Happy Valentine's Day from For Love of a Dog

Happy Valentine's Day from all of us at For Love of a Dog

When I Am Old, An Ode to Loving Dogs

I don't know where this comes from or who wrote it, though I confess that if I'd written it, it would be fitting.

When I Am Old

I shall wear turquoise and soft gray sweatshirts
and a bandana over my silver hair
and I shall spend my Social Security checks on sweet wine and my dogs.....
and sit in my house on my well-worn chair
and listen to my dogs breathing.

I will sneak out in the middle of a warm summer night
and take my dogs for a run, if my old bones will allow...
and when people come to call, I will smile and nod as I show them my dogs...
and talk of them and about them...
The Ones so Beloved of the Past and the Ones so Beloved of Today...

I still will work hard cleaning up after them and mopping and feeding them
and whispering their names in a soft, loving way.
I will wear the gleaming sweat on my throat, like a jewel
and I will be an embarrassment to all...
and my family, who have not yet found the peace
in being free to have dogs as your Best Friends...

These friends, who always wait, at any hour, for your foot fall...
and eagerly jump to their feet out of a sound sleep,
to greet you as if you are a god.
with warm eyes full of adoring love and hope that you will stay
and kiss their dear sweet heads...
and whisper to their very special company...

I look in the Mirror...
and see I am getting old...
this is the kind of woman I am...
and have always been.

Loving dogs is easy, they are a part of me, accept me for who I am.
My dogs appreciate my presence in their lives.
When I am old this will be important to me.
You will understand when you are old...
and if you have dogs to love, too.

Author Unknown

Read more at For Love of a Dogs Jewelry's Bits'nBones stories and humor.

Australian Shepherd Bracelet Dog Breed Valentine Jewelry

A new Australian Shepherd dog breed bracelet just in time for Valentine's Day gift giving. Beautiful tri color Australian Shepherd dog charm is a handmade little dog art sculpture. True to AKC dog breed standards, highly detailed and absolutely beautiful.

I've combined this Australian Shepherd dog charm with Black Onyx round gemstone beads that I've hand wire wrapped with oxidized silver jeweler's wire. In addition to the Australian Shepherd dog, I've added a puffy hand carved dark red Brecciated Jasper heart and a three dimensional silver dog bone. This handcrafted dog bracelet is perfect jewelry for anyone who loves a Australian Shepherd dog. Fetch more artisan dog breed jewelry and Valentine gift ideas from For Love of a Dog.

Border Collie Dog Bone Bracelet Dog Lover Jewelry

This charming Border Collie and dog bone bracelet will fetch compliments and start conversations about your beloved Border Collie dog. Beautiful black and white Border Collie dog charm is not a flat cut out, but rather a little dog art sculpture. Handmade of hand cast resin in a hand sculpted mould, then carefully painted. True to AKC and UKC dog breed standards, highly detailed and absolutely beautiful.

I've combined this Border Collie dog charm with really wonderful three dimensional white lampwork dog bone beads and Black Onyx round gemstone beads. I've hand wire wrapped all the beads with gold jeweler's wire. In addition to the Border Collie dog, I've added a puffy Black Onyx heart and a little white Snow Quartz dangle. This handcrafted dog and bone bracelet is perfect jewelry for anyone who loves a Border Collie dog or might be involved in Border Collie rescue work. Fetch more artisan dog breed jewelry and dog lover gifts from For Love of a Dog.

Racing Greyhound Bracelet Valentine Dog Breed Jewelry

If your true Valentine is a greyhound dog, then this dog breed jewelry for you. Beautiful Greyhound dog charm is not a flat cut out, but rather a little dog art sculpture. Handmade of hand cast resin in a hand sculpted mould, then carefully painted. True to AKC dog breed standards, highly detailed and absolutely beautiful. This particular Greyhound happens to be brindle and white in color.

I've combined this Greyhound dog charm with Mahogany Obsidian rondelles that are deep mahogany brown with a brindle patterning of black, plus ultra white Snow Quartz gemstone beads that I've hand wire wrapped with silver jeweler's wire. In a addition to the Greyhound dog, I've added a puffy hand carved Black Onyx heart and a three dimensional silver dog bone. This handcrafted greyhound dog bracelet is perfect jewelry for anyone who loves a Greyhound or is active in racing Greyhound rescue work. Fetch more artisan dog breed jewelry and Valentine dog lover gifts from For Love of a Dog.

Samoyed Bracelet Dog Breed Jewelry Gifts

Just in time for Valentine's Day. This Samoyed dog bracelet will fetch compliments and start conversations about your beloved Samoyed dog. Beautiful Samoyed dog charm is not a flat cut out, but rather a little dog art sculpture. Handmade of hand cast resin in a hand sculpted mould, then carefully painted. True to AKC dog breed standards, highly detailed and absolutely beautiful.

I've combined this Samoyed dog charm with white Snow Quartz round beads that I've hand wire wrapped with gold jeweler's wire. In a addition to the Samoyed dog, I've added a little Red Jasper heart and a three dimensional gold dog bone. This handcrafted dog bracelet is perfect jewelry for anyone who loves a Samoyed dog. Fetch more handmade dog breed jewelry and gifts from For Love of a Dog.

All Dogs Go to Heaven

My friends know I'm dog crazy (and some of them are, too) so I receive some wonderful emails. Sometimes they're just too good not to share... and this is one of those times.

Get some tissues handy. Here's the story:

This is one of the kindest thingsI've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it,but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter office of the US Postal Service.

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could, so she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her, You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith.

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'ToMeredith," in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven.

Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letterand thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much.

By the way, I'm easy to find.. I am wherever there is love.
Love,
God