I am thankful for Gilbert. He was a long suffering dog today. We didn't get time for a walk this morning but he sat under my desk all through the morning's busy clinic with only a brief break to pee. Then we had to go to a lunch meeting where he was friendly with everyone. He was a real asset to the meeting visiting with his favourite friends and leaning up against my leg affectionately when he wasn't getting pets from those around us. Lots of smiles came his way. Then he peed on posts on the way back to the car only to have to get into the next office where he was ensconced until 7:30 pm. Everyone was so busy there was little time for him though he went about his job of greeter unperturbed by the long hours and stressful day. At night we drove to the open dog park where a couple of under socialized big dogs growled and barked and chased him with nasty intent. With his lightning speed and incredible agility he outpaced the murderous dog whose owner later said she had an 'electric leash' to keep him in line. Gilbert, being a good sport came back to play only to have the low brow insecure dog again make a lunge at him. We left and met a marvellous springer called Molly. Sweetest little dog you could ever imagine. Returning Gilbert played with another great big 8 year old dog. His very pleasant owner said the fellow was 120 lbs and liked to stretch out in bed, pushing the humans off. I said Gilbert just lies down on my head and in the morning is a wet alarm clock. We laughed at our dogs, big and little playing together. Good fun. Back in the car I came home and Gilbert was just a great dog today. It was 9 when we got to dinner and that's more common than not but Gilbert braved the day and was a perfect little companion. I felt sorry for that girl whose dogs need an 'electric collar' . She probably shouldn't have them off leash but at least she has taken precautions. However if Gilbert wasn't so smart and fast he might have been chomped. So I really am all round grateful for Gilbert today. He's a really great little dog and I am truly thankful for him in my life. Thank you Lord for Gilbert!
Showing posts with label Pet Therapists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pet Therapists. Show all posts
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Gratitude for Gilbert
I am thankful for Gilbert. He was a long suffering dog today. We didn't get time for a walk this morning but he sat under my desk all through the morning's busy clinic with only a brief break to pee. Then we had to go to a lunch meeting where he was friendly with everyone. He was a real asset to the meeting visiting with his favourite friends and leaning up against my leg affectionately when he wasn't getting pets from those around us. Lots of smiles came his way. Then he peed on posts on the way back to the car only to have to get into the next office where he was ensconced until 7:30 pm. Everyone was so busy there was little time for him though he went about his job of greeter unperturbed by the long hours and stressful day. At night we drove to the open dog park where a couple of under socialized big dogs growled and barked and chased him with nasty intent. With his lightning speed and incredible agility he outpaced the murderous dog whose owner later said she had an 'electric leash' to keep him in line. Gilbert, being a good sport came back to play only to have the low brow insecure dog again make a lunge at him. We left and met a marvellous springer called Molly. Sweetest little dog you could ever imagine. Returning Gilbert played with another great big 8 year old dog. His very pleasant owner said the fellow was 120 lbs and liked to stretch out in bed, pushing the humans off. I said Gilbert just lies down on my head and in the morning is a wet alarm clock. We laughed at our dogs, big and little playing together. Good fun. Back in the car I came home and Gilbert was just a great dog today. It was 9 when we got to dinner and that's more common than not but Gilbert braved the day and was a perfect little companion. I felt sorry for that girl whose dogs need an 'electric collar' . She probably shouldn't have them off leash but at least she has taken precautions. However if Gilbert wasn't so smart and fast he might have been chomped. So I really am all round grateful for Gilbert today. He's a really great little dog and I am truly thankful for him in my life. Thank you Lord for Gilbert!
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Dogs and Hinduism
I know my Hindu and Sik friends love dogs. What I didn't know was that
"dogs have a major religious significance" Dogs are a part of the 5 days Tihar Festival that falls usually in November. In Hinduism it is believed that dogs guard the doors of Heaven and Hell.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
"dogs have a major religious significance" Dogs are a part of the 5 days Tihar Festival that falls usually in November. In Hinduism it is believed that dogs guard the doors of Heaven and Hell.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Dogs and Muslim
"The "Qur'an strongly enjoins Muslims to treat animals with compassion and not to abuse them" - Wikipedia
"The Qur'an applies the word "Muslim" not only to humans but also to animals and the inanimate world".
"In verse 6:38, the Qur'an applies the term ummah, generally used to mean "a human religious community", for genera of animals."
"There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end." Qur'an 6:38
However that said, "The majority of both Sunni and Shi'a Muslim jurists consider dogs to be ritually unclean. It is uncommon for practicing Muslims to have dogs as pets. " Wikipedia
However, "dog is not an unclean animal based on the inclusion of a dog among the seven Sleeprs as recorded in the 18th verse of the 18th chapter of the Qur'an."
Myths (as stated by Dr. Ayoub M. Banderker
"It is not haraam to own a dog, though it is not hygienic to keep a dog in the house."
"It is not harram to touch a dog or any other animal."
However, If the saliva of a dog touches you it is necessary to wash the part of the body touched or the clothing touched by the dog's saliva.
"No Animal has been cursed in any way... In Surah Kahf mention is made of the companions of the Cave and their dog (S18:18:22)
-Dr. AyouB. M. Banderker (Veterinary Surgeon) writing on Animal Abuse and Welfare in Islam
Dogs and Islam: The Devil and the Seeing-Eye Dog
Stanley Coren PHD FRSC
- quoting a University Muslim expert "Muslim beliefs about dogs are sometimes confusing and contradictory. The majority of both Sunni and Shi'a Muslim Jurists consider dogs to be ritually unclean but these beliefs are not unanimous. The jurists of the Sunni Malik Schoo disagree with the idea that dogs are unclean, and those of the Sunni Hanafi School are ambiguous, allowing trade and care of dogs without religions consequences. However all these opinions are based, not on the Koran itself, but on the Hadith, which are commentaires, analyses, and interpretations of the Koran. It is these Hadith that suggest that to be touched by a dog is to be defiled and requires an act of purification.....If we look directly at the Koran it turns out that dogs are mentioned five times and are never described as being unclean. In fact the longest group of passages including a dog is quite positive and it relates to the story of the Seven Sleepers.....According to Moslem tradition, the dog Kitmir was admitted to paradise upon his death."
"Certainly an unclean animal would not be admitted to paradise," the professor commented. "
Mohammed ordered "kill all dogs' however "On reflection, however, he mitigated his decree, for two major reasons...The first was religiousL canines constituted a race of Allah's creatures....the second, more prgamatic was that some categoris of dogs, particularly guard dogs, hunting dogs and shepherd dogs, were useful to humans and hence had earned their right to exist.
"Some legends say the prophet himself actually owned one or more salukis that he used for hunting....In fact one passage in the Koran quite specifically says that any prey that is caught by dogs during a hunt can be eaten. No purification other than the mention of Allah's name is required of it."
Mohammed apparently accepted dogs therefore but not 'black dogs because the believed that the Devil often appears masquerading as a black dog."
Politically there is further the Middle East conflict between ancient Zoroastrianism religion which stood in the way of new islam and the Zoroastrians revered the dog. Historically it is common that 'gods of the old religion are converted into the devils of the new religion."
I was interested in this as none of my Muslim patients has objected to my pet therapist, Gilbert. He's also an amazing hunting dog and a guard dog in addition so I'm sure that Mohammed would not want him dead especially if he saw how he caused an old withdrawn man who was suicidal come out of himself, give up his suicidal ideation and return successfully to community. Even as important if anyone saw Gilbert flush and find partridge they'd see his heavenly destination guaranteed. All we have to do is get him to bring the birds back rather than just leading me to them. But he's a young dog and even then his bark is ferocious when he wakes me from sleep because of some stranger coming innappropriately near whereever his master and he are sleeping.
I'm afraid we're both cave dwellers in a sense so he is an 'indoor dog' and no doubt he'd benefit from more grooming. He doesn't shed and personally I do believe his lack of hygiene is no worse than children. I also believe that the whole 'sterile movement' is cause for the decrease in the immunologically protection of so many. Our forefathers immunologically were a tougher group partly because of their exposure to 'dirt'. Thanks to Gilbert there is some 'dirt' in my life no different from that brought in the soles of shoes. Our butts are affected too by sitting on floors and for me by the activities of prayer, meditation and roughhousing. Gilbert is a happy part of all my activities.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
"The Qur'an applies the word "Muslim" not only to humans but also to animals and the inanimate world".
"In verse 6:38, the Qur'an applies the term ummah, generally used to mean "a human religious community", for genera of animals."
"There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end." Qur'an 6:38
However that said, "The majority of both Sunni and Shi'a Muslim jurists consider dogs to be ritually unclean. It is uncommon for practicing Muslims to have dogs as pets. " Wikipedia
However, "dog is not an unclean animal based on the inclusion of a dog among the seven Sleeprs as recorded in the 18th verse of the 18th chapter of the Qur'an."
Myths (as stated by Dr. Ayoub M. Banderker
"It is not haraam to own a dog, though it is not hygienic to keep a dog in the house."
"It is not harram to touch a dog or any other animal."
However, If the saliva of a dog touches you it is necessary to wash the part of the body touched or the clothing touched by the dog's saliva.
"No Animal has been cursed in any way... In Surah Kahf mention is made of the companions of the Cave and their dog (S18:18:22)
-Dr. AyouB. M. Banderker (Veterinary Surgeon) writing on Animal Abuse and Welfare in Islam
Dogs and Islam: The Devil and the Seeing-Eye Dog
Stanley Coren PHD FRSC
- quoting a University Muslim expert "Muslim beliefs about dogs are sometimes confusing and contradictory. The majority of both Sunni and Shi'a Muslim Jurists consider dogs to be ritually unclean but these beliefs are not unanimous. The jurists of the Sunni Malik Schoo disagree with the idea that dogs are unclean, and those of the Sunni Hanafi School are ambiguous, allowing trade and care of dogs without religions consequences. However all these opinions are based, not on the Koran itself, but on the Hadith, which are commentaires, analyses, and interpretations of the Koran. It is these Hadith that suggest that to be touched by a dog is to be defiled and requires an act of purification.....If we look directly at the Koran it turns out that dogs are mentioned five times and are never described as being unclean. In fact the longest group of passages including a dog is quite positive and it relates to the story of the Seven Sleepers.....According to Moslem tradition, the dog Kitmir was admitted to paradise upon his death."
"Certainly an unclean animal would not be admitted to paradise," the professor commented. "
Mohammed ordered "kill all dogs' however "On reflection, however, he mitigated his decree, for two major reasons...The first was religiousL canines constituted a race of Allah's creatures....the second, more prgamatic was that some categoris of dogs, particularly guard dogs, hunting dogs and shepherd dogs, were useful to humans and hence had earned their right to exist.
"Some legends say the prophet himself actually owned one or more salukis that he used for hunting....In fact one passage in the Koran quite specifically says that any prey that is caught by dogs during a hunt can be eaten. No purification other than the mention of Allah's name is required of it."
Mohammed apparently accepted dogs therefore but not 'black dogs because the believed that the Devil often appears masquerading as a black dog."
Politically there is further the Middle East conflict between ancient Zoroastrianism religion which stood in the way of new islam and the Zoroastrians revered the dog. Historically it is common that 'gods of the old religion are converted into the devils of the new religion."
I was interested in this as none of my Muslim patients has objected to my pet therapist, Gilbert. He's also an amazing hunting dog and a guard dog in addition so I'm sure that Mohammed would not want him dead especially if he saw how he caused an old withdrawn man who was suicidal come out of himself, give up his suicidal ideation and return successfully to community. Even as important if anyone saw Gilbert flush and find partridge they'd see his heavenly destination guaranteed. All we have to do is get him to bring the birds back rather than just leading me to them. But he's a young dog and even then his bark is ferocious when he wakes me from sleep because of some stranger coming innappropriately near whereever his master and he are sleeping.
I'm afraid we're both cave dwellers in a sense so he is an 'indoor dog' and no doubt he'd benefit from more grooming. He doesn't shed and personally I do believe his lack of hygiene is no worse than children. I also believe that the whole 'sterile movement' is cause for the decrease in the immunologically protection of so many. Our forefathers immunologically were a tougher group partly because of their exposure to 'dirt'. Thanks to Gilbert there is some 'dirt' in my life no different from that brought in the soles of shoes. Our butts are affected too by sitting on floors and for me by the activities of prayer, meditation and roughhousing. Gilbert is a happy part of all my activities.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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