Over the years our annual newsletter has included a feature with this title. In it, we've shared passages and quotes that we've run across which capture the flavor of sharing our lives with pets. Some of our favorites are included below.  If you have other favorites you've run across that have moved you or tickled you which you would like us to consider for inclusion here, please let us know.

ANDREW WEIL, author of Natural Health, Natural Medicine

"I have two female dogs, Rhodesian ridgebacks, mother and daughter. They are part of my life, and I cannot imagine being away from them for long. They often make me laugh, sometimes make me furious, and always take me out of myself. My connection to them is a special bond, difficult to express in words. On occasion, when I am feeling blue or overwhelmed by problems, I have a session of dog psychotherapy, which I recommend highly. I ask my older dog to sit down facing me while I talk out my feelings and troubles. She listens intently and is only slightly less interactive than the Freudian psychoanalyst I went to many years ago. She costs much less (one biscuit per session) and gives me unconditional love even when I reveal the most awful thoughts and deeds. This is true friendship and support. After just fifteen minutes of dog psychotherapy, even the worst problems seem not as bad. Loving and caring for a pet is a good practice."

 THINGS WE CAN LEARN FROM A DOG

• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joy ride.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
• When a loved one comes home, always run to greet them.
• When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.
• Let others know when they've invaded your territory.
• Take naps and stretch before rising.
• Eat with gusto and enthusiasm.
• Be loyal.
•  Never pretend to be something you're not. If what you want lies buried, dig for it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
• Thrive on attention and let people hug you.
• Avoid biting when a growl will do.
• On hot days, drink a lot of water and lay under a shady tree.
• When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
• No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout-run right back and make friends.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

WHAT FAMOUS AUTHORS SAY

Edward Hoagland: "In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi-human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog."
Dave Barry: "You can say a foolish things to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'My God, you're right! I never would of thought of that'."
Milan Kuundera: "Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil or jealousy or discontent. To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring-it was peace."
Gilda Radner: "I think dogs are the most amazing creatures. For me they are the role model for being alive."

20 REASONS TO WORK IN AN ANIMAL HOSPITAL

1. The look in a wise old dog's eyes
2.  Warm, wet fragrant puppy kisses
3.  Rescue dogs and the people who save them
4.  School children's awe at our profession
5.  Seeing the "aha" look in clients' eyes when we explain a complicated medical concept well
6.  Being confident enough to cry with the owners when their pets die
7.  Tears of thanks and tears of joy
8.  Catching one of the nurses cuddling a patient that wouldn't be alive without her
9.  Having a widower tell us, "since the Mrs. died, it's just been me and Shep.. He's my best friend."
10.  The grateful early morning eyes of a near-dead dog who was hit by a car the night before
11.  Knowing that for every cranky client we see, there are ten who think we're wonderful
12.  Eighty-five year old practitioners, eager to please
13.  Having a pet get well against all odds despite our gloomy prediction
14.  Cat paws stretching out the cage door
15.  Hearing the thud of a tail wagging in the kennel
16.  The soft eyes of an animal in need and the thankful eyes when we fulfill that need
17.  Dogs sleeping on their backs with legs in the air
18.  Eating a dog biscuit just to see the expression on watching children's faces
19.  Second and third generation clients
20.  Reuniting a pet with their grateful owner