Our puppies are on their way to their forever homes today. I wrote this one last August when Reagan had her last litter.

I hope that in the short eight weeks we have had them that we have taught them patience and forgiveness by not getting upset with them when they potty where they are not supposed to potty. Or bite our toes and fingers.

I hope that we have shown them that even though families fight and argue with each other, that they may nip at your ears and growl at you and make you mad, they are still your family and at the end of the day, you lay down with each other and snuggle together and love each other again.

But most of all, I hope that we have shown them lots and lots of love and taught them to love. I hope that their new owners will take great care of them and will love them like we did.

Once upon a time, not too long ago, six puppies were born. They were all different colors. In no particular order, there was a blue one, a black one, a white one, a yellow one, a brown one and a red one.

These puppies played together since they were born. They ran, they barked, they fought, they wrestled, they ate together and did what all puppies do. But, most importantly of all, these puppies loved each other.

As they got older, they were allowed to go outside and play. They loved being outside and running until they could run no more. They would look at each other and laugh, tails wagging and tongues panting.

Then one day, new neighbors moved in next door. With the new neighbors came four white dogs. When they saw the six different colored puppies playing, they were not happy. The leader of the four white dogs called the white puppy over by himself.

“Hey there pup, why do you play with those different colored pups. Can’t you see you are not like them?”

The white puppy looked and around and said: “You know, I never noticed a difference. To me, we are all one and the same.” He then went on his way.

The very next day the puppies got a new neighbor on the other side of them. This new family had four black dogs. When they saw the six different colored puppies playing with each other, they were not happy. The leader of the black dogs called the black puppy over by himself.

“Hey there pup, who do you play with those different colored pups, can’t you see they are not like you? We are like you.”

The black puppy looked around and said: “You know, I never noticed a difference. But to me, we are all one and the same.” He then turned and went on his way.

This infuriated the black dogs, but what made them more mad was when they saw the four white dogs two houses over. They started barking and growling, which made the white dogs start barking and growling and soon they were running at each other. They started fighting right where the puppies were playing.

They destroyed the puppies yard. They broke their toys and knocked over their water dishes. They didn’t care about anything except destroying each other. Fur was flying, blood was flowing and yelps were going out from both sides. Even a couple of the innocent puppies were knocked down in the melee.

Finally the fighting ended and the white puppy and the black puppy stood together in tears.

“What have you dogs done? Look at you. You have hurt each other, you have hurt our friends, you have destroyed out land over what, the color of your fur? Look at the blood that flows from both of you. It is the same color. We are all the same inside. All of us puppies play together and live in peace with each other because we have been taught to love. We have been taught that hate is never the answer. We have been taught to build up, to raise up, not to destroy and tear down.”

“You are no different than all of us and you are no different from each other in who we are. The only difference is that you were taught to hate, you were taught that because of the color of your fur that you would always be at a disadvantage, or advantage. You were taught to disrespect authority. You were taught that you are the authority. But, in reality, you are nothing without each other. You are nothing without love. Try loving one another and getting to know one another and sure, you will find some things you do not like, but you will also find things you do like. The color of your fur does not define you. It does not define your past or your future. You can never fix what has happened in the past. But what is inside of you can define your present and change your future. Look deep inside you. Find a better way than this. If we can do it, you can do it. It is never too late to teach some old dogs new tricks.”