Daisy

Woke up this morning with a knot in my stomach.... our dog, Daisy, was missing.  We hadn't seen her since around 6:00 last night, and it's very unusual for her to miss a meal.  At around 9:00 when we noticed she was not home, I walked up and down the street (we live on a dead end) calling out to her, but nothing.  I put a posting on Facebook for people to pray for her safe return - and I'm not usually one to ask for prayer, but in this instance I felt it coudn't hurt.  So, this morning, after waking up I put on some comfortable clothes and headed out once more to look in the daylight.... walking up and down the street again, plus walking along the water's edge hoping against hope I would not find her there.  She's an old dog (15 years ), and I wasn't sure if maybe with age her sense of direction is not as good, so I even drove into the neighborhood behind us to see if she wandered into someone's yard.... but again, nothing.  Feeling hopeless, I came home and started making some calls to local animal shelters.  The house was so quiet - it was weird not hearing the clink of her collar when I came in.  Having done all I could at that point, I went upstairs to make breakfast and received a call from one of our neighbors who told me they think they found Daisy.  She was at a house down the street in the fenced in back yard.... hmmmm, how weird that I was tempted to look in that fence earlier because I heard a dog barking and it sounded a bit like Daisy.  I resisted because it was fenced in and I thought she wouldn't be in there....  if only I knew!  So, I walked down the street and there she was with the lovely people who found her.  I was so happy!  She's home now, asleep at my feet currently, and nothing sounds more happy than the clink of her collar when she moves around.
I love dogs, always have.  And even though I've only lived with Daisy for about a year, she's become a fixture in my life that I would sorely miss if she was gone.  Her time is close, I'm sure - being 15 years old, I am amazed she is in such great health for a dog her size - but for the remaining time we have her, I hope her days are happy and healthy.  She's a sweet soul, and she deserves the love and attention we can give her.  All dogs deserve that - they are companions to man and as such we should treat them with respect and affection.  If you have a dog in your life, go now and give them some attention....  you never know when they'll be taken from you, and you never know how much you'll miss them until they are gone.  Man's best friend is truly appreciated in our house - Daisy is home where she belongs with her family.