This week I want to tell you about a walk during which I met an older gentleman. He approached from the opposite direction along a wooded trail with a walking stick in one hand and a Staffordshire terrier on a leash in the other. I knew Sitka would get excited, so hoping to avoid an incident where my dog might cause the dog to pull him over, I stepped off the trail and put Sitka in a sit.
Instead of walking past, he stopped to chat. His dog was polite, calm, and well trained as mine—quite the opposite—was doing helicopter loops around me. During our exchange, he told me about his dog and how fond he was of the breed. His previous dog was a Staffordshire as well, which he described as looking exactly like Petey on the old Our Gang comedy show, also named Petey. (You very young people will have to look it up.) Before parting, he told me to look for a bench up the path that is dedicated to his beloved dog.
Dedication to Petey
I did find the bench. It overlooks a particularly bucolic view of the reservoir at Piney Run Park. The area held a quiet reverence for nature and was a fitting spot to honor a much-loved pet. And it got me thinking.
How great a love people have for their dogs and other pets. How profound the grief can be when they pass (much too soon with their short lives). I went online and looked up monuments dedicated to dogs and found a wide range: from war hero dogs to movie stars. The most touching tributes for me, however, were the ones to a pet who was simply faithful in love and companionship.
Some of the stories are truly sentimental tear-jerkers. There is the Hachiko statue in Japan honoring an Akita who went to the train station for 10 years, waiting for the return of his owner after a sudden death. Likewise, Greyfriars Bobby in Scotland is a bronze statue commemorating a Skye Terrier who faithfully guarded his owner’s grave for 14 years. And Brownie—a dog without one owner but loved and remembered by an entire town.
Then there are the dogs who dedicated their lives to service. The list is long: Balto, Togo, Laika, and Kabang to name just a few. There is an entire Wikipedia page collating information on dog monuments. Check out their stories.
In closing, I’d say the love connection between human and dog is real. Not a slavish devotion, not master dominance, but one of mutual respect and genuine affection. Anyone who is feeling their life lacks meaning, I recommend getting a dog. Even better, adopt a rescue dog. In return, you’ll have a thousand rewards for getting up every single day.
Did you have a special dog that is remembered in a unique way? Have you created a special monument or marker or place of remembrance for the pet? Please share in the comments.
Here are a few links about famous dog monuments with their stories, pictures, and where to find them:
https://www.bringfido.com/blog/international-monuments-celebrating-our-love-for-dogs/