National Dog Week a reminder  to appreciate our pets every day

Contributed Photo Daryn Kagan's adopted dog Darla Louise.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Contributed photo Daryn Kagan

ENLARGE PHOTO

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By Daryn Kagan 12:02 PM Sunday, September 18, 2011

“It’s National Dog Week!” the email in my inbox exclaimed. “A whole week dedicated to our canine companions!”

Who knew? This was certainly news to me, as around my house every week is National Dog Week.

The object of canine obsession is Darla Louise, an 11-year-old Lab “mix,” emphasis on “mix.” We adopted each other back in 2000 a few weeks after my house was broken into. Days later, the thieves came back to steal my car using my spare set of keys they nabbed in the first heist.

“Lady, get a gun or get a dog,” the cold-hearted cop advised. You can guess my choice, one of the best I’ve ever made.

DarlaDog is indeed protector, along with fuzzball and a great companion. She is far from perfect, yet she is one great teacher.

Just this week, she taught me it is not a good idea to eat dirty Kleenex out of multiple bathroom trashcans. She experimented with what she must’ve thought was a brilliant idea over at the home of my beau, Mr. SummerFest. She then proceeded to throw up not once, but twice, on his living room rug. Cleaning up the mess wasn’t as bad as you’d think. Calming down the beau was another story.

It seems to me that such teachable moments are all part of the grandest lesson of all from my dog — how to love.

If you, too, are a wacko dog lover like I am, I imagine you are nodding your head about now.

I know Hal Rose is nodding. He’s a widower down in Texas, who especially loves the inspiring organ transplant stories I frequently feature on my website, DarynKagan.com.

“My beloved wife and I got many more happy years than we would have because of her donated kidney,” he wrote me soon after I launched.

She had been gone a number of years, and his animals are what got him through.

When they passed on as well, his heart was shattered. I heard from Mr. Rose when my beloved three-legged cat Tripod died. I knew from his words that he understood my loss and grief.

And he cheered when he learned that another three-legged cat, Pisa, had made her way into my home and my heart.

“Good for you!” he wrote. “I’m not ready to get a new pet. I still need more time for tears and grieving.”

“You will be ready,” I assured him. “And when that right dog shows up, I want to be among the first to see pictures.” That was more than a year and a half ago.

Fast forward to this week. Yes, National Dog Week, when yet another email popped up.

“Meet BlackJack,” the smiles jumped off the page. Yes, it was from Mr. Rose fulfilling that promise, to send pictures of his new dog.

“He was ‘rescued’ once before but became an afterthought when a new baby was introduced into the mix. As a result, he is very leery of people. So job one is for us to bond and build trust. All he wants is love and attention. I’d say that’s a very reasonable demand.”

I smile at all the lessons taking place this National Dog Week in Texas. Two sweet souls — BlackJack and Mr. Rose — teaching each other it is indeed safe to love again. That’s something to celebrate indeed.

Daryn Kagan is the creator of DarynKagan.com, She is the author of “What’s Possible! 50 True Stories of People Who Dared To Dream They Could Make a Difference.”

Share your inspirational stories

How have you given back or been the recipient of the kindness of others? Daryn wants to hear your stories. Send your stories to Life@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Please include your name, hometown and a phone number where you can be reached. Please include “What’s Possible” in the subject line.

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