A dog really is a man’s best friend. Regardless of our problems, mood, and temper, they are always there for us.
They teach us so many things like loyalty, love, courage, and trust. The dog’s unwavering loyalty to its best friend is just touching, and it should be an example for all of us to learn from.
However, if that quote could be used to describe someone, then it would most certainly be the man and his dog in this story.
Unusually Beautiful Sight
It all occurred on a random sunny day when a man named Bryan Thompson went for a walk in Shubie Park, in Massachusetts.
While there, he saw something unusual. It was a man who was wheeling his dog in a wagon. His curiosity got the best of him, so he took a few pictures.
Wondering what was going on, he decided to walk up to the man and simply ask him. The story this man told him was something truly heartwarming.
Apparently, the man’s dog was suffering from ALS, also known as degenerative myelopathy. Degenerative myelopathy affects the dog’s spinal cord and compresses it. Over time, it causes muscle weakness until the dog can no longer move.[1]
The disease is not uncommon, and in some pure dog breeds, it has a prevalence of 0.19%. While it’s most common in German Shepherds, it also happens to many other breeds.[1]
The dog’s ALS had already progressed too much, which meant that he could no longer move his limbs.
A Touching Bond Between The Man And His Dog
The owner didn’t want his furry companion to miss out on the outside world and his favorite park, so he decided to do something about it by making a small wagon for carrying the dog.
The man told Thompson that this wasn’t his first trip to Shubie Park. The dog’s loving guardian would take him sightseeing every day. Thompson complimented him by saying that many people wouldn’t do that for their dogs, and that makes him an especially good person.
He replied simply by saying that his dog would have done the same thing for him if he could.
Thompson was just so astonished and moved at this man’s devotion to his canine friend that he had to share the story with everyone else.
It is one of those rare gems where we can truly see the beautiful bond between a man and his dog.
References:
[1] Coates, Joan R. Research (2010, September) Canine Degenerative Myelopathy. Science Direct.