For the Love of Dogs

My goodness it has been a long time since I last posted here. I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. In taking down my wall calendar for last year "For the love of Golden Retrievers, I noticed two tributes that are so true and should heap shame on anyone who mistreats a dog or any other pet or any other animal .

By an unknown author: "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion."

By Lord Byron: "Near this spot are deposited the remains of one who possessed beauty without vanity, strength without ferocity, and all the virtues of man, without his vices. This praise would be unmeaning if inscribed over human ashes, is but just tribute to the memory of Boatswain, a Dog.

Gus a portrait

I finally got around to doing a portrait of my beloved Gus. It's an oil pastel on archival canvas board.

Meet Gus

Meet my best buddy Gus. Gus is a two year old Golden Retriever. He is the friendlest, sweetest dog I've ever had. Of course he is the first Golden I've ever had. I wish I had found this breed years ago.

The first photo is Gus at the top of the stairs. When we get up in the morning Gus will wait at the top of the stairs until I quit messing about and make a move for the front door.

The second photo is Gus in the tub. Sometimes, when he detects us getting getting ready for his bath, he'll jump in the tub and look at us as if he's saying "What's taking you so long?"

The third photo is of Gus and me on his first day home from the breeder.

I don't remember who said it. It was either Will Rodgers, or Mark Twain, who said "If dogs don't go to Heaven, when I die, I want to go where the dogs go." Gus would be a wonderful companion in the after life.