The Social Network for Dog Lovers

Valentine's Day Goes to the Dogs

Every Valentine's Day since 1992, I have celebrated my dog Maui (pictured above) with an abundance of gratitude.

That's the day that I brought her home with me when she was a tiny puppy, and that's the day I launched Do You Remember Love? years later, in 2007.
Maui passed away in the summer of 2008, and I dreaded Valentine's Day 2009. But the day ended up being wonderful. I was still missing Maui, of course.

But I was also so happy to have gotten over much of the pain of her loss; and to walk with a joyful new little Kanga on the same beach that Maui loved so much. The day ended up feeling more like a celebration than mourning.

The power of Maui's love protected me from too much grief on that day.

This year, as Valentine's Day 2010 rolls closer, I am so grateful to Maui for "keeping my heart open" - as my wife likes to say - for all of those years. And I'm grateful to her for inspiring my book, How to Meditate with Your Dog, and my little poem/movie Do You Remember Love? and for the creation of this website, which would not be possible without the love that our dogs show us every day.

Two years ago a member of this community (an intern for my publishing company) designed a t-shirt that says "my dog is my valentine!"

I asked her to make a mug version, and she kind of went to town with a book bag and a sweatshirt and a whole mess of other items. If you want to see her designs, you can go to www.DogValentine.com.

My Question for You...

Here's a question for you: would you send email valentine's to your friends' dogs? A couple of years ago I had a valentine system set up, and I was thinking I could set it up again - is it something you'd like to have? Let me know. I want to really celebrate Valentine's Day this year - because my dogs Kanga and Maui ARE my valentines!

Just reply to this post below.

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Comment by James Jacobson on January 26, 2010 at 12:38pm: I appreciate everyone's comments. Yes, the ecards are just for fun and wont cost you a penny to send or receive. (It will cost me a *few pennies* to hire a web guy to make the ecards application work, but I think it is money and time well spent...)

Comment by Buggie and Dittie on January 25, 2010 at 5:35am: It is a great idea! As it goes...Love me, love my dog. What a wonderful way to celebrate the love of friends, both two and four legged!

Comment by Barbara Jo on January 24, 2010 at 4:37am: Yes! I would send valentine's to my friends doggies from all of my doggies, why not, it's fun and makes the human companions happy and maybe our doggies know and think it's a great idea too.

Comment by Caryn Wilson on January 23, 2010 at 11:44am: I think your idea sounds great! Go for it! I would send valentines to my friend's dogs.

Comment by Jill Stout on January 23, 2010 at 5:06am: What a great idea---I would send Valentines to my friends dogs---in a heartbeat!

Comment by Mary Kay on January 23, 2010 at 3:31am: Yes James I definitely!! would send email valentines to my friends dogs!! Thanks for all your inspriation!! MK

Comment by Lauren K Gropp on January 21, 2010 at 9:46am: Janet,
Thank you, it's deeply appreciated. Poochie never left my side for anyone. That is, until she met Eric, my forever love. We're so grateful for having her in our life. She knew a good one when she saw him.

Love is a wonderful thing, isn't it?

Warmly,
Lauren

Comment by PapillonOne (Janet B) on January 21, 2010 at 9:30am: Lauren, I meant to share too that your memorial site to your Poochie is wonderful. I especially liked how you talked about Poochie's approving of your fiancee/husband and how he was in love with her too. Definitely appropriate considering we are discussing Valentine's Day. It never ceases to amaze me how wonderful our dogs are. Best Regards, Janet

Comment by Lauren K Gropp on January 21, 2010 at 9:15am: Dear Carmen,
Thank you for visiting my memorial to Poochie. I'm glad you took the time to visit it and get a better understanding of where I'm comng from. We are all in agreement, our beloved pets are part of our family. Love is love and it's overflowing on this site!

Regards,
Lauren

Comment by Carmen Alvarez on January 21, 2010 at 8:08am: Hi Lauren, I merely noticed a negative vein towards a wonderful idea, of just another way James had to keep us in touch with one another. There is no need to understand the benefit of sending cards to pets maybe because there isn't any, it is simply another fun way to say Happy Valentines or Happy Birthday, to keep us in touch with one another. I am pleased to hear that I perhaps misinterpretted your response, you are only as happy as happy does. Disagreeing doesn't make you bitter, the way you answer does. You have not offended me in any way, shape or form, I just felt sorry for the way of expressing yourself, and then to apologise "if you had offended anyone". Glad to hear you are not bitter, you will be the only beneficiary. With loving respect, Carmen