Roger Wharton (Courtesy Photo)

Roger Wharton (Courtesy Photo)

Living Growing: First friend

Dogs are very common special friends of people in Southeast Alaska.

  • By Roger Wharton
  • Thursday, January 12, 2023 11:36am
  • Neighbors

Rudyard Kipling wrote in “The Jungle Book,” “When the Man wakes up he said, ‘What is Wild Dog doing here?’ And the Woman said, ‘His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always.’”

“All knowledge, the totality of all questions and all answers is contained in the dog.” — Franz Kafka

Kurt Vonnegut in his short story “Tom Edison’s Shaggy Dog” implies that dogs are superior beings who found that endearing themselves to humans was the easiest way to survive.

Dogs are very common special friends of people in Southeast Alaska. Our canine friends keep us company at home, on the trail and in our boats, out hunting, and some work for us entertaining our children, keeping guard and even pulling sleds.

I share here a true-life account of one dog and what he taught his family by his death that I read but no longer can find the reference for.

A vet was called to the home of a family who had a very sick wolfhound named Belker, hoping for a miracle. Belker had cancer and the vet sadly informed them that there was nothing that could be done — no miracles.

Knowing how loved Belker was by the family, the vet offered to provide the euthanasia procedure in their home. The parents thought it would be a good idea for 6-year-old Shane to observe as they thought he might learn something from the experience.

The next day with his family surrounding him and Shane calming petting him, the old dog slipped away. The adults were wondering if Shane understood what was going on.

The little boy seems to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. Everyone was sitting around wondering about the sad fact that dog’s lives are shorter than humans. Shane, who had been listening piped up saying, “I know why.”

The adults there were surprised at what came out of the Shane’s mouth. He said “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life — like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right? Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay for as long as we do.”

Some of the secrets that dogs can teach us about being loving caring and compassionate people include:

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

Remember when a loved one comes home, always run to greet them.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk with a friend — two or four-legged.

Be faithful.

Never pretend to be something you’re not.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

If a dog were your teacher, you would also learn these general life lessons:

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly and be kind.

Take naps so you don’t get grumpy, and stretch before rising.

Run, romp and play daily.

When you are happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Importantly, take good care of your dog and spend lots of time playing fetch. (Many adults actually don’t “play” much except with their dog.)

Remember dog spelled backwards is God

“Dogs are our link to paradise.” – Milan Kundera

I hope that this essay brought a smile to your face on this dark winter day and that, if you have a dog friend, you spend some extra time with him/her telling them about and demonstrating your love for them.

• The Rev. Roger Wharton having served the Episcopal Churches in Juneau is currently a hospice chaplain and EcoChaplain in Silicon Valley. His website is www.ecospirit.org and emails are received at ecochaplain@icloud.com. “Living & Growing” is a weekly column written by different authors and submitted by local clergy and spiritual leaders. It appears every Friday on the Juneau Empire’s Faith page.

More in Neighbors

Laura Rorem
Living and Growing: ‘UBUNTU: I am because we are’

Ironic. As I received the 1998 Parent of the Year Award for… Continue reading

A crow is blinded in one eye with an infection of avian pox. (Photo by Kerry Howard)
On the Trails: Avian flu ailments

Among the many diseases that afflict wild birds, there is avian flu,… Continue reading

A change in season is marked by tree leaves turning color at Evergreen Cemetery in late September of 2019. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Gimme a Smile: P.S. Autumn is here.

Ready or not, here it comes. The days are getting shorter, new… Continue reading

A double rainbow appears in Juneau last Friday. (Photo by Ally Karpel)
Living and Growing: Embracing Tohu V’vohu — Creation Amidst Chaos

Over the course of the past year, during which I have served… Continue reading

Birch and aspen glow orange in September in the Chena River State Recreation Area east of Fairbanks. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Alaska Science Forum: The varying colors of fall equinox

We are at fall equinox, a day of great equality: All the… Continue reading

A male pink salmon attacks another male with a full-body bite, driving the victim to the bottom of the stream.(Photo by Bob Armstrong)
On the Trails: Eagle Beach strawberries and salmon

A walk at Eagle Beach Rec Area often yields something to think… Continue reading

Adam Bauer of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Bahá’ís of Juneau.
Living and Growing: Rúhíyyih Khánum, Hand of the Cause of God

Living in Juneau I would like to take a moment to acknowledge… Continue reading

A calm porcupine eating lunch and not displaying its quills. (Photo by Jos Bakker)
On the Trails: Prickly critters here and afar

Prickles, thorns, and spines of some sort are a common type of… Continue reading

The Rev. Karen Perkins.
Living and Growing: Coping with anger, shock and despair after a loss

The last several Living and Growing columns have included reflections about death,… Continue reading

Most Read