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<p class=MsoNormal>In reply to your post. We all know that our hounds are
dogs but they are not “<b>just</b> <b>a dog</b>”. That ended
when we took them into not only our homes but our hearts. Dogs are our
companions, friends, sometime confidant and we have <b>knowingly</b> made
them <b>part of our family</b>-it is our choice to do so. You say the dog
will not rule you or your home and I agree to that statement just as my
children did not rule me or my home. There were rules for hounds and sons
alike but they were <b>not just dogs</b> anymore than my sons <b>were just
children</b>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>I have been in rescue for most of my adult life starting
with my first rescue at age 21 and now 39 yrs later I am still rescuing and
along with rescuing I try to educate the people from whom we have to
rescue hounds. Educating because someone could beat him/her because
they were “<b>just a dog</b>”, that someone could relinquish a dog
to be tied to a 3-5ft chain and never petted and had food tossed at them
because after all they were “<b>just a dog</b>”. That the
dog never got clean water because after all they were “<b>just a dog</b>”.
That the dog was kicked if it were in the way because it was ”<b>just
a dog”.</b> When you see some of the dogs that never heal because
of the damage physically, mentally and emotionally that has been done to
these wonderful hounds because after all they are “<b>just a</b> <b>dog”</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>When someone knowingly moves and leaves the dog in a
vacant house with no food or water because after all it is <b>“just a dog”.</b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Then, there is the other side when you pick up an unwanted,
abused, or mistreated dog and lift him gently into the car because he is too
weak to get in the car himself and too frightened of you because you are “human”
like his past master, when you look in his eyes and he realizes that <b><i><u>NO</u></i></b>
you are not like his last master that there is too much kindness in you to be
like the last master , when you see that small wag of the tail that says “thank
you for helping me and realizing that I am not “<b>just a dog</b>”
but a being that can be taken into your heart and your family. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>When you realize that he/she is <b>Not “just a dog</b>”
can you truly bond with your dog and the dog with you. I wish you the
best of luck with your hound and hope that you will come to understand that
when you have a living breathing creature that depends on you for food,
shelter, water and most of all love that the dog can never be Just a Dog.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Shirley Mueller<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Momperson to Sally Belle and Harrison<span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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