My dear Canadian friend and author of award-winning books about dogs, Gail MacMillan, sent this to me.  It's for all you forgotten Dog Moms (like me) out there on Mother's Day who love their four-legged children just as much as other moms love their two-legged ones.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you who have children that are bit hairier than others and walk on four paws!


This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick dogs in their arms, wiping up barf laced with edible and inedible things and saying 'It's okay, baby, Mommy's here.'

Who have sat on the floor for hours on end soothing dogs who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with dog hair on their suits and poo bags in their purse, coat pocket, pants pocket, and all other pockets.

For all the mothers who make their own dog food and treats.

And all the mothers who DON'T.

This for the mothers who help the new mothers deal with the loss of their litter. And the mothers who help them cope when they are given new homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections consists of ribbons and photos.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns off, sweated gallons, and swatted away bees to watch their precious prance into a ring and achieve 2nd place and then jump around as though they had won best in show.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their dogs in the park and firmly tug the leash to get their attention.

 

And for all the mothers who count to ten because they realize how animal abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who go to the special pet stores to collect the proper treats, food and toys no matter that it take 3 stops and 50 stoplights.

This is for all the mothers who taught their dogs to sit, come, and stay.

And for all the mothers who opted for sit.

This is for all the mothers who teach their dogs agility and obedience and actually understand that it needs to be FUN!

This is for every mother who automatically sucks in her breath when she can't see a leash on a dog in the non-fenced front yard. 

Then relaxes when she realizes that the dog is sitting on it.

This is for all the mothers who took their dog to the vet assuring them that there would be no needles only to be told they need a blood sample.

For all the mothers whose dog has gone missing and was returned because she had the forethought to have a chip put between its shoulders.

What makes a good Mother anyway?

Is it patience? Compassion? Ever-available treats?

The ability to answer the door, hold back the dog, and deal with a phone call all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart?

Is it the ache you feel when you walk out the door to your job every Monday through Friday knowing that two eyes are boring into your back?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread when you hear the sounds of heaving at 2:00 a.m.?

Years later, the guilt that won't go away when you have no other choice but to put your friend down?

The emotions of motherhood are universal and so this is for you all. For all of us...

Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can. Tell them everyday that we love them. And pray and never stop being a Mom.