Animals

Animals

Israelite law required people to treat their working animals kindly, to feed them well in reward for their work and to give them proper rest. This consideration is reflected in the proverb that says,”The righteous have regard for the needs of their animals.”

Because they were largely a farming people, Israelites relied upon their working animals to provide them with a steady income and a reasonable standard of living. They knew the truth of the saying,”Abundant crops come by the strength of the ox“. At the same time, they needed to remember what we all must remember, namely, that concern for personal well-being must not over-ride all other considerations. When personal profit is the driving motive, working animals can suffer.

For this reason an extended piece of instruction urges readers to ‘know well the condition of their flocks‘ because ‘riches do not last forever‘. The passage shows how greed and impatience lead to exploitation, which in turn damages the lives of animals, ruins pastures and creates a shortage of the very products that people want in greater quantities. As always, selfishness works against those who practise it. on the other hand, God provides for those who trust in his provision.

This appreciation of animals is shown elsewhere in Proverbs. The skill and grace of animals is seen in ‘the way of an eagle in the sky and the way of a snake on a rock’; the dignity and assurance of animals is seen in the movements of the prowling lion, the strutting cock and the sure-footed goat. God is surely pleased when we see that the animals he created are admirable for reasons other than the material profits they generate.

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Dogs

Whether it is ingrained, infused, instinct or intelligence, dog behaviours and motivations continue to amaze and overwhelm us. We are filled with admiration at the way their bodies work and adapt. Their creativity in figuring things out so that they can relate to us and the world around them humble us.

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. ~ Mark Twain

You can say any fool thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says,”My God, you’re RIGHT! I NEVER would’ve thought of that!” ~ Dave Barry

• The first official dog shows were held in England in 1859 with the rest of Europe and America soon following suit. Judges based their criteria on pedigree and appearance. Prior to that, dog shows were nothing more than guys in bars showing their handsome hounds for all to admire.

• Lots of dogs bred to be water dogs have webbed feet, including the Akita, Poodle, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Flat-Coated Retriever, Labrador Retriever, and Golden Retriever breeds, as well as the Irish Water Spaniel, the Portuguese Water Spaniel, and the German Wirehaired and Shorthair pointers, among many others.

• There is no such thing as a ‘thorough-bred dog’. Thorough-bred refers to a specific breed of horse, like a Clydesdale or a quarter horse. The term used for a dog with two parents of the same breed is ‘purebreed’.

• Some dogs, such as Newfoundlands and Standard Poodles, have webbed feet, just like a duck! That is the hallmark of a water dog ( a dog that was bred to work in water). Poodles were once used to retrieve fallen birds in the water, and New-foundlands were bred to rescue swimmers in trouble.

In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn’t merely try to train him to be semi-human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog. ~ Edward Hoagland

If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face, you should go home and examine your conscience. ~ Woodrow Wilson

• Which dog is mentioned in the Bible? The word “dog” is mentioned forty times in the Bible, but only one breed is mentioned by name, and that is the Greyhound. (Proverbs 30:31)

• You may not be able to tell from looking at them, but no two Dalmatians have the same spot pattern. Just like every snow-flake, these ‘fire-house’ dogs are all unique.

• There are lots of food that are poisonous to dogs but do not get as much attention as chocolate. For example, caffeine, onions, garlic, raw eggs, fish, certain root vegetables, grapes, and raisins. Many plants are toxic as well, including daffodils, marigolds, and oleander.

• Can you kiss your dog on the lips? Nope, cause he ain’t got lips! He’s got flews!

• Statistics show that women are more likely to give their dog a human name, such as “Toby” or “Tabitha” whereas men are more likely to go for non-human monikers such as “Prince”, “Princess” or “Duke”.

• Which is faster, the dog or the cat? Domestic cats have been clocked at thirty miles per hour, but the Greyhound, the fastest dog in the world, can reach speeds up to forty-five mph, making the dog the clear winner!

• There is a breed of dog that cannot bark, commonly known as “The Barkless Dog”, the Basenji, originating Arica, has a sort of “Chortie” instead of a bark.

• A female dog is correctly called a “bitch” and a mother dog is called a “dam”. A dog that fathers a litter is called a “sire”.

• If you are worried about doggy odour and want to keep your dog from excessive shedding or odour, don’t over-bathe him. Excessive bathing only dries out the skin, which actually causes more dander to be released into the air. Natural oils in the dog’s skin and coat help keep the dander down and the coat nice and shiny. And when bathing your dog, be sure to use a nondrying, conditioning shampoo made just for dogs.

• Dogs that are sterilized at an early age, around six to nine months, are less likely to develop cancer in later years. Dogs not sterilized have a much higher risk of developing testicular, ovarian, prostate, mammary, and uterine cancer by the time they are six years old.

If you get to thinking you’re a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else’s dog around. ~ Cowboy wisdom

Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made. ~ Roger Caras

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