Why Dogs?

In a round of Thanksgiving table topics when our family participants were asked "What's the first question you would you ask God if given the opportunity?" my adult niece gave a loaded response - "Why?" Yep, that would be her question, with many questions to follow, of course.

Well with a lot to be left to the imagination and based on our relationship, I have thought a bit about her response since. I am fairly certain that "dogs" would be one of the things to follow her "Why?"

"Why dogs?"

Her husband and nine year old daughter have been lobbying for a dog for a few
years now. But allergies and the typical mom fear that the chore of caring for the shedding, pooping, muddy, chew-everything-in-sight beast would principally and squarely fall on her seems to be the reason there will be no dogs within their household.

I know my niece feels somewhat bad for her husband and daughter. She loves them very much. But there is no doubt that she would not have a dog even if she was on her own with no allergies and all of the time in the world to care for one.

The rest of the family, on the other hand, are nearly all outright dog freaks. We all have more than one, rescue and foster...and these furry creatures are everywhere we go - with us or waiting for us when we arrive.

I could say my niece is just too practical and smart for her own good. She has allergies, true. But that's not really what we're talking about here. She doesn't want a dog and there will always be a reason to not have one for her. I am not trying to stereotype or pick on my niece. I'm not. But she's got me thinking, once again, as only she can do. And what I realize is that my niece may have never actually asked this question given the opportunity, or even care why God made dogs. It just took my imagination and this scenario to arrive at the realization that I may be the one who really wants the answer to the question...

I mean, why would God create an animal so trainable, loyal, affectionate, and willing to be adopted and live as man's companion over anything else?

Why would God create an animal of such varied breeds that there seems to be a breed to match almost anyone's life style?

Why would God create an animal so willing to play and interact with us...who could
cheer us when we're sad by simply lying at our feet or bringing us their ball and wagging tail?

Why would God make an animal so smart that they need only read the movement of our eyes to understand us, will obey our unspoken commands offered merely by the point of the finger or gesture of a hand, and who is also an animal who will respond to hundreds of words from our vocabulary (it’s us who doesn’t understand theirs)?

Maybe the answer is simple. Maybe God made dogs because He loves us. 

Well, my real question is not “Why dogs?” Perhaps I am most curious as to why there are so many people who don't just love dogs?

Dear God, "Why?"