If you’ve ever questioned whether dogs truly are “man’s best friend,” this story will surely solidify your views. Every day, a German shepherd whose owner died last year has reportedly been showing up for mass at Santa Maria Assunta Church in San Donaci, Italy. See, the funeral for his owner, Maria Margherita Lochi, was held at the house of worship. And the woman also brought the dog with her to the church each day, creating a bond that leads Tommy, the loyal 7-year-old canine, to take the daily journey back to the building.
Before her death, Lochi would let him sit at her feet during mass — something the pooch hasn’t forgotten. While some people would assume that a church isn’t necessarily the most appropriate place for a dog, congregants and leaders apparently enjoy Tommy’s presence.
Photo Credit: Nikonarte Fotografia/Daily Mail
“He’s there every time I celebrate mass and is very well behaved. He doesn’t make a sound,” Father Donato Panna, a faith leader at Santa Maria Assunta Church, told the DailyMail.”He’s still coming to Mass even after Maria’s funeral, he waits patiently by the side of the altar and just sits there quietly.”
The priest said that he couldn’t bring himself to throw the dog out, as he recently lost his own hound. So, he lets Tommy out each day after mass concludes.
Following Lochi’s death, the dog has apparently been adopted by the community. While Father Panna hopes that a permanent home is soon found for him, for now, the entire village leaves out food for the canine, as he has been “adopted by everyone.”
The heartbroken dog, clearly commemorating his owner’s memory, showcases just how intense the relationship can be between animals and their masters.
(H/T: Yahoo! News)
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Comments (139)
sizzlinsexybeckster
Jan. 18, 2013 at 10:05amI love you Doggie!!! It’s not a coincidence that the priest recently lost his dog. He said he would have just kicked out the dog, but now he recognizes the dog as a loved one. All animals have feelings, not just some of the human ones. A great family movie is Hachi : A Dog’s Tale, starring Richard Gere, Joan Allen, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. A story just like this one. I surely hope all the people keep being nice to this lovely doggie…. you can’t always rely on people since most of them reek.
I love you Doggie!!!
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1776_2012
Jan. 18, 2013 at 12:49pmAmen!
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girlnurse
Jan. 18, 2013 at 1:43pmOh man…that movie is a tear jerker.. Ive seen it twice. Dont know why I torture myself. Sweet dog with broken heart—breaks my heart too:(
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Bluebonnet
Jan. 18, 2013 at 2:15pmI want to go hug that dog. Such loyalty we’d love from mankind. Reminds me of the TV commercial about a puppy growing up, finally gets a white muzzle and letting the dog out of the trunk of the car, they mention what you think is about the love and loyalty of a dog, and the fools ruin it by mentioning the car…………….I’ve thought about getting that car, but this advertisement was a sick letdown. GTH
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Bill
Jan. 18, 2013 at 7:52pmBluebonnet, I totaly agree with you.
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DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:16pmDogs really are like that. That is why they are man’s best friend.
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Lawburro
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:22pmI bawled like a baby watching Hachi!
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dublinthewagons
Jan. 19, 2013 at 5:20amSuch loyalty we humans have lost. We are worse off for it. Learn from animals, as we have become beneath them, in many ways. Dog eat dog world NO human eat human. Time for a change.
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The-Monk
Jan. 19, 2013 at 7:03amWhy hasn’t someone adopted him?
Tommy is clearly looking for help at the only place he knows.
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BlueEyedInfidel
Jan. 20, 2013 at 2:22pmI have three treasured friends of the fuzzy variety. I love this dog and this is why most dogs are better than people. I am making a donation to the Humane Society today in Tommy’s name!
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Armed Patriot
Jan. 21, 2013 at 5:42amWe recently adopted a yard dog at the company I work for. Shes a sweetie. I like dogs more than people.
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Cherilyn
Jan. 23, 2013 at 8:43pmaww what a nice story!!!….I love dogs even though I’m really a cat person…it’s weird if I can say it that Tommy sits quietly and doesn’t bark during Mass..it’s nice that Tommy attends Mass every day at the church where his owner’s funeral was held…I wish there were more stories like this and less stories about people killing each other or cheating each other out of money or other stuff..as for a new home why doesn’t Father Donato adopt Tommy since his (Father’s) own dog died????..love this story so nice…if that were here in Houston Texas me or my mama would adopt Tommy the German Shepherd he seems lovable
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JuanaDance
Jan. 18, 2013 at 10:05amDogs are the Angels we see here on Earth.
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betsyyoung
Jan. 18, 2013 at 1:18pmYou may, indeed, be accurate with that comment! Seems logical to me!!!
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naughtycal
Jan. 18, 2013 at 1:20pmI won’t go that far but without a doubt if they bound with you,you’ll have friend for life and they would take on a bear to save you. They do have to be properly integrated and socialized into a family especially if there are small children. My akita treats our 2 year old like he was a pup. He’ll grab him by his shirt sleave and walk him to me if he doesn’t come when I call him.
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cosmo101
Jan. 18, 2013 at 4:11pmYou are almost always right about this, however; go to dog-shame.com to get a good laugh about our canine friends!
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KOCHLEFFEL
Jan. 18, 2013 at 5:39pmJuana, you are right, but these angels have tails.
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phillipwgirard
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:08pm@JUANADANCE,,, Beautiful, I never heard it put quite like that, they are indeed,,,,
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dcatlady100
Jan. 19, 2013 at 7:41pma Soldier who gave has everytubg for his land and freedom: A dog so patiently waits for his master.
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Tachy320
Jan. 20, 2013 at 8:50amMy friend had a dog, a Series. I went to visit and that dog adopted me. I’m disabled and not feeling good one day. Gus never left me all day and slept with me every night. He died two weeks after I got home. It killed me. I miss that dog as much as Tommy misses its owner. I know I will see at least two dogs in Heaven. Great story.
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Ironz
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:54amThere is a poem called Rain bow Bridge, please look it up and read it.
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orbin
Jan. 18, 2013 at 11:52amJust this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
Author unknown…
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txannie
Jan. 18, 2013 at 11:54amWARNING…the poem will make you cry…
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3-Blue
Jan. 18, 2013 at 12:23pmI have to admit, this choked me up pretty good. I have a childlike desire for that silly Rainbow story to be true… I have great dogs now. But I once had a German Shepherd like the one in Italy. There is something very special about them. They’re just not like other dogs. I often felt that he was smarter than me. The day that dog died was the very worst day of my life and I have had some hum-dingers…
I buried him in the back yard and planted a small cherry tree as a memorial atop his grave. That sapling grew like a bean sprout into a beautiful 30ft tree. Now for many years we have enjoyed a bumper crop of ‘dog cherries’ every year. It is the healthiest tree in my yard. A beautiful tree for a great dog…
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betsyyoung
Jan. 18, 2013 at 1:20pmMakes me cry every time I read it, as I am right now!
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decendentof56
Jan. 18, 2013 at 2:58pmYes…that poem is a heart-stopper! I received that poem in a card when the ashes from my beloved Golden Lab, Tillie, arived. She was killed by a ruthless, speeding driver who couldn’t even stop after hitting her.
She was thrown 140′ from point of impact. What a loving girl she was.
I’ll have to say, even though I still have her ashes and that card, I wouldn’t read it because it is so sad to me. I cried when I read it here.
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biohazard23
Jan. 18, 2013 at 3:47pmDECENDENTOF56, I got the poem with the ashes of my beloved Sheltie. He died within 2 weeks of being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. They didn’t know how bad it was until they went to do surgery on him. The vet waited for me to arrive so I could say my last goodbyes to him before he had to go to the Rainbow Bridge. I still have his ashes and we have new Shelties now, but I still miss my boy, Murph, like crazy. That poem reminds me of how heartbroken I was when I lost him. :(
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WhiteFang
Jan. 18, 2013 at 4:29pmorbin,
I appreciate why you and others find that poem so appealing. It describes what we want out of our life, to see our loved ones again, those we lost in death. We want to be re-united with them and have the quality of life the way God wanted for mankind from the beginning.
Of course the animals that we loved will not receive a resurrection as that is reserved for mankind and the thought of our pets being so is not scriptural. – (John 5:26-29)
If we change that poem to name humans as the recipients of this blessing then it describes the blessings of the ruler-ship of our king and redeemer Jesus Christ. It is the Kingdom of God that will bring these blessing to us. (Matthew 24:14)
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bigdaddyt46
Jan. 19, 2013 at 12:34amthanks orbin. what a touching poem.
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RichEG
Jan. 19, 2013 at 6:44amIt is assumed that man is the master and the dog is his companion. If you spend time with a dog, and are intelligent enough to observe, you will find the flaws in man.
When you end their lives due to age or sickness, you are often told it is for the best and you stop their suffering. I ended the suffering of my last of the “Trio” last August. I do not like to play God. As her eyes lost the light and she breathed her last, I thanked her for letting me be her friend. God forgive me …
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deadend
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:45amBeing God’s gift to man this is how I know islam is a false religion, they hate dogs.
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Gomek
Jan. 18, 2013 at 6:09pmI was jusy going to mention that! You would NEVER see this in a Mosque!! If a dog even brushes up against most Muslim, they have to immediately take a bath!
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Kumo
Jan. 18, 2013 at 10:53pmAgreed. Religions that say that animals do not have souls or are unclean are false. In the early days, God granted us the power to be the caretakers of these creatures and as a former cat owner, I can tell you that our little friends do have souls.
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WhiteFang
Jan. 19, 2013 at 3:14pmKumo,
Yes animals have souls. In the Holy Scriptures, all humans and animals are called souls, to have souls (Hebrew: nefesh, that which breaths). – Genesis 1:20, 21, 24,25
Some translations render “nefesh” as “creature” or “creatures”.
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deadend
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:44amDoes are truly God’s gift to man.
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Big Media Bias
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:39amThis dog could be President of the United States. I bet Tommy has AKC papers to prove his birth. Obama has Photoshop papers.
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PDfromToledo
Jan. 18, 2013 at 10:41amShut up Big Media, just shut up and let something not be about Obama.
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chips1
Jan. 18, 2013 at 12:20pmBIG MEDIA BIAS:
You have the 1st amendment rights. You must be reading the Constitution. Good job.
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PK_SEA
Jan. 18, 2013 at 1:05pmPlease can we just have one thread not being about “that guy”? This is a heartwarming story about a loyal dog and has nothing to do with politics.
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Bugleboy99
Jan. 19, 2013 at 1:40amOur pup has papers to prove her birth not just papers on the kitchen floor. She sits by the door everyday 15 minutes before Bugleboy99 pulls into the driveway. No matter what shift he’s working the dog sits by the door 15 minutes before Bugleboy99 comes home. She’s loyal and true blue, that Buglepup99.
Mrs. Bugleboy99
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gobluebuckeye
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:37amNever mistreat your animal, always love them and protect them. Don’t treat them like they don’t matter simply because they are not human, because animals are our best friends, they are our protectors, and comforters. They have insights into our emotions more than any person could ever could. They bring a smile to our face as they light up when they see us. Love your animals, because they love us. They are loyal and true and we all are searching for those values in the people we surround ourselves with.
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betsyyoung
Jan. 18, 2013 at 1:29pmUnfortunately we shall never find all of those attributes collectively in our human friends, only in our dogs will we be so blessed!
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DADDYWOREAWHITEHAT
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:24pmWhen I come home & my son’s dog greets me I know my grand puppy is a gift. A dog is a member of the family.
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gobluebuckeye
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:35amThis is a much better story then the idiot cops’ that shot a dog simply because they went to the wrong house.
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pagraywolf
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:19amIf the priest just lost his dog, why doesn’t he adopt Tommy? He could easily bring him to mass and the congregation could still enjoy Tommy. Win win!
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betsyyoung
Jan. 18, 2013 at 1:12pmPerfect answer!!!
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cosmic dogma
Jan. 18, 2013 at 4:02pmIf he adopted him, he may not be “allowed” to bring “his” dog into the Church. Maybe he has adopted him in his heart.
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mcmeador
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:16amWhy would no one have taken that dog in yet? I would in an instant.
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mcmeador
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:24amIn an instance, rather.
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Rowgue
Jan. 18, 2013 at 12:25pmYou were right the first time. It would be instant not instance.
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PaulHausser
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:03amGreat story. I needed this. New year starting off a bit rough.
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hugo65hsv
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:57amGreat story.. Says a lot about what relationships ought to be..
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betsyyoung
Jan. 18, 2013 at 1:31pmGood luck on that……….!
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ellietoo
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:52amMuch of Europe has a terrible stray dog population. In eastern Europe people take guns and just out right shoot the poor stray animals. There isn’t anyone in that town that will take in a church going dog? What is wrong with people? Didn’t that woman have a family? The hardening of the hearts of the people of Europe must be complete.
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deeberj
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:07amThis is what you got out of this story? There’s too many stray dogs in Europe and those people’s hearts are hard? Wow. People ARE taking care of the dog. They are feeding it. In America the dog would go to a pound and be put down.
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:21amFeeding a dog and taking care of a dog are two different things. Father Panna had recently lost a dog, but could replace him with this one?
The dog has been taken to the church every day for 7 years, I think it is more of a learned behavior than anything else.
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Jan. 18, 2013 at 2:40pm“couldN’T”
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TheOldeCrow
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:49amTommy exemplifies all that is good and right about relationships and God’s Creations.
Not a Child, but one of His Lowlier Creatures shows us The Way.
Who are we, to disregard This Message out of hand?
Please, listen to Tommy, closely…….what Is It,that you hear………..?
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Obama Snake Oil Co
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:23amRemember this, catholic dogs go to heaven….they are only here to earn their wings. The bell will ring one day.
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VRW Conspirator
Jan. 18, 2013 at 10:00amSt. Francis of Assisi is looking over Tommy and God is using that canine to show the people what a pure soul his owner had. This is obviously a small community, they have a mass everyday and Maria was there everyday, and the community easily could care for the dog and knew the owner.
As for the idiot that talked about dog packs in Europe, dogs are a pack animal, societal in nature. Look at the Native Americans, dogs would run throughout the tribal village with no owner, cared for by all and they did their part in protection, hunting, and companionship.
It might be hard in a village or town of 5-10,000, but in a community of less than a 1000, which many countryside villages are in Europe, the dogs used to be a good thing. They could patrol and assist with animal control, rats and snakes and other wild animals. They could help herd the farm animals.
I think it would be great to live in a town small enough that the town dogs could just roam and everybody knew which belonged to which neighbor and everyone took care of the dog pack. You would see a lot more children outside playing on nice spring and summer days if they knew all the dogs would be playing right along with them. Dogs are a great attraction to children, something in a child and the dog makes them naturally trust each other and get along.
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Sharon Rose
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:42amWhat a great story~~
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Dismayed Veteran
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:39amLoyalty and love knows no bonds.
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SpankDaMonkey
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:36am.
All good dogs go to heaven………….
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grimmster
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:45amNice one Spank, no one can top that statement,thank you!
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dcatkin
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:35amDogs are a great thing. I love my dog, and I hope sombody loves this dog.
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biohazard23
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:32amAwww…. How sweet. (sniffle)
Dogs are better than most people.
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SweetDoug
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:37am‘
‘
‘
You know, I never came home to find my dog snarling and snapping at me.
I never once had my dog not be happy when I fed him.
He’d walk into the room and look up me, and wag his tail.
What a friend.
I miss him dearly.
This doggie’s heart is broken, somebody needs to take him in, like that priest.
•∆•
V-V
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biohazard23
Jan. 18, 2013 at 1:40pmSweetDoug, awww…. (sniffle — again)
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edie1945
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:18amMy Heart is crying,blessings forever.
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Eastinfection
Jan. 18, 2013 at 7:59amDogs are awesome.
There’s a guy at the golf course i frequent that brings his Sheppard with him when he golfs.
As soon as he hits the ball, the dog takes off, finds the ball, & sits next to it to wait for him- no matter where the ball goes.
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Inlightofthings
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:21amThat’s funny. If that were my dog, he would be in for a “rough” day in the water and at the beach…so to speak.
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KevINtampa
Jan. 18, 2013 at 11:12amDid you know that the regulations in golf treat animal behavior on the course as part of the course? So if a squirrel picks up your ball and drops it twenty feet from where it picked it up, you have to play it where it dropped it. If a bird swoops down and takes your ball and flies away, it’s treated like an out of bounds penalty.
Knowing this, I trained my dog to put any golf ball that smells like oregano into a small hole and I leave a sack of fresh oregano in my golf bag. When I go to the course, I let me dog loose and he hides in the brush. After I hit my ball he dashes out, locates my oregano scented ball, and places it the hole. Several times I’ve had a hole in one as a result of this. My friend told me it’s not fair, and I simply say he’s a service dog.
He asked, “How exactly is he a service dog?”
I replied, “Well obviously he’s helping me with my handicap, DUH!”
I just made that joke up. With some work I may actually use that later.
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sligresda
Jan. 18, 2013 at 12:43pmi wanna smooch on that lil chunkster.
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mycomet123
Jan. 18, 2013 at 7:57amAnimals are God’s creature too. As far as I’m concerned–open the doors & let them all in! I would adopt that dog in a minute if I was a attending Mass there!.
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SaturdaysWarrior76
Jan. 18, 2013 at 7:56amAwwwwww! Sweet story of a faithful friend. :)
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loriann12
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:02amGerman Sheppards are very intelligent.
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LetusCtheLight
Jan. 18, 2013 at 11:20amVery touching story indeed. All dogs are special….dog spelled backwards is God. German Shepherd Dogs, to me, are even more special. For 61 years I have not been without the love of at least one. They are extremely faithful & sensitive to usually one person or one family truly teaching what faithfulness, devotion, & love really means. One wonders if this precious dog isn’t happier living as he is by continuing the same routines which bonded him to his person, the church, & the community…. My…they teach us soooo much about life.
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karencole
Jan. 18, 2013 at 7:55amIs that photo real? Looks like a painting.
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Gonzo
Jan. 18, 2013 at 7:52amSounds more polite and attentive than many that attend my church.
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mycomet123
Jan. 18, 2013 at 7:56amIsin’t that the truth!
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VRW Conspirator
Jan. 18, 2013 at 9:51amyeah…he isn’t texting or browsing the web on his phone while the priest is speaking or getting up to go answer a call…
for all the advantages, I would remove every cell phone from society in a heartbeat….without a doubt… we were much better off, better behaved, and better connected to each other before them…
cell phones and texting…signs of the ADD society we now live in….
and before anyone says anything…yes I have one…it sits in my pocket unless I need to call someone, even when I am at work….if it wasn’t for the “emergency” notion of being stuck on the road or my children’s safety…I wouldn’t have one…
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betsyyoung
Jan. 18, 2013 at 1:16pmAmen!!!
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yiska8
Jan. 18, 2013 at 8:39pmThis animal shows endless faith,love, and spirit for his owner. And shows more respect for this house of worship than the average Amercan “human” atheist. I hope he finds a worthy home.God Bless the Church and the community for taking care of this precious dog.God Bless this loving and loyal animal.
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