Can you imagine if, at creation, when God paraded the canine in front of Adam, his response had been, “I’m sorry, God. I’m really not a dog person”? This is obviously a ludicrous hypothetical, but I would argue that it’s equally ridiculous for any Christian to make that claim today.
St. Roche, a nobleman who was orphaned at age twenty and followed the path of Francis of Assisi by giving all his wealth to the poor, is the patron saint of dogs. He was known for his service to victims of the plague. When he himself came down with the illness, a dog was the one who brought him bread every day and licked his wounds. When St. John Bosco was in need, a large grey wolfhound defended and guarded him. The lovely St. Bernard derives its name from St. Bernard of Menthon (1008) who served the people of the Alps along with his canine companions and ultimately founded a monastery at the highest point of St. Bernard Pass. The monks and dogs at this monastery have a heroic history of saving travelers lost in the storms. Their work is so impressive that it drew the attention of St. Louis Martin, who was ultimately unable to join the order, but he passed his admiration down to his beloved daughter, Thérèse, who deeply loved her dog, named Tom.
I am concerned that some of you may consider me a “dog person” who is, therefore, in opposition to cats. As the owner of several cats, I simply trust the feline, with her lofty attitude and high-minded ideals, to adequately defend herself in this matter. That being said, it’s worth stating that all animals are wonderful creations. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness” (2416).
However, we only have to glance at all the ways dogs have served mankind to be particularly impressed by the species. Archeological evidence shows that dogs were the first animals domesticated by humans and since that time they have served us in numerous capacities. A dog’s keen sense of smell detects an incredible range of things, including cancer, mold, explosives, diabetes, narcolepsy, and missing persons. Their emotional bond is so strong that they willingly love and guard other animals, making them invaluable to farmers and ranchers.
Dogs are willing servants to mankind and, perhaps more importantly, devoted in their affection. No one praised this more eloquently than lawyer George Graham Vest in his famous speech, “Eulogy of a Dog,” well worth reading in full. Vest concludes,
If fortune drives the master forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him, to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even in death.
When God presented Adam with the dog, he gave us a wonderful gift. You can be allergic to dogs, feel annoyed by your friend’s ill-mannered dog, not have the time or space in your life to own a dog. However, out of respect for how well the species has fulfilled its vocation, you really shouldn’t dislike them.