Some of you may have seen the funny, viral, “Mable and Olive” videos produced by Andrew Cotter, the sports broadcaster who narrates the life and times of his two Labrador Retrievers, But the other day, Cotter wrote a beautiful essay called “Just a Dog”. When people tell you, often dismissively that you should “lighten up..it’s just a dog”, remember these words.

“Like, ” 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 a reason to overcome the day.

If you too, think it’s “just a dog”, then you probably understand phrases like “just a friend” or “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 makes me a better person because of “just a dog”.

I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly into 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” , or “just a woman”. So the next time that you hear the phrase, “just a dog”. Just smile, because they just don’t understand.”–Andrew Cotter