Lessons from my blind rescue dog.
—Wherever you are, find the dog-people.
—The only things in life that matter are people and food. Although not necessarily in that order.
—You learn everything you need to know about a person by the way they talk to you.
—When you are blind, friends are very important. If you hang around the wrong ones, you’ll get lost.
—Food tastes SO good.
—But not broccoli.
—If you do enough of the things that scare you, you won’t be scared of those things anymore.
—Out of all the animals on the earth, humans are the only ones who can be cruel.
—Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you will end up peeing in the house. So just remember, if you DO pee indoors, try not to walk through your own puddle.
—There is no such thing as a little triumph.
—Being afraid is okay. Everyone gets afraid. But being afraid doesn’t have to slow you down. You can be afraid and be strong at the same time. In fact, sometimes the strongest creatures are also the most afraid.
—If you DO, however, walk through your own ginormous puddle of pee, and your feet become wet with puppy urine, whatever you do, DON’T climb onto Dad’s bed with your pee-feet and put your paws on his pillow and root around like you are searching for exotic truffles.
—There is no value in celery.
—Or spinach.
—Life is far easier if you have a bad memory.
—Follow the voice of someone who loves you and you will be okay.
—The most valuable possession you own is your trust. But trust has a shelf life. So give it to someone fast or it will spoil.
—Children are always nice to blind dogs.
—People in hotels do not like it when you sniff their butts at the communal coffee machine.
—If someone loves you, they will prove it to you with a treat.
—When you get lost in your own backyard, just make a lot of noise. The human who loves you will be there shortly.
—Lack of empathy is the same as abuse.
—The person who feeds you supper is probably your true friend. But the person who shares his Mexican takeout food with you, including his queso dip, AND lets you eat on his bed, is the truest kind of friend there is.
—You can’t pay attention to bad things and good things at the same time.
—Squirrels are weird.
—Books are good for chewing. Especially the books your dad bought on Amazon about training dogs.
—Dogs were not created to poop on a leash.
—Sometimes, humans like to shout during televised college football games, and they cuss a lot, too. This is very disturbing.
—Especially when Tennessee beats Alabama.
—Occasionally, in the middle of the night, if you get scared, or disoriented, or you can’t remember where you are, just find your best friend. Press your cold nose against your friend. And that friend will hold you tightly.
And even though you are frightened, and your world is so dark, and you sometimes wonder why all this bad stuff has happened to you, you’ll feel okay because you’re not alone. And ultimately that’s what scares dogs (and humans) the most, is being alone. But you’re not alone. Nobody is. Not ever.
—There is no such thing as an evil dog-person.
50 comments
PMc - October 17, 2022 7:55 am
…And that is the Golden Rule of the animal kingdom! 🙏♥️🐕
Peace and Love from Birmingham
Te - October 17, 2022 9:10 am
And just yesterday, I was wondering how Marigold was doing. Thanks!
Debbie - October 17, 2022 9:47 am
Big hug to Marigold.
Deb - October 17, 2022 10:27 am
Love love love this!
Melanie - October 17, 2022 10:36 am
The Gospel according to Reverend Sean. Football season is hard on our pups. Too bad they don’t make doggie remotes for human volume control.
Ron M - October 17, 2022 10:55 am
As a Pastor, Therapist, Human… I see repeatedly, the truth of Marigold’s observation that “life is easier if you have a bad memory” … it seems it’s God’s best approach to us, as well! If only we could approach ourselves similarly. Good observations, all!
Bryan T - October 17, 2022 11:24 am
Celery is used to make gumbo. And gumbo is good.
James White - October 17, 2022 3:21 pm
True dat!
Donna R Taylor - October 17, 2022 11:28 am
I loved these lessons. We could learn a lot from our loyal loving dog. Mostly also that they are grateful for the food and love that we give. In the end they give more than they receive.
Ed (Bear) - October 17, 2022 11:32 am
You forgot one of Marigold’s lessons.
If you constantly love, you will eventually be loved.
Trudy - October 17, 2022 11:42 am
You are a good soul, Sean. Marigold is so lucky to have found you and Jamie. I can’t imagine her having a better home. Love to you all.
mccutchen52 - October 17, 2022 11:47 am
Dogs know good people, I am assuming blind dogs know really good and caring people
Lillian - October 17, 2022 11:49 am
Best ever!
Priscilla Rodgers - October 17, 2022 11:52 am
My dog Jax can see, but he agrees with everything!
Diana - October 17, 2022 12:21 pm
I loved this one this morning. My favorite of all.
Lynn B - October 17, 2022 12:23 pm
Loss makes eventual happiness even sweeter. 🐶 🏈
Lauri Reeg - October 17, 2022 12:39 pm
Happy tears here…
Jim Thomssen - October 17, 2022 12:53 pm
Good old Rocky Top….
Stacey Patton Wallace - October 17, 2022 9:03 pm
lol Jim, this Auburn fan understands. War Eagle
Deacon Nick - October 17, 2022 1:20 pm
The best things in life are NOT things! Acts of love are the only things we retake to Heaven.
David Britnell - October 17, 2022 1:29 pm
Lot’s of love to Marigold!
Gwenith Norton - October 17, 2022 1:41 pm
Wise words from Marigold the Magnificent
steveleachman - October 17, 2022 1:47 pm
Nice column about your blind dog. You are doing a wonderful thing caring and protecting your new 2nd best friend. Your wife is your first best friend. Unfortunately there are a few evil dog people. Hitler loved dogs and he for sure was evil. He did poison his German shepard before he killed himself so maybe he really wasn’t a dog person.
Karen Snyder - October 17, 2022 1:58 pm
“…try not to walk through your own puddle…” A piece of advice I don’t believe I’ve ever before seen in print! ❤️ It’s such a beautiful thing, you and Marigold finding one another!
Darcy Schmidt - October 17, 2022 2:01 pm
This is so sweet. Gotta go squeeze my dear Goldens now😍
Pam - October 17, 2022 2:10 pm
Sniffing crotches is not looked up kindly, either…jess sayin!
(Love your stuff, though, Sean of the South! Stay safe and be happy!)
BKR - October 17, 2022 2:11 pm
❤️❤️
Anne Arthur - October 17, 2022 3:05 pm
Profound dog-wisdom from a dog-lover.
Marigold is living a rich life now.
Marie - October 17, 2022 3:41 pm
Am so enjoying your journey with Marigold. Expect a movie sometime soon. Just. A few more adventure.
Vickie Becker - October 17, 2022 3:43 pm
From a person who once had and loved a blind dog, this touched my heart ❤️
LIN ARNOLD - October 17, 2022 6:10 pm
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!!
My husband & I have rescued Siberian Huskies for 30 years now. We’ve kept some and re-homed some. We now have 2. Our old man, Alex, is 13 and our old lady, Roxie, is 15. (Average life span for a Husky is supposed to be 11-13, but we’ve found it’s usually closer to 10.) So, we have geriatric balls of hair! (Huskies have hair, not fur.)
Roxie is a sweet, prissy fluff of blond hair. We’ve had her since she was almost a year old. She weighs about 35 pounds, which is average for a female Husky. She has never met a stranger in her life. She loves to greet everyone that comes in the yard … especially the UPS driver that gives her treats! LOL! At 15, her eyesight & her hearing are both fading fast. It breaks my heart.
But Alex is a whole different story! He is a huge black & white Husky, not fat, just BIG! His head is hip high on me, and he weighs 110 lbs. The vet thinks he must have some Malamute in him somewhere. Being a rescue, we got him just before his first birthday. We don’t know what his story was, but he is extremely leery of strangers unless I’m right beside him. Not aggressive, he just finds someplace else to be. His hearing has faded a little bit, but his eyesight seems to be fine. You should see him look after Roxie! I can look at him and ask him, “Where’s Roxie?” and he’s off to round her up and guide her back to me. And he’s my “talker”. We’ve all seen the videos of the Huskies “talking”, and that’s what Alex is. He is just too, too funny! And to top it off, he understands my commands when I say them in French! My husband just shakes his head and laughs. He is MY big ol’ Dufus dog and I don’t know what I’m going to do when he’s gone.
But my husband & I both will be 70 soon, so these 2 sweeties will probably be our last rescues. Retirement and feeding 2 Siberian Huskies just don’t go too well together. I’ve started making their wet food and some of their treats because it’s cheaper and better for them. (My husband and his friends are deer hunters, so I use a lot of scrap venison for the wet food.)
So, all this is to say, give Marigold a big hug and a kiss for me. And know that there are those of us out here that understand your unconditional love for her and her unconditional love for you. God bless you both!!
Stephen Disney - October 17, 2022 6:11 pm
Wonderful!!!!
Betty G. Dunn - October 17, 2022 6:49 pm
Love these lessons you have learned from Merigold! Being a blind human who loves dogs, I could totally empathize with some of your comments, especially the one about being alone. Finding Merigold was a “God thing” for both of you! Thank you for not mentioning the state where you found him/her. We are NOT all cruel, mean, and hateful to our 4 legged friends.
P.S. Why did you move from your beloved home state of Florida to Alabama?
Mize Rosemary - October 17, 2022 7:22 pm
Thank you for sharing this special true🦴 and the other specials 🌟that you send are also appreciated✴️
AlaRedClayGirl - October 17, 2022 7:44 pm
Wonderful words of wisdom!
Barbara L - October 17, 2022 7:49 pm
Sean, great lessons from Marigold but what about your other two dogs? Are they getting attention?
Susan - October 17, 2022 8:25 pm
❤️
Stacey Patton Wallace - October 17, 2022 9:01 pm
Sean, thank you for making my day. Love to you, Jamie, and Marigold.
Lora Lee - October 17, 2022 9:23 pm
Except the beast who made her blind. Just saying.
Elgin Carver - October 17, 2022 11:18 pm
Nothing positive said about a dog is ever wrong.
Barbara - October 17, 2022 11:39 pm
Bless all pups, they bless us
Cm - October 18, 2022 1:06 am
❤️❣️❤️❣️❤️
Linda Hochstein - October 18, 2022 1:08 am
The last sentence confused me as I think Micheal Vick, his brother and all the dog fighters are evil.
M M Sawyer - October 18, 2022 10:14 pm
Dog people love dogs, all their eccentricities, and by their nature can never be evil; MV and all like him are not dog people. They are selfish, see no value in dogs save their ability to make money from fighting and provide entertainment through torture. Dog fighters and those who mistreat dogs (or any animal) are indeed evil.
Samantha Groharing - October 18, 2022 12:54 pm
Lawd!! I Love you!…..& your daily posts! Thank you so much! You make my Day!👍♥️
Ruth Ann Hines - October 18, 2022 2:51 pm
You did it again! EVERYTHING you write makes so much sense! Thank you and thank you for being YOU ! Wish there were more like you!
Linda Moon - October 18, 2022 6:57 pm
I had a blind cat and a deaf dog who eventually learned ASL. They were not alone, and they kept My Guy and me from feeling alone, too. R.I.P. Spunky and Pyper.
Jenny - October 19, 2022 12:33 am
“—You can’t pay attention to bad things and good things at the same time.”
Dear Lord. I needed to hear(or read this) so much right now. The busyness of life can just take away that focus and drain all our joy if we let it…Thank you Sean for reminding us to pay attention to what’s truly important.
johnallenberry - October 19, 2022 5:55 pm
Mark Twain once said: “Man is the only animal that blushes. Or needs to.” He also said “God created man because he was diappointed in the monkey.”
PhDude
Kathy Moran - October 21, 2022 7:42 pm
Absolutely awesome blog. I am using and sharing on FB as I have been in pet rescue for last 8 years. I have been in the woods trying to coax dumped scared puppies, looked in the dawn for lost ones, and explaining to people how to look for their lost dogs. So many will see and I haved credit to you. I love your writings. I