Marley & Me -some spoilers- made me realize something.

<span style="font-size:75">Has anyone read the book? I finally got to reading it after, oh, 2-3 years of meaning to. It was great book. And not only that, but it helped me understand, somehow, why I feel more guilty about Auzzy than a lot of other people do. <br>People feel sad, yes. But sadness and pure guilt are completely different. <br><br>Marley was put down, not because he was a pain in the neck to everyone, which he was, but that wasn't the reason.<br>It got to the point where it would have been cruel as an animal lover to keep him suffering like that.<br><br>Auzzy was put down, surrendered, and given up on because he was a pain. He had nothing wrong with him, in that sense. Auzzy was my best friend. Auzzy didn't cost us thousands of dollars of repairs for walls, surgury, etc. He bit me. All dogs bite. Intentionally or accidentally. Heck, Bella bit be last week when we were playing and it hurt way more than Auzzy's bite. <br><br>I think what we all need to learn to do is take each problem and treat it as its own. He bit her three times, once by accident, once on purpose, and once when spooked. He needs to be put down. <br><br>No. He bit her by accident, reaching for a toy and grabbing her instead. Put on some disinfectant and forgive and forget. If a dog bites you and it wasn't being teased, it wasn't hurting from obvious injury, or it was spooked, then it's time for a vet visit to get him checked out. Then you make the big decision.<br>Everything is trainable with a dog, in my opinion. It takes time, commitment, and sometimes emotional pain.<br><br>What was really inspirational to me in that book, was that even though this family had all these problems with this big, goofy, oaf-of-a-dog, Marley the Lab. They still sprung for his "twin". Never mind the money, training, and frustration. <br>I wish I could redo Auzzy with my now found information. I already feel a load being taken off my shoulders. I understand my guilt, now to relieve it a bit.<br><br>If my parents ever agree to the number two dog in the house, come January is our big discussion, I'm sure I will know how to handle things a bit better, and understand the loyalty and trust more. Because of that book.<br><br><br><br>And just for the heck of it, some things to remember Auzzy by.<br><br><a href="http://s62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/bullrabbit/Auzzy/"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Pictures</a><br><br>A poem, written by me last January.<br><br>Is there a way, I ask<br>To bring back the dead<br>If not, I ask<br>Is there another way to remember them instead<br>To remember that one you loved so much<br>That one who slipped out of your grasp<br>That one you seem to be forgetting<br>Every moment of his past<br>Missing him is daily<br>And loving him is true<br>And wanting is a selfish thing<br>Or that's what I thought I knew<br>Learning out of story books<br>Watching movies too<br>Does nothing but upset me<br>What ever could I do<br>Happy endings are everywhere<br>At least that's how it seems<br>Pleasing others everywhere<br>Except, of course, me<br>Now I ask, what will revive<br>The life back into me<br>And what, I ask, has deprived<br>My spirit, hope, and joy<br>Him I say, I miss him so<br>And will forever more<br>Which is why I'll ask again<br>I say, Is there another way<br><br></span>