After posting last week about Jon Katz questioning whether our dogs love us, there was a very sad news item in the UK that demonstrated just how much we love our dogs. A couple with their young baby in a pushchair, were walking their two dogs along a river, when the dogs got into difficulty in the river.
While the baby was left safely strapped in her buggy on the river bank, first her mother and then her father jumped into the fast- flowing, swollen river in an effort to save their beloved dogs. What happened next is a dreadful reminder of the dangers of trying to rescue your dog from water - the man's body was later recovered from the river, while the woman died in hospital that evening. Unusually neither of the dogs survived.
What a strong illustration of how we disregard our own safety when our dogs are in danger. And what an equally strong reminder of how careful we need to be.
Interestingly, in one of John Katz's books he described how he followed one of his dogs into a swollen river. His dog was stuck, and within seconds so was Jon. I won't tell you how he managed to live to tell the story, but he does consider how his nearest and dearest would react to his demise in such circumstances.
My heart goes out to the family - especially the four children who have lost at least one parent - now dealing with the aftermath of the death of the couple who tried in vain to save their beloved dogs.
Take care,
Julie x