Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.**

A dog is the only thing that can mend a crack in your broken heart.
Judy Desmond

by Skip Cohen

​It's Sunday, and as usual, I'm far from writing about business and marketing. I usually start thinking about what I'm going to write about as I wake up. Lying in bed in the stillness of the morning, just as the sun is coming up, is when the gears of what's on my mind start turning. This morning, I was distracted by hearing Belle "singing" to Lucy from their bed on the other side of the house. It made me smile, and that's when I knew exactly what I wanted to share today.

I've always loved dogs, but when I had to let go of Molly, I never thought I'd let a fur ball back into my heart, let alone two pups. For months after losing her, I'd stop and stare at this picture Vanelli took of the two of us four months before she died. And then, one day, Sheila suggested it was time to bring a dog back into the family - but she wanted two pups.

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Lucy and Belle joined the family in November of 2019. Four months later, we were all hunkered down with the pandemic. Those first few months were the toughest, as I wondered whatever gave us the idea that we could handle the stress and energy it took for puppies at our age. LOL

In July, Lucy and Belle will both turn five. They were born three days apart and have been together 24/7 since they were four months old. They make us laugh every day, and as so many of you understand, they're part of the family just as much as we are!

Last weekend, we were at friends' for the day, and the girls were invited to join us. They hung out by the pool with us, and if they could talk, they would probably have participated in the conversation. At one point, I started clowning around with Lucy, trying to picture getting her ears cropped so she could think she was a Doberman! One click of the shutter and the moment was captured forever.

Here's my point this Sunday morning - Sometime in life's journey, we became a dog family, which is much more intense than just having a dog. The pups have traveled with us, and when they're not along, we can't wait to get home to their wagging tails. They know when we're stressed, frustrated, or simply not feeling good. They're non-stop snugglers and no matter what the weather is outside - the sun is always shining with Lucy and Belle.

Wishing you a day ahead filled with the same unconditional love that dogs bring to our lives. Andy Rooney once said, "The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." Make a few great memories with your pup today, and sure, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs I always write about with a fur ball. I guarantee you won't get away with eleven seconds once you start.

Happy Sunday...or Monday if you're on the other side of the world.
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**Roger Caras from Goodreads.com

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“Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.”
John Grogan