What do you think? Can a dog “change your life?”

I can honestly say I do not need to surf the web to answer this question. I don’t need to do research or check resources.In fact when I asked the question I was really making a rhetorical statement. For me, the answer is a resounding “yes.” I am comfortable basing my answer purely on what I witnessed not too long ago in my own home…

EXHIBIT A

Allow me to introduce you to the man who told me he wasn’t sure about getting a dog…

Don’t know why these two decided to nap in my office

MY OPENING STATEMENT

DH (doodle husband) has a dear, dear furrend from “back in the day.” Oh, these two hung out in college, pledged the same fraternity, even dated and married their college sweethearts.

Once DH retired from the military, they picked up where they left off and the two became extremely active in social, civic and community causes. Their personalities blend well together because they are so much alike – 90% business 10% fun (or so I thought)…

Two extraordinary men!

What I saw the other day both validated todays subject and rendered me speechless.

TESTIMONY

It was the middle of a beautiful late summer / early fall afternoon, DH was out back tending to his garden (my translation: pulling weeds) while I was upstairs in my office when The Boys started barking. It was that friendly “someone’s here and I know who it is” kind of bark. When I opened the door, I was shocked!

EXHIBIT B

I tried not to stare but I couldn’t help it. Harvey was at my house to see DH and he brought Carter to visit the Boys, hmmm – interesting…

Carter comes for a visit

They all went around back as I almost killed myself tripping UP the stairs to grab my camera. “This (I said to myself) has blog material all over it.”

Whatever they were discussing, they were serious about it. So serious, No one knew I was standing above them on the deck and Harvey didn’t realize poor Carter was still on the leash…

“Let me go please”

I dared not say anything, I was spying…

Perhaps Harley is going to go tell them to let Carter go

At one point both Harley and Carter caught a glimpse of me, and I just knew I was busted…

Uh-Oh, they see me on the deck

But Harley was more interested in his campaign to “free Carter”…

Once he was out of bondage, Carter was ready to join Harley & Leo for a little backyard ball romp…

Finally Carter is on his own

Did someone say “ball?” Leo asks as he appears out of nowhere…

Leo shows up just when the fun’s about to start

As if the Olympic Torch had been lit, you would have thought someone yelled “Let the games begin”…

Everyone’s in full stride

Carter preferred the little orange ball…

So his “Poppa Harvey” joined in on the fun…

Who’s having more fun – Carter or his Poppa Harvey?

Carter showed us his “home training” patiently waiting for the ball…

Wish Harley would wait like that

I laughed silently at these two men toss balls, rub dog bellies, discuss puppy woes and tell man’s best furrend tales. After a while I crept back into the house and left the five of them out there playing. They had been oblivious to my presence anyway.

SUMMATION

The way I figure it, if a dog can change the lifestyles of these two men then the rest of mankind don’t stand a chance.

I would imagine Carter slept well that evening, because at my house, Harley was out for the count. He laid like this the rest of the afternoon…

Private parts blurred out so he can retain some dignity

As always, thanks so much for reading, and I pawmise to keep writing…