Letter to the Editor

Stories of hero dogs

Friday, November 23, 2018

Dear Editor,

During my lifetime, I have owned some amazing dogs, including Chuck, a Shetland sheepdog who would protect me against the devil himself.

When I was visiting Israel, I saw some broadtail sheep.

Shepherds walked ahead of them and their shep would follow behind them. Watching sheep at night was the duty of the dogs and shepherds.

In the Old Testament, Proverbs 27:23 states “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks and look well to thy herds.”

Bible scholars have studied facts about sheep and applied them to humans.

When shepherds find lost sheep, they lay them on their shoulders and bring them home.

In the Oct. 7, 2018 (pp 111-112) Ensign magazine Gary e. Stevenson told a true story about a “Determined Dog Who Won’t Abandon Lost Sheep.”

This amazing dog was left to guard sheep in a summer mountain range.

About 21⁄2 months later, they became snowbound. It was the duty of the dog to protect them.

For several months, he circled about them in extremely cold, snowy winter weather.

Coyotes, mountain lions and other predators were after them.

Jan. 10, 2004, John Wright wrote a similar story using the headline, “Safe or Stranded? Determined dog Won’t Abandon Lost sheep.” This story was published in the Logan Herald Journal.

The article describes a small number of sheep that became stranded and snowbound in the mountains with a sheepdog.

It was his duty to protect them. He remained there circling about the sheep for months in the cold and snowy weather and would not abandon them.

Finally, he managed to lead the herd back safely to the sheepherder. Predators were after the lambs that had strayed. When this happened, the sheep were no longer protected by sheepdogs, ranchhands and their horses or the sheepherder.

A picture of the dog was printed on the front page. It showed his expression, eyes and demeanor and loyalty.

The moral to this story is that every man, woman and child in the Kingdom of God is a good shepherd.

We can all bear each other's burdens so they will be lighter.

Helen Ruth Arnold,

Trenton, Neb.

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