As I sat recently cradling a fading puppy in my arms, I questioned my sanity for probably the millionth time. The misery was compounded this time by news from an old friend that she had mad the decision to put down her beloved pet (a Boxer I had bred and nurtured years before) and yet another call from yet another friend to let me know that a puppy out of a more recent litter had been bitten and died of several snake bites, three deaths in one week's time. No matter how long these precious creatures share my life, whether it is 13 minutes, 13 days or 13 years, the pain of losing one never gets any easier. Each of them takes a little piece of my heart with them and so one can easily see why I would question my sanity in deliberately inflicting this pain on myself time after time. I'm sure there are others like me who asks at times like these, "what if there were no Boxers in my life?"

Well, let's see. The first obvious chances would be no feed bills, no vet bills and the like. Others would be no dogs to feed in the early AM every day of the week (dogs don't know when the weekend arrives), no dog hair on furniture and clothes, no accidents to clean up off the rugs, no yard to poop scoop, no training classes to attend, no dogs shows and no dog club meetings are all other changes that would occur.

After mulling these changes around in my head, I can't say any of them would be really fantastic. Other than more money to spend on who knows what and less work, the rest of these changes would probably make our lives pretty dull. I personally enjoy that time in the morning with them and their wonderful warm greetings. Who cares about dog hair (sometimes it actually adds to an outfit)? Let's face it, nobody's perfect and when Mother Nature calls you've got to go (be your man or beast). I enjoy the fresh air and working in the yard, poop scooping or playing fetch gets me outside. I like going to training classes, dog shows and dog club meetings.

I would no longer have those brown eyes watching me from across the room, adoring me, expressing only pure love and devotion. I would not have that soft muzzle to nuzzle me when they sense a moment of need for companionship, or just someone to understand (and they do understand). There would be no clownish antics to lift my spirits and really make me laugh, smile and believe that life is really as grand as they depict it. There would be no babes to cuddle and nurture, no company on a walk, no protection from people who may do me or my family harm. They are, after all, the one thing in our lives that remains constant and caring. They really help to sooth over the hectic pace of everyday living with kids and husbands or wives, the stress of the job, the household chores and budget. They do not discriminate when one needs comfort or an ear to listen to our complaints.

I realize they give me so much that life without them is more unbearable than the pains in my heart each time one goes on to that better place. So you see, I've answered our question. What if there were no Boxers in our lives? It wouldn't be complete and our hearts would certainly be less full. Better they are filled with the boxers who have made our lives a little better, each in their own special way. That's not insanity? A piece of our hearts is really a very small price to pay.