Gentlemen of the Jury: The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads.
The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog. A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer. He will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounters with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings, and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens.
If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.
George Graham Vest - c. 1855
What a beautiful dog.
It is truly amazing how cats and dogs can find their way to their owner or to their home in this manner.
Awkward writing. I had to read the story a couple of times. Still don't know WHEN this happened.
Awwwww,... he looks like my dog Zeus.
The article mentions that the Dolan family rescued Zander from the pound and nursed him back to health after starvation. Obvious that this loving dog adores his family.. brings tears to my eyes. Thanks Kartographer for a heart warming post.
Excerpted from a book:
They threw fresh hay for the horses, and took pitchforks to the task of cleaning out the stable. The large man did twice the work of Felix, throwing forks full with ease while humming. The stallion nudged his pockets in search of more carrots.
“The horses love you, sir,” Felix noted.
“Aye, well. We talk about things. We understand each other. The Eternal made all the beasts for man, but just the horse and the dog know it.”
Great story, but I a skeptical. I am very familiar with the area, and it seems unlikely that this really happened.
The idea that the dog “followed its owner’s scent”, seems absurd. Did the owner WALK 2 miles to the hospital? If the owner rode in a car, even the finest Bloodhound couldn’t track his scent, much less a Husky.
That said, if the dog rode in the car when the owner was originally taken to the hospital, I could believe that he might have remembered the route. It looks like only one turn is required to get from the house to the hospital and sense of direction is a strength of sled dogs.
A beautiful dog and wonderful companion! More pictures and a video on the website.
Aww. Good boy!
What a beautiful, good boy!
Great story! (Thanks, Joe!)
I didn’t know that Huskies could be all white (thinking Sam or Eskie in there, but no) Found this
http://www.huskycolors.com/rescue.html
(I like that they put the no off leash warning up there. That, I *did* know)
@Salamander- Truer words were never spoken. He Does!
@Above My Pay Grade Pups probably use instinct more than their noses. Just like they sense danger, or know when someone they love is coming home, or the dogs that sense seizures or illness. They are truly our greatest earthly Gift.
Dogs *know* stuff we never will.
“Loyalty, thy name is dog.”
-Emperor Palpatine