What Dogs Can Teach Us About Life and The Soul

There was a powerful story out of Phoenix recently about a grieving pit bull that stayed by its dead mate for 14 hours after it had been hit by a car. It was a touching and amazing show of loyalty and love. The dog became so despondent over his loss that the shelter owners who rescued him were not sure he could be adopted at first.

The video of the dog lying beside his deceased friend and tenderly licking her head caused most people a bit of reflection. It was such a powerful show of love that many indeed wanted to help the dog despite its deep depression.You can click here to see it http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/8472538/grieving-pit-bull-stays-by-dead-friend

And yet another was the heartbreaking YouTube video last year, during the funeral of U.S. Navy SEAL hero Jon Tumilson, when his loyal dog Hawkeye lies down with a sigh near his casket.

The daily bombardments of violent headlines have made us silent with shock. Human cruelty is a legend just as palatable as human kindness. Dogs, however, for the most part have a simple and pure connection to something that I think we miss at times. They love freely and without regret. Of course, some animals just as some humans, are wounded perhaps from abuse, pain or depression and respond with anger and aggression.

Generally, however, dogs mete out comfort, healing and friendship. Many people allow dogs in their lives for companionship in ways they would never allow another person. Animals and dogs in particular have a direct line to the source of something rich and genuine, which is the connection to the soul. When we allow a dog to touch our hearts they open us up to unconditional love and that basically is what all of our souls are made of.

The writer Jonathan Carroll said:
“Dogs are minor angels. They love unconditionally, forgive immediately, and are the truest of friends, willing to do anything that makes us happy, etcetera. If we attributed some of those qualities to a person we would say they are special. If they had all of them, we would call them angelic. But because it's "only" a dog, we dismiss them as sweet or funny but little more.”

What a Dog Knows

For Love I Can Survive Anything

There were many heart wrenching stories from last year’s tsunami and earthquake in Japan. The emotional impact of that tragedy was so profound that people clung to the miracles that came out in the aftermath. One such story was about Ban the dog that floated on a house in the sea for three weeks before being rescued and eventually reunited with its owner. http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/04/01/tsunami-dog-japan.html

Ban teaches us that the will and strength of the soul is remarkable. We can survive great physical odds with hope, knowledge, trust and love in our hearts. Dogs will travel great lengths and surpass their body’s capacity of pain and survival. We can do the same.

I Will Love Forever

Other powerful images from the tsunami were the ones of the dog that would not leave its mate after the flood. I am sure many were brought to tears by the scenes of the trembling dog amongst all the rubble staying by and protecting its wounded friend. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367270/Japanese-tsunami-Video-shows-dog-protected-friend-surviving.html

Sometimes it stings when our friends and family choose to leave or abandon us. People have reasons to do what they do and maybe we don’t always understand. Generally dogs tend to stick by their human and canine companions even when they are wounded or have passed on.

One of the beautiful things I note in doing holistic work is that dogs often come back as spirit guides to their owners even after they have passed. Sometimes angels take the form of dogs or other animals to tend and look after us.

I Will Save You

Dogs and dolphins will rescue humans if they are able. There are so many incredible stories of dogs saving people from fires, protecting them from robbers, rescuing folks from drowning and warning others about danger.

The story of a dog saving an abandoned newborn baby in Argentina and bringing the infant back to her litter is mind blowing. Yet it is one of the many times a dog shows such concern for a person. http://articles.cnn.com/2008-08-22/world/argentina.dog.tale_1_1_1_13-ounce-infant-newborn-puppies-dog?_s=PM:WORLD

I Will Comfort You

Dogs are used as companion and help animals as well as rescue partners. They give us comfort and unending support. It’s funny how your dog or cat knows just the place to cuddle you when you are hurting. They share your tears, pain, joy and laughs.

All souls whether human or dog have that same basic spark within which is the ability to love and care for another. It’s just up to us to use that ability. We can learn a lot from dogs.