So, he got a beagle puppy from a rescue organization. He named his beagle “Maggie” because Maggie Mae was his wife’s favorite song by Rod Stewart. This man and his wife Liz had spent many nights listening to songs from Rod Stewart, the Beatles, and other groups from the 1960’s. Some nights they danced together until Liz began to have a hard time dancing because she had a disease called MS. But the dancing didn’t stop completely.

Sometimes the man would hold her up, if she felt like it, and they could still slow dance together for a few minutes.

On some nights, the man would dance along with the faster songs for her. He would act silly and make her smile and laugh at him. On nights when they were both too tired to dance the man would play guitar and sing some of their favorite songs to her.

The man loved her more than life itself and would do anything to make her happy. He knew she loved him the same way, but he also knew she was always tired and in pain. The smiles and laughter did not come easily for her like they used to.

Liz had succumbed to the disease a few years before the man retired. I think he kept working during those years because his heart was broken and he was afraid of being totally alone both day and night.

But now at least he has Maggie the beagle. She is quite a handful and keeps him smiling. The man was not so foolish as to think a beagle could fill the hole in his heart that was left by losing the love of his life. It had been love at first sight and a marriage which lasted 48 years. But at least he was no longer completely alone. He and Maggie now listen to music together. He plays guitar and sings for her, and she usually does not howl.

The man still dances and acts silly. Maggie cannot dance, but she does try by jumping around and barking. That’s something to see.

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There seemed to be four opinions. The first opinion declared that pets did not go to Heaven, so when they died, they just ceased to exist. The second opinion stated that a separate Heaven for all animals existed. The third opinion declared that only good animals went to Heaven, and the bad animals went to Hades.

The fourth (and my personal favorite) insisted that our pets and all animals for that matter went to the same Heaven as humans did.

Please allow me to make my case for number four. First of all, I should mention that I am an avid animal lover. I love all animals and support ASPA, our local humane shelter, and other animal organizations. I have enjoyed the company of many dogs and even a couple of cats over the years. LOL!

“Maggie”

Currently, my best friend is “Maggie” a precocious, active, devoted, loving, one-year-old beagle. Her photo certainly adorns above and greatly improves this article. I wanted her to have a biblical name, but I also wanted her to be named “Maggie”, so I got creative. Her name is officially, “Mary Magdalene.” Maggie for short.

Follow The Science?

Reading scientific articles on animal death is like reading scientific articles on human death. There is talk of decomposing and the chemicals released back into the soil etc. But science “generally” does not believe humans have souls, much less animals having souls.

Science says when you’re dead you’re dead. While that’s true about any physical body, most faiths believe that there is an afterlife. I am a Christian, a man of faith, so I rely on the bible when there is any issue in my life. My faith may be different from yours, but most faiths believe in some sort of afterlife.

Lifetime Here Is a Tiny Speck of Eternity

Some religions believe in reincarnation, that animals can be reincarnated as humans and vice-versa. Religious leaders and scholars sometimes even disagree within the same faith.

Some Popes like Pope Pious did not believe animals went to Heaven, but Pope Paul VI and other Popes did. My heart was lifted by the Rev. Billy Graham’s statement that animal lovers will be reunited with their beloved critters in heaven.

I also liked Rev. Graham’s response to a letter asking if their pet would be reunited with them in the afterlife. Rev. Graham responded, “God will provide us with everything we need to be happy in Heaven — and if our pets are necessary to make us completely happy there, you can be confident He will arrange for them to be with us.”

Important

We are told in the Bible that there will be a “New Heaven and a new Earth.” We will not be floating around on a cloud in the sky as sometimes depicted by Hollywood. Heaven is described much as the “Garden of Eden” with rivers, trees, animals, and good food.

I am looking forward to that (I don’t mean just the food). Ha Ha!

In Addition

The Bible supports my hope and belief on this subject in many ways. “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the falling together; And a little child shall lead them. Isiah 11:6 KJV Buddhists refer to the “thread of karma,” the chain of life, and a continuity of constant becoming.

It’s a belief that every life form has intelligence and worth whether it is a rock, a dog, a cat, an ant, a plant or a human. “We say that animals are living the same lives that humans live,” explains the Rev. Carol Mudd, a priest at the Zen Center of Orange County in Costa Mesa. “An animal’s spiritual life is the same as humans.”

In Hinduism, dogs are seen as loyal and protective animals, and it is believed that they will be rewarded in their next life for their devotion. In ancient Egyptian culture, dogs were often depicted in artwork and were believed to be protectors of the dead.

Whatever you believe about animals being at your side in Heaven or the afterlife, the most important decision in everyone’s life is for you to consider what your own afterlife will look like. Personally, I am absolutely confident that The Bible is the most accurate book we have of historical events, and it is the breathed word of God.

Therefore

If you would like to feel confident and at ease with your eternity, Romans 10:9 says that “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

We all are offered eternal life together with no more pain or strife (maybe even along with our pets).

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You generously feed numerous street dogs without hesitation, and they anticipate that this compassionate act will persist. This sentiment is echoed by all street dogs.

But today we would like to tell you about a man named Kamala Lochan Baliarsingh, a resident of Orissa, India, who has been exemplifying this selfless behaviour for over a decade by feeding street dogs daily.

Kamala Lochan Baliarsingh’s life has been a roller coaster journey, characterized by numerous challenges, including betrayal by someone close to him and struggles as a homeless individual. Despite these hardships, his love for animals remained unwavering.

In this part of the unsung heroes, we will delve into Kamala’s story, exploring his transformation from a ragpicker to a beacon of hope for street dogs.

Kamala Lochan Baliarsingh’s Early Life

Kamala Lochan Baliarsingh was not born as a ragpicker. He left his home due to family disputes and began living alone at the age of 60 when most people hope to live out their remaining years in peace. However, he chose to embark on a difficult journey, walking barefoot on a thorny road.

He often complained that everyone had deserted him and that his children never visited him. He used to work for a company where he earned 90 rupees per day. However, now he earns a living by scavenging for plastic bottles and cleaning railway platforms in Orissa.

Sometimes, he goes to bed hungry as he doesn’t earn a single penny in a day. If someone offers him food on such days, he considers it his lucky day. The streets have become his permanent address, where he sleeps, eats, and lives his life.

Kamala said in one of his rare interviews that nobody comes to seek him out. Now, the sky serves as his permanent roof and the stars are the lights that illuminate his new abode.

Kamala’s Love For Dogs

Love for dogs is one of the purest and most unconditional forms of love that one can experience. It is a love that knows no boundaries and is often the source of comfort, joy, and companionship for those who have dogs in their lives.

Kamala Lochan Baliarsingh may not personally own any dogs, but he has chosen to show love and care for those dogs that are neglected and denied care. He has made the decision to provide food and support to the animals in need.

He has taken in seven stray dogs and made them his own, providing them with a home at his adobe. Kamala never neglects their needs, always ensuring that they have a roof over their heads, even if it means going without himself. He is fiercely dedicated to providing for these dogs, ensuring that their well-being is always a top priority.

Every day at mealtime, a group of dogs gather around Kamala, eager to share the leftovers from his meal. It is a heartwarming sight, as they all come together to feast on the food, bonding over their shared love of a good meal. Kamala takes great pleasure in this daily routine, as he watches the dogs enjoying their food and the camaraderie they share.

The love he has for these dogs is evident in the way he cares for them, making sure that they are well-fed and happy. His devotion to these animals is truly admirable. At times, Kamala may go without food himself, but he always makes sure that his dogs are properly fed.

The Power of Kindness

The story of Kamala Lochan Baliarsingh is truly inspiring and heartwarming. Despite facing challenges in his own life, he chose to show kindness and compassion towards the stray dogs at the railway station.

He went above and beyond to ensure that they were well-fed and taken care of, even if it meant sacrificing his own meals.

His selfless act of charity has touched the hearts of many and serves as a reminder that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life.

Kamala’s story is a testament to the power of the human spirit, and his unwavering dedication to the well-being of his furry friends is a shining example of what it means to be a doer in life.

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No doubt Dogs are our best friends perhaps the only animal on this planet who loves you more than themselves. I also have two dogs in my house and I’ve shared their story about how I found them in my blog post – ‘Unconditional love of a street dog’.

My perception of dogs was only up to my home that they care for my family when I was outside and they gave me a great welcome when I returned back to home. Recently, my respect for the most loving creature became more when I came to know about the story of Sergeant Stubby.

I know you are also stunned by the name of Sergeant Stubby, why we are calling him a sergeant? The same question was raised in my mind too, and I did a little bit of research and found an incredible story behind it.

And I’m sure you’ll fall in love with him when you hear his story.

We have seen that dogs are our good partners for morning walks as well as good companions in our bad times. Also, you might have seen dogs working at security points to find a suspect because of their immense smell-sensitive receptors.

But have you ever heard about a dog fighting in a war? Yes! you read it right I am going to talk about a warrior in the US army who had served from 1917-1928 for 18 months and participated in 17 battles on the western front during World War I.

Sergeant Stubby’s Early Life

Stubby was a street dog before he joined the US Army. His life was the same as other street dogs. The morning starts with finding food in the garbage and hoping somebody will provide him a meal. As with any other street dog, his life was full of struggle too.

But Stubby was a very intelligent dog, his smell sensitivity was exceptional which made him different from other dogs.

One regular morning in the bust streets Stubby saw a couple of soldiers going down the road and everyone was appreciating them.

He sat there quietly and watched them as suddenly one cookie came rolling toward him. Soldier Corporal Robert Conroy was the man who offered him the cookie. He ate the cookie and started following the soldier’s march.

Stubby went to the Yale University ground where the soldier’s training was going on. He successfully managed to enter the ground and followed the smell coming from the pantry. Stubby went into the kitchen but the chef threw him out of the kitchen.

He ran to the ground and coincidentally met with Robert again. Robert was happy to see him but he was worried about being caught up by his senior.

However, after looking at the energy and smartness of Stubby, senior officers allow Robert to keep him. From that day stubby’s life changed completely as he joined the training of soldiers.

Sgt. Stubby the Military Dog

Soldiers’ life is very tough as they have to complete hard training to become great warriors. But Stubby was the kind of dog who loves challenges. He did tough training along with other soldiers and proved to seniors many a time that he could be a part of the team.

That was the time of World War and Germany was about to attack France, the United States decided to join the French army to fight with the Germans.

Everyone was preparing for the war but Robert and Stubby were sad because Robert couldn’t take him to the war as he was not permitted to do so. So, he decided to leave him in the military camp till he returned.

Sgt Stubby was sad after seeing Robert leaving him alone. But Stubby successfully managed to escape from there and he boarded the ship. He reached out to Robert on the ship but the General caught them. Stubby salutes the general along with Robert and his friend, seeing this General is impressed by Stubby and allowed Robert to take him on the board.

Sgt Stubby didn’t look back after he got the opportunity to prove himself valuable. He took part in the war and started helping Robert and the US Army. He served with the 102nd Infantry Regiment in the trenches in France for 18 months and participated in four offensive and 17 battles.

There was this incident when Robert was in a search operation along with his friends when a German put a gun at him. War dog Stubby immediately runs toward Robert to make him fall and miss the bullet.

Stubby ones got wounded in the foreleg by hand grenades. He was away from the field for a couple of months but after successfully recovering he returned and joined the trenches. Stubby was injured in various attacks but his passion to serve a nation made him a great soldier.

He even caught a German spy in the Argonne and didn’t let him go until US soldiers came.

Dogs of War: Sgt. Stubby

Stubby had proved his bravery & intelligence many times. From finding wounded soldiers on a battlefield to capturing a spy he contributed to his team. After seeing his bravery unit commander nominated Stubby for the rank of sergeant. Also, the women of the town gifted Sgt. Stubby a chamois coat upon which his many medals were pinned.

He was awarded many medals for his heroism including a medal from the humane society, presented by General John Pershing, the commanding General of the USA.

Stubby has also been called the most decorated dog of WWI. After returning from the war he met President Woodrow Wilson. The US government even made a bronze statue of him at Veterans Memorial Park in Middle Town, Connecticut in May 2018.

An animated film ‘Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero’ was based on the life and bravery of Stubby.

Stubby took his final breath in 1926 but remained immortal in people’s hearts.

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My love for the dogs grew up more that night when I was returning back from Delhi to my hometown and I was leaning on the bridge. I was so tired and waiting for my bus and then suddenly a street dog “luna” came near me and then she leans over me. Lanky body, striving for food, had multiple wounds on his body, seem liked someone had beaten him by pelting stones. In a couple of minutes, we both became a friend and I noticed that she was a female pregnant dog and seems hungry, although I had not much any supper at that time.

In fact, we both enjoyed my mom’s hand cooked food, and luckily she liked that. She didn’t leave me until my bus arrived then we both left. It’s like the ending scene of “Life of Pi” But that 15 minutes of gratitude she showed to me was exceptional that I can’t fully express. It’s a special kind of feeling that I’ll always carry throughout my life.

Dogs are not only made for just entertain you but in several areas of the world, they are worshiped also.

How are Dogs treated in India?

In India:- Dogs are worshiped in Hinduism. The name of the dog “God” is Bhairava. Dogs are worshiped for their loyalty and ability to protect. The most common worship of the Dog is through an aspect of Lord Shiva, called Kaala Bhairava.

There is a tradition of feeding black dogs on Saturday so that they will kill the evils eye.  Yudhishthira (Character from the Indian mythological book “Mahabharata”) had approached heaven with his dog, therefore among many Hindus, the common belief exists that caring for or adopting dogs can also pave the way to heaven. Dogs are also shown in the background in the iconography of Hindu deities like Dattatreya, many times dogs are also shown in the background in the iconography of deities like Khandoba.

How are Dogs treated in Nepal?

IN NEPAL:- Nepal has a different way and perspective for Dogs. Nepal’s dog-worshiping tradition comes from Hindu mythology as I mentioned above. Nepal’s tradition has shown faith and love for dogs. They worship Dogs on the second day of Diwali named kukur tihar.

On that day the pooches(slang for dog) of all kinds, strays, and pets are showered with flowers, adorned with garlands, and tilak or gulal(colored powder) is applied on their forehead. After a ceremonial puja, they are treated with milk, eggs, meat, dog food, or anything they like. Now Mexico has also adopted Nepal’straditon

“A dog will teach you, unconditional love. If you can have that in your life, things won’t be too bad”

Robert Wagner (actor, The Longest Day)

Dogs are loyal than Humans

Well, there are many breeds available in the market and have a high price. But Is this not racism? What about the dogs who live on the streets? Don’ they need our love? Or are they of low quality?

Are stray Dogs a major problem in India?

There are around 35 million dogs wandering on the streets, and the number of street dogs increased by around 17% since 2016. The majority of them are living tough lives, scavenging for food from the garbage, and possibly spreading the diseases. But that isn’t their fault.

Most are native Indian breeds, like the South Asian pariah dog or Rajapalayam hound, so they’re often called “indie” dogs a kinder term used by many animal advocates instead of “stray” or “street.”

Why there are so many street dogs in India?

• Simply put, the reason is open garbage. In India there is a ton of garbage spread around the intersections and streets, the dogs rely on garbage in search of eatables, the country with less garbage seen fewer street dogs.
• One main reason is that no one is ready to adopt them, they face hard times during winters and rainy season, and now during this CORONA pandemic and ongoing chaos when everyone is under lockdown, sadly many of them died because of no food and there’s no one to look after them.

Animal protection laws in India

In India, there is a penalty of INR 50 or more with imprisonment for killing animals as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Even though animal welfare groups are serious about the issues and several petitions have been filed for the welfare and rights of the animals especially the street dogs. The government still needs to do a lot. I hope we will see a change soon(if humanity wants).

All I want to say is that breed doesn’t matter loyalty and love matters. I have two dogs and two cats both I picked from the streets and now whenever I enter the home they always ready to show love gesture and gratitude towards me. I’m really blessed to have them. I have a future plans of making a shelter home for street Dogs.

“While the world drives you crazy there is someone waiting impatiently to heal you and make you happy”

If you love pets then please express your courtesy in the comment box I would love to read it and what you all thought about it?

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