My Dog's Purpose

There is stillness to my house this morning.  There is no clickety-clack of Scamp’s awkward gait across the wood floors.  There is no unique dog ‘talk’ begging to be let out, no jarring sound of Scamp slamming his body against the back door demanding to be let back in.   There is no random or constant barking coming from my back yard where he used to stand guard on the knoll overlooking the woods.  There is a hollowness in my house and in my heart.

Life lessons from my dog:
Joy – Find joy in the simple things.  Scamp found joy in the simple things.  A stick, a walk up the driveway, a car ride, an old sock or a dropped glove brought him immense joy.  "You have to sniff out joy.  Keep your nose to the joy trail." ~ Buffy Sainte Marie

One of Scamp's favorite things - a simple stick.

Eat healthy – Eat your fruits and veggies!  Scamp loved vegetables like no dog or human that I have ever met.  Bananas, pumpkins, tomatoes, squash…he loved ALL fruits and vegetables.   He ate at least one stick a day to meet his fiber needs.  "Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon." ~ Doug Larson

Bananas - his favorite snack!

Find peace in nature – Scamp loved nature.  He loved bugs, chasing bees, dirt, grass, sticks and just sitting in the fresh breeze.  He would often sit in the back yard just overlooking God’s beauty.  If you couldn’t find Scamp you just needed to look in the back yard where he would sit in his spot just soaking in the sunshine.  "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to use every hour, if we will only tune in." ~ George Washington Carver  

Scamp sitting in the sunshine.

Be yourself – Scamp walked to the beat of his own drum.  He didn’t care what anyone thought; he was his own dog from the day he was born.  He would go off and do his own thing not worrying what the other dogs thought.  He was confident in who he was.  "I never wanted to be different, I just wanted to be me." ~ Unknown

Scamp being himself!

Exercise – Scamp loved to run!  When I would start up the driveway the dogs would race the car to the house.  The other two dogs would go straight up the driveway, but Scamp would veer off dashing around and behind the house and beat the other two dogs to the car.  When I would walk to work each morning Scamp would FFLLLYYY down the driveway.  His ears would be pushed back against his head as he flew with his tongue flapping to the side of his mouth.    "Running is one of the best solutions to a clear mind."  ~ Sasha Azevedo

Doggy football.

Be compassionate, kind and loving – Scamp was a compassionate dog.  Pei Pei, Scamp’s half-sister who was a sickly runt, spent her first few months at work with us every day and Scamp, who not typically gentle, would softly pick up Pei Pei’s toys and walk across the office gently dropping them at her feet.  He would gently play tug of war with her knowing somehow that she needed a soft touch.  The compassion and kindness he showed Pei Pei deeply touched my heart.  "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion."  ~ Dalai Lama     

Scamp making Rudy feel welcomed to our family.

Make your voice heard – Scamp didn’t have a typical dog whine or bark.  Scamp had a baby/toddler/dog sounding talk when he wanted to go outside or needed your attention.  I can’t explain it, but it was truly unique.  He would ‘talk’ as he would rock up and down on his back paws …several times…up, down, up, down.   We called this the Scamp Dance.  Scamp made sure his voice was heard loud and clear. "When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed.  But when we are silent, we are still afraid.  So it is better to speak."  ~ Audre Lorde   

Scamp shoving his way to the forefront to be heard!

Be honest – Scamp was a thief.  He would steal anything including TV remotes, socks, hats, shoes, bananas, trash…ANYTHING.  My AC/heat guy was here a few months ago working on my furnace in the basement and Scamp was at the top of the stairs ‘TALKING’ trying to get his attention.  Scott decided Scamp was just being Scamp and ignored him as he was on a tight schedule.  Scamp eventually gave up and came back to the office.  When Scott finished working on our furnace and came up the steps...there on the top step was his missing tool.  Evidentially Scamp had stolen this tool the last time Scott was here and decided to return the tool to its rightful owner.  Scamp may have been a thief, but honesty won in the end every time.  "Honesty does not always bring a response of love, but it is absolutely essential to it."  ~ Ray Blaton    

The stolen remote control - it STILL works.

I'm sure other lessons will come to me as the days go on.  We buried Scamp in the garden this morning...one of his favorite places.  

Scamp slept to the right of my office chair every afternoon when it was his nap time.  I shall miss everything about this strange and wonderful creature.  I am grateful God sent this unique beast to me, giving me three years to spend with him.  Yes, Scamp could be a true pain in the back side, but he made me laugh and shake my head several times a day.  Scamp brought me joy.  RIP Scampy-Dampy!  Mommy will miss you.

Scamp is ready.

The one best place to bury a good dog is in the heart of his master. ~ Ben Hur Lampman

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Enzo quotes from 'The Art of Racing in the Rain' by Garth Stein ~

"He died that day because his body had served its purpose.  His soul had done what it came to do, learned what it came to learn, and then was free to leave."

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"In Mongolia, when a dog dies, he is buried high in the hills so people cannot walk on his grave.  The dog's master whispers in the dog's ear his wishes that the dog will return as a man in next life.  Then his tail is cut off and put beneath his head, and a piece of meat of fat is cut off and placed in his mouth to sustain his soul for its journey; before he is reincarnated, the dog's soul is freed to travel the land, to run across the high desert plains for as long as it would like.  

I learned that from a program on the National Geographic Channel, so I believe it is true.  Not all dogs return as men, they say; only those who are ready.  I am ready.

When I return to the world, I will be a man.  I will walk among you.  I will lick my lips with my small, dexterous tongue.  I will shake hands with other men, grasping firmly with my opposable thumbs.  And I will teach all people that I know.  And when I see a man or a woman or a child in trouble, I will extend my hand, both metaphorically and physically.  I will offer my hand.  To him.  To her.  To you.  To the world.  I will be a good citizen, a good partner in the endeavor of life that we all share."

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"People and their rituals.  They cling to things so hard sometimes."

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"Those monkey-thumbs were meant for dogs! Give me my thumbs you f**cking monkeys!" (Scamp would have loved to have had thumbs)

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"We had a good run, and now it's over; what's wrong with that?"

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"You should shine with all of your light all of the time."  (Scamp let his little light shine all of the time)