11 Comments
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Carla Burke's avatar

What a great heartfelt story. I cried when I read Buckeye died.

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Danny Groner's avatar

Thanks for reading and replying. I didn't know how much I missed Buckeye until he was gone.

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Carla Burke's avatar

I bet. And it's so special in the fact that he was not a therapy dog but he was there during your therapy. Dogs are so intuitive. I know he moved to the door because he didn't want you to leave.

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Ceci's avatar

As a fellow anxious person, avid dog owner and therapy goer... your words touched my heart. I had wondered how people who don't have dogs, feel about the ways my dog tries to get there attention and affection. My dog Butters provides one of the most peaceful, funny and loving presences in my life. Thank you for your beautiful sharing.

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Danny Groner's avatar

Thanks for reading and replying. It means a lot to me, as someone who doesn't have a dog at home, that I successfully captured what it feels like to have a dog at home.

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Jennifer Ward Dudley's avatar

Deeply moving. Steward . Yup. Fine definition of the intimacy between my black lab and me. The soft spot. The hushed times.

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Danny Groner's avatar

Thanks for reading and replying.

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Bette's avatar

I loved this. I never had a dog, so my children never had a dog, either. After reading this, I suddenly realized how much my son would benefit from the kind, quiet, supportive presence of a dog. The right dog. Like this one was!

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Danny Groner's avatar

Thanks so much, Bette, for the kind words. I had hoped that this would resonate with people who never had a dog. And also, similarly, with those who don't attend therapy.

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Kerry Nichols's avatar

Oh my. This one really hit me. So many truths about we humans, but also about dogs. Especially Goldens. Thank you for this vulnerable and beautiful piece. And thank you Buckeye for being you.

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Danny Groner's avatar

Thanks for reading and replying. I think until like 2002 the only dogs I knew in other people’s homes were golden retrievers. I didn’t know people had other breeds of dogs. I suspect they’re correlation there.

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