What is it about a dog that makes people more human? If you go walking alone through the neighborhood, people ignore you. If you go walking through the neighborhood with your dog, people will greet the dog, and will ask you questions like the breed or the name of the dog. If the dog is cute, then even more conversation happens.
So today I took my dog for a short walk, not my usual walk through the neighborhood, but a walk around the block, around the perimeter of our school. I didn't have enough time for the longer walk. It happened to be recess time and kids swarmed over to the sidewalk to greet Jabba. Yes, they greeted me, but they were far more interested in Jabba. They even told their parents later that they saw Jabba today.
I think it's the fact that a dog draws you out of yourself. They say that it's very good for kids to have a dog, because the dog can be a way for kids to care about someone other than self. Likewise, if a child is upset about something, they can go be with the dog who will listen in a way that looks like caring.
What a wonderful gift from God is a dog.
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