his mid-thirties is rapidly tapping his foot against the ground. I keep my eyes on him for a few seconds before deciding that hes cute. I also cant help but notice that his shirt reads AEPI, the Jewish fraternity on many American college campuses. My instinct is to let him know Im Jewish and available. But my shy, quieter self begs me not to do anything stupid. Instead, I wonder silently if hes the one, the Jewish prince Ive been waiting for my whole life. I turn back around, facing the front, and dismiss the wedding fantasy floating in my head.

We are second in line when I hear an unfamiliar voice asking for permission to pet my dog. From the corner of my eye, I can see that its him the cute guy with the AEPI shirt. My heart skips a beat as I move up once again and now find myself first in line. Greg (as I later learned) assumes my silence to be a yes. As the two engage in a new friendship, I find myself halfway between heaven and hell; somehow Reis leash has wrapped itself around my legs forcing me into a standstill. I try to communicate with the cashier but Im silenced by Reis barks. His excitement is overwhelming, as he slobbers over Greg. Its unclear if the girl behind the counter can hear my voice. After my third attempt to speak, I finally place my order.