Yesterday, when I was talking with our panel vet over the needs of our five dogs (now boarding at his clinic), he told me how to prioritise and do our best for these dogs (or, any dogs for that matter).
I would like to share this with you.
Our vet said that the most important things for a dog are
1. HOME
2. FOOD
The rest are secondary.
“If you can find a home that provides food for the dog, send the dog there. The rest are not important.” – that’s what he told me.
Vaccinations are not “so important”, though it is good to have them done. Neutering is OUR social duty (so that the dog will not breed further). Worm treatment is also partly a social duty because diseases like heartworm can spread.
Whatever it is, a home and good food are the most essential requirements for a dog (or cat, I suppose, though some cats are happier being feral).
So the vet said that if I can find a home for Jackie (who is blind), let’s just send her there. The rest can come later.
Home sweet home….
Food, glorious food….
And if I may add, lots and lots of love, too.
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Love is a skill, a precious skill that can be learned. There are many other skills that are useful, even necessary, but in the end, nothing less than learning to love will satisfy us.
The saints and mystics of all religions tell us that life has only one overriding purpose: to discover the source of infinite love and then to express this love in daily living. Without love, life is empty; without love, life is meaningless. The only purpose which can satisfy us completely, fulfill all our desires, and then make our life a gift to the whole world, is the gradual realization of the divine Self within, which throws open the gates of love. We cannot dream what depth and breadth of love we are capable of until we make the discovery that this divine spark lives in every creature.