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| Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai, Florida, USA, June 6, 2001 (Originally in English) Videotape No. 714 | ||
So just prevent it by keeping the dog healthy and clean. Because outside, even though the grass looks good, sometimes it has bacteria or worms or eggs attached to it. So then, if we bring the animal into the house, our house is exactly as dirty as the outside. Many of you also walk with shoes in the house, and that's how the dog gets sick, too. It's not your shoes that are dirty. It's the things you pick up outside that make your shoes dirty. And then you bring them into the house. Sometimes the wheels of your car also pick up things like feces or urine from a sick dog outside. And then when you bring it into the house, your dog licks the floor or your shoes and gets sick.
So if you want to have animals, make sure that your house is so clean you could sleep on the floor, so clean you could lick the floor and feel comfortable. You can clean your house with half vinegar and half water. Fifty-fifty. Clean with it all over, for sanitizing and deodorizing. So if the dog happens to pee there, he will not smell it again. Because if he smells his pee, he will pee in that place again the next time.
These are just some examples. But if you want an animal, you'd better study first how to care for it. You have to study whether that particular animal is suitable to your personality and your lifestyle, also. That's one of the reasons people throw dogs or cats away, because they are not compatible. They have a hyperactive dog when they are weak and feeble, like an old lady who couldn't handle it. Or a very messy dog that they don't train and don't know how to handle. Or a very playful dog with people who don't like to play or don't have time to play. And then they throw away the dog, because they think the dog is bad, bad, bad.
So there are many different types of dogs or animals that could be suitable for you. But you have to study before, also to find out whether taking care of that dog or cat is too much for you or not. Then, if it is too much, you'd better not take it. You have to be honest, that's all. It's not that you don't love all animals equally. You just have to know how to love and which one to love, so the love doesn't turn into trouble and then pain for both of you. Because the last time, one of you gave my dog away and then you let that dog run away and get lost. And it broke my heart for a long time.
So if you get an animal, you have to commit, no matter what. And if you can't, you have to find him a good home. Wait to find him a good private home. Advertise in the pet shop. They will find a good home for your dog. And give him away; don't sell him. Give him away as a friend, as a gift. Someone will like your dog. You can describe his personality, what he likes and what he doesn't like. And there will be one person who is suitable for that kind of dog. They will pick him up in time.
Don't give your dog to the pound, because they will kill him in one day. Sometimes they do! It's not always one day, but from one day to one week. The maximum is two weeks. So he won't last long there. If that's what you want, it's okay. But make sure you know. I want to make sure you know that your animals can be put to death in as quick a time as one day in the pound. But some shelters are "no kill." You could also give your dog to that kind of shelter. Describe everything about the animal's personality so that later the shelter can match him with people who would love to have that kind of personality.
There is always a solution. Don't throw away your animals, because they are living beings, just like us. When you look into the eyes of an animal, sometimes you will realize, "We are equal. We are the same." And that feeling will send shivers all over your body, and will give you an enlightenment that you would never dream of having. I told you that animals can teach you -- also flowers, trees and everything. See how well he behaves. (Master gestures toward the poodle sleeping on Her lap) How can anyone throw away this kind of dog? He is so loving.
