To the editor:
“The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog.” This is a small excerpt from former Sen. George Graham Vest of Missouri, delivered in 1870 when he was acting as a lawyer in a suit against a man who had killed his client’s dog. After he finished his speech, the jury was in tears. He won the case.
Recently, we have heard the very sad news of how Kristi Noem, United States secretary of Homeland Security, shot her dog Cricket in the face and killed him. He was 14 months old. Being a dog lover, I cannot wrap my mind around this tragic story. A dog is a direct reflection of its owner. A dog is part of the family, so how could anyone murder in cold blood a family member?
Some may argue it’s only a pet, but a dog is far more than a pet. Everything and every creature came from God. In a true sense, a dog is an ambassador from heaven sent to Earth to teach us how to love. The only ones who do not need this instruction are the saints.
To me, this is far worse than the barbarians who raise dogs to eat. A dog depends on a human to do what it cannot do for itself. Cesar Milan, “The Dog Whisperer” of National Geographic fame, has a program called “Better Dog Better Human.” Cesar also tells us that the spirit of a dog never dies and is always with us, as we are always with them.
I point this out in my e-books about dogs, starting with my first novel, “In Memory of Otto” (my wonderful German shepherd), which is on Amazon’s book list for Kindle and computer.
My main point is that if we forget about God, then we can forget about being civilized. Kristi Noem should do some soul-searching so she can realize what she has done.
I end all my correspondence to my significant other with these words: “Love, Richard, with Bengie and Otto in heaven and with us too.” Bengie is Gretchen’s Bichon Maltese baby boy.
May our dogs always show us the way to love and heaven.
Richard D’Orlando
Dog owner, lover and writer
Maolis Road
Nahant
