During the course of someone’s career in the ministry, many interesting and unforgettable stories are experienced. Peter and his family would never have imagined that one of their most memorable stories centered on their dog, Rufus.
It was a very hectic time for Peter’s family as they planned to move to a new city. The preparations seemed endless. The house was filled with boxes from one end to the other; everything was labeled to make it easy to find a household item quickly. “Have you seen the toothpaste?” “I left it in the bathroom; I won’t pack it until the morning just before we leave.” “It is all gone.” “We used it up? Well, there should be another tube in the box with the household goods. You’ll find it somewhere in the front room.” “All the front room packages are already packed on the truck!”
Some people describe moving as exciting; some people look forward to the new challenges and opportunities they will have; Peter’s family described the moving process as “utter chaos”. As they prepared for their move, my friends’ normal routine didn’t exist. Human beings seem to adapt well in chaotic times, but for dogs it isn’t so easy.
Preparations for the move began a month earlier; they wanted to make the final days in their “old” home as carefree as possible. For their dog, Rufus, the move was disturbing. Dogs have an innate sense about moving that we cannot imagine. For more than a month, Rufus was not his usual-canine-self. He could tell that something was up. He became very anxious every time that the family left home without him. He wanted to go with them everywhere. He did not want to be left alone. A few weeks earlier, Rufus was left in a kennel for a couple of days when the family was out of town. He was especially jittery after that experience; he had never acted that way when kenneled before.
Moving day finally came. Peter had everything packed; the movers just left. Peter was driving an additional rental truck and his family was driving two cars filled to the brim with electronics and clothes. Rufus could not sit still. He was pacing from one end of the house to the other; he would go from one family member to the next as if to say: “Don’t forget to take me along!” “Don’t worry, Rufus, we have a seat in the car just for you!”
Rufus was of mixed breed--a handsome, short-haired-dog--with shades of brown, tan and black. He was a friendly dog to neighbors and strangers alike. He wasn’t always so congenial. The folks at the animal shelter said that he was abused as a young pup. He wasn’t very trusting of people. Peter’s family picked him up when he was three months old. He instantly clung to Peter’s oldest boy. He laid his head on Michael’s lap all the way home in the car. He didn’t let Michael out of his sight at all that first day and slept in his bedroom at night. He found his first real friend. As time had elapsed he settled down and learned to trust everyone in the family—as well as their friends.
Rufus was now 8 years old. He weighed 75 pounds and measured about 34 inches high, from paws to head. There was quite a change in his size, confidence and demeanor since that first day at the shelter. These facts made his anxiety all-the-more noticeable during the month of the move. Now everyone was concerned about how Rufus would adapt to his new house and surroundings.
Peter and his family would be living in the church’s parsonage. As with many traditional churches, a parsonage was provided for the pastor’s family. This was done for the convenience of both the congregation and the pastor. There was something unusual about this particular parsonage, however. Not only was the parsonage located right on the church property, but it was also connected to the church itself. The parsonage was deceptive in size because it merely looked like an extension of the church. A door from the house separated the family from the pastor’s office in the church. One door from the pastor’s office opened out into the sanctuary where the parishioners sat in the pews; another opened into the altar area in the front of the church from where the pastor conducted the services.
For the first week in their new house, Peter’s family unpacked box after box and set up the furnishings in their new home; wherever they went, Rufus lay down right there beside them. Everything was fine as long as a family member was present. Rufus was acclimating quickly to the new surroundings, but he insisted on going along for a ride anytime the family went out on an errand. He wouldn’t let them out of his sight. They were anxious to get settled, because on Sunday Peter would be installed in a special evening worship service. This is when Peter would officially take over his duties for his new congregation.
The day for the installation finally came. Most of the preparations for the service were handled by the parishioners. Another pastor in the area conducted the service. Peter’s primary responsibility was to be on time at the service. That was certainly not a problem as Peter walked through the door of the house and into the church office. His family walked around to the main entrance and entered the church with the rest of the parishioners. As the service began, Peter was positioned to sit in a chair up front, facing the front altar area with his back to the congregation. From there he listened as the installing pastor preached an eloquent sermon, reminding Peter of his duties to the congregation and their duties to Peter and his family. Suddenly in the middle of the sermon, there appeared an unexpected guest. He showed up peeking out from the church office and entering the altar area in the front of church. He peered at the congregation in wonderment of all the festivities. Rufus had decided to go to church, too!
After all, the church was packed with parishioners, singing hymns and engaged in worship. Rufus wondered where everyone had gone and what all the commotion was about. He could easily hear the worship music from the parsonage. He did not want to be left alone! He simply had to investigate! As everyone in the family became preoccupied with the start of the service, no one gave a second thought as to how Rufus was doing. After all, he was only next door. Rufus would be fine!
When Peter saw Rufus, thoughts of panic quickly set in. What would Rufus do next? Would he start to bark? Would he start exploring the church, greeting the parishioners as he went along? Peter calmly got up from his seat, went over to Rufus and guided him back into the house--making sure that the door was shut tight behind him. He then walked back to his chair for the remainder of the service, his formal installation and the festivities that followed. Needless to say, Rufus was the hot topic of conversation all evening!
Almost every dog owner can remember a funny story about their pet. Very few would have a story like the one about Rufus, The Dog Who Went To Church!
By Dale Klessig
Friday, June 27, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
The Top Reasons To Get A Dog Instead Of A Man
- Dogs don't feel threatened by your intelligence.
- Dogs are already in touch with their inner puppies.
- Dogs are very direct about wanting to go out.
- Dogs think you are a culinary genius.
- You can house train a dog.
- Dogs feel guilt when they've done something wrong.
- Middle-aged dogs don't feel the need to abandon you for a younger owner.
- Dogs mean it when they kiss you.
- Dogs don't care whether or not you shave your legs.
- Dogs obsess about you as much as you obsess about them.
The Top Ten Reasons To Get A Dog Instead Of A Woman
10. A dog's parents will never visit you.
9. A dog loves you when you leave your clothes on the floor.
8. A dog limits its time in the bathroom to a quick drink.
7. A dog never expects you to telephone.
6. A dog will not get mad at you if you forget its birthday.
5. A dog does not care about the previous dogs in your life.
4. A dog does not get mad at you if you pet another dog.
3. A dog never expects flowers on Valentine's Day.
2. The later you are, the happier a dog is to see you.
1. A dog does not shop.
9. A dog loves you when you leave your clothes on the floor.
8. A dog limits its time in the bathroom to a quick drink.
7. A dog never expects you to telephone.
6. A dog will not get mad at you if you forget its birthday.
5. A dog does not care about the previous dogs in your life.
4. A dog does not get mad at you if you pet another dog.
3. A dog never expects flowers on Valentine's Day.
2. The later you are, the happier a dog is to see you.
1. A dog does not shop.
Monday, June 9, 2008
What Should We Name Our New Dog?
People have strong opinions about what names are appropriate for dogs. The variety of opinions about dog names can create quite a discussion; This is what happened in our family as we tried to pick a dog name prior to getting a new puppy. Should we pick a traditional dog name like Boots or Sheba? Maybe we should opt for a human name like Harvey or Jenny.
The “traditional” camp claims that a dog is not a human being and should never be given a human name. The question then arises: After what should our dog be named? I thought we could name our dog after some piece of food. After all, eating would be one of our dog’s primary functions. Biscuit didn’t seem like a bad name. Strawberry was another suggestion. Or we could combine those thoughts and name our dog, Shortcake. Since we are considering a larger dog, that idea was abandoned.
The "human" supporters will argue that the dog is “one of the family” and should be given a name like any other family member. It is true that we often treat our pets just like human beings--sometimes maybe even better. However, while names like Maynard and Merlin are used for dogs, I have a hard time imagining that we would still give one of those names to a human being!
I suppose we could say that "human" dog names have a certain flare about them. If we are inclined towards historical figures, we might name our dog Caesar or Napoleon. We might want to consider, however, if the name is a reflection of our dog's personality. Maybe Napoleon would be fitting for a miniature dog breed, but then the historical Napoleon might not have the kind of personality we are looking for in a family dog.
If we are patriotic, we might find dogs named after American presidents to our liking. We could name our dog Lincoln or Jefferson. (This assumes a high intelligence or moral character in our dog. Yeah, right!) How do the names Nixon and Hoover sound? We will want to be careful that we do not pick a name that is confusing to our family members. If mom says, "Take Hoover outside," we might have the only child in the city walking the vacuum cleaner.
The same problem might exist if we give our dog a very common human name, like Mike, for example. Some people might confuse Mike with one of our children. Or the neighbor's kid--also named Mike-- may never want to come over to our house if "mom" is always telling Mike to stop whining and behave. Then there is the hassle of getting junk mail and credit card applications in Mike’s name. Hmm– I wonder what his credit score would be!
Finally, after all the discussions and agonizing, I thought we finally had a solution. Our daughter suggested that we name the new puppy after a cartoon character, like Snoopy or Goofy. “No,” my wife said, “those are your father’s nicknames.”
"At last!" I suggested, "We could get two dogs and name them "Harry" and "Potter". Oops, I just opened up another can of worms!
By Dale Klessig
The “traditional” camp claims that a dog is not a human being and should never be given a human name. The question then arises: After what should our dog be named? I thought we could name our dog after some piece of food. After all, eating would be one of our dog’s primary functions. Biscuit didn’t seem like a bad name. Strawberry was another suggestion. Or we could combine those thoughts and name our dog, Shortcake. Since we are considering a larger dog, that idea was abandoned.
The "human" supporters will argue that the dog is “one of the family” and should be given a name like any other family member. It is true that we often treat our pets just like human beings--sometimes maybe even better. However, while names like Maynard and Merlin are used for dogs, I have a hard time imagining that we would still give one of those names to a human being!
I suppose we could say that "human" dog names have a certain flare about them. If we are inclined towards historical figures, we might name our dog Caesar or Napoleon. We might want to consider, however, if the name is a reflection of our dog's personality. Maybe Napoleon would be fitting for a miniature dog breed, but then the historical Napoleon might not have the kind of personality we are looking for in a family dog.
If we are patriotic, we might find dogs named after American presidents to our liking. We could name our dog Lincoln or Jefferson. (This assumes a high intelligence or moral character in our dog. Yeah, right!) How do the names Nixon and Hoover sound? We will want to be careful that we do not pick a name that is confusing to our family members. If mom says, "Take Hoover outside," we might have the only child in the city walking the vacuum cleaner.
The same problem might exist if we give our dog a very common human name, like Mike, for example. Some people might confuse Mike with one of our children. Or the neighbor's kid--also named Mike-- may never want to come over to our house if "mom" is always telling Mike to stop whining and behave. Then there is the hassle of getting junk mail and credit card applications in Mike’s name. Hmm– I wonder what his credit score would be!
Finally, after all the discussions and agonizing, I thought we finally had a solution. Our daughter suggested that we name the new puppy after a cartoon character, like Snoopy or Goofy. “No,” my wife said, “those are your father’s nicknames.”
"At last!" I suggested, "We could get two dogs and name them "Harry" and "Potter". Oops, I just opened up another can of worms!
By Dale Klessig
Dog Bathing Tips
1. Brush and bathe your dog outdoors, if possible.
2. Brush your dog thoroughly before bathing. Remove old fur from the coat and undercoat.
3. Have everything you need handy before you begin—especially towels!
4. Use a rubber mat when bathing your dog in the tub to prevent slipping.
5. Use a good screen for your tub drain to prevent drain clogging.
6. Just about any gentle, tearless dog shampoo will do unless your dog has fleas or a skin condition. Use only dog shampoo for your dog. Human shampoos or other cleaning agents are too harsh! Buy a good dog shampoo and dilute with one third to one half water. (Don’t dilute flea shampoo or special medicated shampoo prescribed by your vet!)
7. Bathing Steps:
• Wet your dog well first from the neck to the tail.
• Shampoo the hind legs, the tail and the rear.
• Next, shampoo the body, chest, and front legs.
• Now, carefully wet the head, face, and ears—then shampoo those areas. Be careful not to get suds in the dog's eyes.
• Now rinse thoroughly and rinse again. Start with the head, face, and ears, and then the body and legs.
• Don't forget to rinse the underside of the dog. Have your dog stand on his hind legs by lifting his front paws.
• Keep rinsing until the water is no longer soapy. Any residue of shampoo can cause itching, flaking, and skin problems for your dog.
• When finished, immediately wrap the dog in a towel to prevent him from shaking it everywhere. Then systematically towel-dry each part of the dog -- face, head, ears, body, legs, and tail.
8. Get your dog used to being brushed and bathed at an early age.
9. Most dogs don't need a bath more than once a month. Bathing too frequently can dry out the skin and coat.
2. Brush your dog thoroughly before bathing. Remove old fur from the coat and undercoat.
3. Have everything you need handy before you begin—especially towels!
4. Use a rubber mat when bathing your dog in the tub to prevent slipping.
5. Use a good screen for your tub drain to prevent drain clogging.
6. Just about any gentle, tearless dog shampoo will do unless your dog has fleas or a skin condition. Use only dog shampoo for your dog. Human shampoos or other cleaning agents are too harsh! Buy a good dog shampoo and dilute with one third to one half water. (Don’t dilute flea shampoo or special medicated shampoo prescribed by your vet!)
7. Bathing Steps:
• Wet your dog well first from the neck to the tail.
• Shampoo the hind legs, the tail and the rear.
• Next, shampoo the body, chest, and front legs.
• Now, carefully wet the head, face, and ears—then shampoo those areas. Be careful not to get suds in the dog's eyes.
• Now rinse thoroughly and rinse again. Start with the head, face, and ears, and then the body and legs.
• Don't forget to rinse the underside of the dog. Have your dog stand on his hind legs by lifting his front paws.
• Keep rinsing until the water is no longer soapy. Any residue of shampoo can cause itching, flaking, and skin problems for your dog.
• When finished, immediately wrap the dog in a towel to prevent him from shaking it everywhere. Then systematically towel-dry each part of the dog -- face, head, ears, body, legs, and tail.
8. Get your dog used to being brushed and bathed at an early age.
9. Most dogs don't need a bath more than once a month. Bathing too frequently can dry out the skin and coat.
Five Poor Reasons To Get A Dog
- It’s so cute
- This breed is popular with celebrities
- I want a masculine breed
- My children want a dog
- I want to teach my children responsibility
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