Some heroes wear fur
We never know how far-reaching of an impact we can have in the lives of others. Something we say or do can have a ripple-effect beyond even our knowing.
This is not limited to humans. Animals can also have the same kind of impact.
I would like to share this story about my beloved dog, Bob. One that had a profound impact on someone’s life.
It is our usual daily outing. Bob and I walk to our small local park in our Toronto neighbourhood, near our house at the time. The park is empty except for one other person: a man, a stranger, whom I have not seen before.
Bob, being his usual “friendly giant” self, runs up to the man with his, “hey, so how do you like me now!” kind of greeting. The man plays with Bob for a while as I stand at a distance from the two of them, in what seems like a rather unremarkable encounter. Besides, Bob was friendly with most people he met.
As the man begins leaving the park, he approaches me and thanks me for the time he spent with Bob. Most importantly, he tells me something I will never forget. I am paraphrasing here:
The man tells me that he had been feeling sad and felt he had no reason to live any longer, and that spending a little bit of time with Bob gave him some joy – joy that he must have felt was missing in his life.
These few precious moments of joy with a goofy, loveable sheepdog had changed this stranger’s mind about ending his life that day.
Then the man leaves the park and I never see him again.
This is Bob’s legacy.
