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Thank You, God for creating Sully, Beau and all tail-wagging mutts in between, and for having seen bestowed upon them Your Name spelled backwards

Service Dog ‘Sully’ Proves That Love Conquers All



Service Dog ‘Sully’ Proves That Love Conquers All In the end, love—love of dogs in particular—-conquers all. It is the photo of sad-eyed ‘Sully, the yellow Labrador who nobly shepherded former President George H.W. Bush through the last six months of his life, helping him during the misery of his Parkinson Disease symptoms, that people will remember most. The photo of Sully lying by his late owner’s casket not only went viral over the weekend, it went straight to the human heart.
Sully, one of the most heart-fetching among thousands of mourners, passing through the Capitol Rotunda where Bush was lying in state on Tuesday, is bound to be an alert attendee at the former president’s memorial today. Paying their last respects is something that so many dogs loyally do. Sully, who eased the pain of an owner who only eight months ago was mourning the passing of a much beloved wife, achieved something that only a dog could by bring back to the fore the memory of unconditional love in a day where hatred seems to increasingly rule every day life. No cynical and soured-on-life blogger could ever surpass the love of a dog for his master even in death.



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Dogs are as beloved today as they were back in the day when epic American film and stage actor Jimmy Stewart paid humorous and unforgettable tribute to his deceased golden retriever, “Beau” when he recited a poem he wrote on the Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson in 1981. “James Stewart owned a "willful but beloved" golden retriever named Beau, of whom he was extremely fond. (MNN.com, May 10, 2013)
“Beau slept in the corner of Stewart's bedroom, but would often crawl onto the bed between Stewart and his wife Gloria. Stewart recalled, "he was up there because he wanted me to pat his head, so that’s what I would do. Somehow, my touching his hair made him happier, and just the feeling of him laying against me helped me sleep better." “While shooting a movie in Arizona, Stewart received a phone call from Dr. Keagy, his veterinarian, who informed him that Beau was terminally ill, and that Gloria sought his permission to perform euthanasia. “Stewart declined to give a reply over the phone, and told Keagy to "keep him alive and I'll be there.” “Stewart requested several days' leave, which allowed him to spend some time with Beau before granting the doctor permission to euthanize the sick dog. “Following the procedure, Stewart sat in his car for ten minutes to clear his eyes of tears. Stewart later remembered: “After [Beau] died there were a lot of nights when I was certain that I could feel him get into bed beside me and I would reach out and pat his head. The feeling was so real that I wrote a poem about it and how much it hurt to realize that he wasn’t going to be there any more. "Beau" the poem was first recited on an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on July 28, 1981. Ed McMahon later described the poem itself as "forgettable", but added that both he and Johnny Carson, a couple of "maudlin mutt mourners", were nevertheless moved to tears by Stewart's passionate delivery.”

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Stewart’s poem ‘Beau’, also known as ‘I’ll Never Forget A Dog Named Beau’ went on to outlive all cynicism, for it is brought back an unknown number of times each and every day by all heartbroken dog owners who outlive beloved pets. Thank You, God for creating Sully, Beau and all tail-wagging mutts in between, and for having seen bestowed upon them Your Name spelled backwards.




A Dog Named Beau

He never came to me when I would call Unless I had a tennis ball, Or he felt like it, But mostly he didn't come at all. When he was young He never learned to heel Or sit or stay, He did things his way. Discipline was not his bag But when you were with him things sure didn't drag. He'd dig up a rosebush just to spite me, And when I'd grab him, he'd turn and bite me. He bit lots of folks from day to day, The delivery boy was his favorite prey. The gas man wouldn't read our meter, He said we owned a real man-eater. He set the house on fire But the story's long to tell. Suffice it to say that he survived And the house survived as well. On the evening walks, and Gloria took him, He was always first out the door. The Old One and I brought up the rear Because our bones were sore. He would charge up the street with Mom hanging on, What a beautiful pair they were! And if it was still light and the tourists were out, They created a bit of a stir. But every once in a while, he would stop in his tracks And with a frown on his face look around. It was just to make sure that the Old One was there And would follow him where he was bound. We are early-to-bedders at our house -- I guess I'm the first to retire. And as I'd leave the room he'd look at me And get up from his place by the fire. He knew where the tennis balls were upstairs, And I'd give him one for a while. He would push it under the bed with his nose And I'd fish it out with a smile. And before very long He'd tire of the ball And be asleep in his corner In no time at all. And there were nights when I'd feel him Climb upon our bed And lie between us, And I'd pat his head. And there were nights when I'd feel this stare And I'd wake up and he'd be sitting there And I reach out my hand and stroke his hair. And sometimes I'd feel him sigh and I think I know the reason why. He would wake up at night And he would have this fear Of the dark, of life, of lots of things, And he'd be glad to have me near. And now he's dead. And there are nights when I think I feel him Climb upon our bed and lie between us, And I pat his head. And there are nights when I think I feel that stare And I reach out my hand to stroke his hair, But he's not there. Oh, how I wish that wasn't so, I'll always love a dog named Beau.

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Judi McLeod -- Bio and Archives -- Judi McLeod, Founder, Owner and Editor of Canada Free Press, is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years’ experience in the print and online media. A former Toronto Sun columnist, she also worked for the Kingston Whig Standard. Her work has appeared throughout the ‘Net, including on Rush Limbaugh and Fox News.

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