"Some Friends Have Four Feet" - Dedication and Prologue

Some Friends Have Four Feet

by bari cordia federspiel

 

DEDICATION

To Pete, who loved dogs.  To Frank, who loves dogs too.  To all the people who share their homes and their lives with dogs.  God put those furry creatures on this earth to enrich our lives, teach us lessons, and give us comfort.

PROLOGUE

I am not an expert on dogs.  I am just a “Person Who Happened To Have Dogs Live Around Me.”  My apologies to all the people who know SO much more about dogs than I – the trainers, the veterinarians, even the pet store people.  My deepest respect goes to those who have “hung in there” with their canine friends even through impossible situations, ended up with better dogs, and bettered themselves as well.

I can only plead youth and ignorance to some of the situations I encountered years ago.  I don’t know what I can plead now, but I’m doing much better and I’m still learning.

This is really a story of me and of my family, how we began, how we’ve evolved through the years, and why we are we who are today.  The dogs were and are along for the ride.  They shaped and were shaped by our influences.  Our “four-footed” friends reveal our personalities and our quirks; they bring out the best and the worst in us.   

It is easier to write about dogs than people – for one thing they will never sue me for misrepresentation!  But as their “teller of tails,” I am responsible for writing the truth even if it makes ME look bad.