Mr. Bojangles Was Not Alone

The song "Mr. Bojangles" tells the story of a man who lives on the street and dances for tips, and how he and his dog traveled around for years to earn their keep, until one day the dog "up and died." The line about how "after 20 years he still grieves" always gets me. There are lots of people who connect more with dogs than other people, and in that case the dog really was the man's best friend.

In the 11 days since Lucky died, I've been hugged by at least half a dozen dog lovers who had offered their sympathy when they heard the news. In a place like Prescott, where a dog or cat lives in nearly every home, almost everyone has a story about a special pet they had loved and lost, and how they have coped since. The sad fact that we'd like to forget is that we expect to outlive our pets, and have to be prepared for the resulting pain. Fortunately, the memories of their roles in our lives comfort us.

I've learned, too, that some ministers do believe that our pets join us in heaven, and my current church even has a memorial program of prayers for pets that have passed on. As Father Mark explained, "they are part of the family, and this helps meet the family's needs."

People who don't much care for pets might find this strange and over the top, but I find it touching and indicative of a society with great compassion. Just as people who abuse pets are more apt to be abusive to other people, those who possess a genuine love for pets are capable of great love for their fellow humans.

When we first took Lucky to a vet here, we were surprised at how affectionate everyone in the veterinary center was toward him, and at how his veterinarian kissed him on the muzzle after she got to know him. We mentioned how we'd never seen a vet do that before, and she laughed and said that it just seemed natural to her. In fact, Lucky was so thoroughly charmed by his vet that he actually liked visits to the office.

In the Bible there are very few mentions of pets, other than the dogs that licked the homeless man's wounds and a parable about how the wealthy man who owned the dogs let them watch over the ill man -- the Mr. Bojangles of Jesus's era. However, the one parable that shows great love for animals is how the shepherd lays down his life for the sheep to protect them. This obviously is symbolic of what Jesus did for us all, but it also shows the deep connection between animals and people and our dependence on each other for food and protection.

This past week the Today Show had a segment on how a golden retriever named Angel saved the life of an 11-year-old boy when a cougar was poised to attack him. In spite of being clawed and bitten and nearly suffocated by the big cat, who had clamped down on her muzzle, the dog was rescued by a Canadian Mountie who shot the cougar. Angel survived her wounds, and her young owner knows that she has lived up to her name in more ways than one.