Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Chauncey DeVega says: This Respectable Negro Salutes an Honorable Animal Friend

A distraction from the heavy political stuff we have done lately--we do have a heart you know.

One of the myths held by an unnamed Native American tribe reads:

"A spirit had assembled all of earth's creatures. His task was to find the right animal to become a companion to human beings, who had not yet been created. He asked the animals how they would treat people. Some said they would tear human beings apart; others said they would live near people to steal their food.

The dog said his only wish was to live with people, share their food, help them hunt, guard their children and possessions, even at risk to his own life. Another legend states that a dog's life originally spanned 20 years, but that the dog willingly gave up 10 of his own years so people could live longer."

For all of the degenerate, Michael Vicks of the world, ignt's who seem to revel in abusing their pets (imagine how they treat their children or elderly parents?) there are many more good people, people like those who placed the lives of their animal friends before their own during the deluges of Katrina. In that spirit this respectable negro shares the following story. From CNN:

Loyal dog guards owner for weeks after death

GREELEY, Colorado (AP) -- A dog stood guard over her owner's body for up to six weeks after the man committed suicide on the remote northeastern Colorado plains, authorities said.

The body of 25-year-old Jake Baysinger of La Salle, Colorado, was found Sunday on the Pawnee National Grasslands about 75 miles northeast of Denver, Colorado. Cash, his German shepherd, was found beside him, thin and dehydrated but still alive. The dog had apparently survived by eating mice and rabbits, authorities said.

The Weld County coroner ruled Baysinger's death a suicide. The cause of death wasn't immediately determined but authorities found a gun nearby, the coroner's office said Tuesday.

"At least we know it's over now," said Baysinger's wife, Sara. "We'd been looking for my husband for six weeks, and this isn't how we wanted it to end. At least we can close this."

Baysinger was reported missing June 28. An extensive search failed to locate him, but Kip Konig, a rancher, saw the dog last weekend, went to investigate and discovered Baysinger's body and his pickup.

He said Cash kept running back to the pickup and jumping into the front seat.

"I got the sense she was trying to tell me where her master was," Konig said.

Cash was reunited Monday with Sara Baysinger and her 2-year-old son, Lane. She said her little boy is "very close to that dog" and happy to see her again.

Investigators said the dog probably kept coyotes away from the body.

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We salute you, our honorable animal friend. If we were more fortunate, humans would be so good as you.

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