Rules of the Household My Best Friend My dog and I live in this house. You are welcome to come and visit me anytime but we have a few things that you must understand before you visit: You must expect a few dog hairs to stick to your clothes. I vacuum and clean every day but a Dog lives in this house too. You may be licked and given a paw a few times but he does this because he loves people and wants to say hello, so if you feel that you are too good for his love then you are not welcome here because this is his home too. My dog is well mannered and very clean but if you are one of those people who think all animals are dirty and smell then go away. You are not the type of person that I care to associate with. If you don't like the sound of barking, then my home is not going to be a comfortable place for you to visit. My dog protects me by letting me know I have a visitor. Whether it be a friend or uninvited stranger. If you are a friend, my dog will consider you his friend too but if you are an unwelcome guest, my dog will protect me with his life as I would his. Do not expect me to lock my dog in another room during your visit. I have trained my dog well so he will not do anything to you except maybe want a pat on the head. I will not subject him to feel as if he is being punished by locking him away for no reason. That would just be cruel. When you walk in my home, be careful not to trip on a squeaky toy or a bone. These are my dog's little treasures and I will not take them away from him just to show you that I keep a clean house. He knows where all his toys are. They may not look like much to you, but to him, they are worth more than gold. You see, This is OUR home. We have been together since he was a small pup scampering around the house, a tiny bit of a thing only a few weeks old. I raised him into a well mannered, beautifully behaved Dog. I am proud of him. I consider him my personal gift from God. He has done nothing but give me his endless love and devotion for many years. I love him dearly and want to make his years happy ones. As happy as he makes mine. When you go home to your family, he stays here with me. A fine and loving companion. He is MY family and I wouldn't change that for the world. When times were hard, we both went hungry. When it was cold and there was no heat, we both kept each warm. When I was sick, he stayed right by my side as I did his when he was not having a good day. A better friend I could not ask for. When no one else cared, my Dog did. He has given me nothing but pure joy and love him endlessly. So please understand that I am not being rude. I'm just looking out for my best friend. Notice To All Visitors 1. The dog lives here...you don't. 2. If you don't want dog hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. 3. Yes, he has some disgusting habits. So do I and so do you. What's your point? 4. OF COURSE he smells like a dog. 5. It's his nature to try to sniff your crotch. Please feel free to sniff his. 6. I like him a lot better than I like most people. 7. To you he's a dog. To me he's an adopted son, who is short, hairy, walks on all fours, doesn't speak clearly, and hates cats. I have no problem with any of these things. 8. Dogs are better than kids: they eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about whether they have the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, don't need a gazillion dollars for college, and if they get pregnant you can sell the pups. Author Unknown TRIBUTE TO THE DOG Old Drum, a black and tan coonhound, owned by Charles Burden, was shot by a neighbor, Lon Hornsby. Hornsby had lost more than 100 sheep in previous months.. Seeing Old Drum running through the woods in the evening hours he asked his friend, Richard Ferguson, to shoot the dog. Burden filed suit but the jury at the first trial failed to reach a verdict and the case was retried the folowing December. Burden was awarded $25 by the jury, but Hornsby appealed to Johnson County Court of Common Pleas. Another trial was set for March 1870 and this time the verdict was in favor of Hornsby. Burden then asked for and won a new trial. At this new trial the courthouse was filled to capacity. Senator George Vest attorney for Burden gave the final argument. This time the jury awarded Burden $50. The following is Senator Vest's Tribute to the Dog that he gave to the court in 1870 The best friend a man has in the world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money a man has he may lose. it flies away from him when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us, may be the first to throw stones of malice when failure settles its clouds upon our heads. THE ONE ABSOLUTELY UNSELFISH FRIEND THAT A MAN CAN HAVE IN THIS SELFISH WORLD, THE ONE THAT NEVER DESERTS HIM, THE ONE THAT NEVER PROVES UNGRATEFUL OR TREACHEROUS, IS HIS DOG A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely if only he may be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the sores and wounds that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If misfortune drives the master forth an outcase in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, not matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfullness, faithful and true, even in death. In Warrensburg, Missouri, a monument is erected to Old Drum in front of the courthouse with the story on a big bronze plaque. HOME** OUR FEMALES** OUR CHAMPIONS** FAVORITE LINKS** PAST STARS** ROMICHE MALES** GROOMING** FUTURE STARS** NEW LITTERS** AVAILABLE** OUR SHOW WINS E-MAIL COPYRIGHT PROTECTED 2003 by MICHELINE PIGEON