DOGS THROUGHOUT HISTORY
Great and decidedly unsentimental minds from the past have found it unthinkable that the "pearly gates" should slam shut in the faces of furry, four-legged arrivals.
James Thurber: "If I have beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I know will go to heaven and very, very few persons!"
Mark Twain: "Heaven goes by favour. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in."
Edwin Landseer (19th century animal artist): "There is in every animal's eye a dim image and gleam of humanity; a flash of strange light through which their lives look out and up to our great mystery of command over them, and claims the fellowship of the creature, if not of the soul."
Albert Schweitzer: "This question of animal immortality is difficult to settle. Surely, if people have souls, animals must also, for the Divine Spark, which is within all living beings, culminates in spiritual union and harmony. One thing, however, is certain: In order to find out, you have to have one yourself!"
Nathaniel Hawthorne (from his American Notebooks in 1865): "The survival of death as a reward for the misfortunes of life cannot be considered unless the animal world shares this gift."
Shelley: "The psychological and moral comfort of a presence at once humble and understanding is the greatest benefit that the dog has bestowed upon mankind."
The three wise men were supposedly accompanied by a trio of faithful dogs, Cubilon, Lubina and Melampo, on their trek to the manger; and folklore has it that any dog now bearing one of these names will be forever blessed.
St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, originated the beloved tradition of the nativity display. St Francis believed the holiness of Christmas mandated more attention to the plight of unfortunate animals. He persuaded the Roman emperor to enact a law against the abuse of animals. St Francis also initiated a plan whereby animal "hostels" were set up to house and feed stray dogs.
Lazarus, according to the gospel of Luke, weak, starving and covered with sores, was cruelly ignored by his fellow men; only a dog brought him crumbs from the table and licked his wounds clean.
The blind St. Hervaeus was patiently and faithfully guided down life's path by a tame wolf (the dog's ancestor) in much the manner of a seeing-eye dog of today!
The ancient Toltecs believed the love of a dog for his master is the most perfect demonstration of love. Their belief was that when a person died the only spirit to accompany them to the mysterious afterlife was that of the faithful dog.
Solomon: "They all have one breath, so that a man hath no pre-eminence above a beast."
The word of God: "The animals shall be delivered from the bondage of man's corruption and into the glorious liberty of God!"
de Lamartin: Whenever a man is unhappy, god sends him a dog!"
