Okay. So, with tons of things happening lately (my sister getting injured, my other sister also getting injured, and tons of work flooding in, ect.) I haven't had the time to post (or continue researching Ferdie's history), so I figured I would leave a little post for you all to read.

Hopefully soon I will have more time and finally figure out the last two things I need to know about Ferdie (when we got her and how old she is... isn't that terrible that I can't remember?).

So here we go! I hope you all enjoy. (And I'm sorry if someone on here has already posted this. My mom sent it to me in an email and I thought I should post it on here.)

-To all Dog Lovers and to everyone who said, "It was 'Just a Dog'."-

by Richard Biby, Contributing Editor

Versatile Hunting Dog Magazine, February 2006

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a dog," or,
"that's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the distance
traveled, the time spent, or the costs involved for "just a dog." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a dog." Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a dog" but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a dog" and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a dog" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you, too, think it's "just a dog" then you will probably understand
phases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise." "Just a
dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure
unbridled joy. "Just a dog" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because of "just a dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future. So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a dog" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a dog" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a dog" but the
thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "just a man." So the next time you hear the phrase "just a dog" just smile, because they "just don't understand."