“Le Marche Futile” was immortalized in Monty Python’s sketch “Ministry of Silly Walks” which I had featured in a post from a while back. The past month has been difficult, for various reasons – so naming it “March Futile” would be more appropriate. The bumps have pertained to several facets – but truly, undisputedly the saddest fact has been that of accepting the painful challenge that this little 13-year old dog, who has given immeasurable oodles of unconditional love and devotion, has faced – and accepting the reality of the inevitability of all life. Here’s to her spirit, to her chutzpah, her playfulness and those big brown puppy eyes – endless pools of her pure, unadulterated, unconditional love.
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“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France (member of the French Academy, Nobel Prize laureate for Literature in 1921, 1884 – 1924)
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And it goes without saying, and I will never tire of saying this, please, please don’t wear fur, educate others to not wear fur, recognize the barbarity of the fur industry, its glamorization by pathological heartless narcissists, and know that animals – including dogs and cats – are brutally skinned alive (after their bones are broken while they’re still alive). There is an Olivia Munn anti-fur video doing the rounds this month (too brutal to post, but google it if you’re curious) which shines light again on the revoltingly horrific brutality of the fur industry, including its treatment to dogs and cats. Gushing over photos of one’s pets, while wearing, coveting, buying fur is nothing more than sheer hypocrisy. People who feel no empathy after knowing the torture that these animals go through, are neurologically speaking – sociopaths – for their remorse/empathy-connection is missing in the brain. Unless you’re an Eskimo or an Inuit living off the land, there is NO excuse to wear fur in this day and age when there are SO many, many cruelty-free products. Don’t even go for ‘faux-fur’ as it has been found that many brand-name and non-brand-name ‘faux fur’ is in fact dog fur. Can you imagine skinning Marley alive so you could show off to your friends how “trendy” you are? Fur is not sexy, it’s psychopathy.
“We have enslaved the rest of the animal creation, and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feathers so badly that beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form.” ~William Ralph Inge, Outspoken Essays, 1922
“The assumption that animals are without rights and the illusion that our treatment of them has no moral significance is a positively outrageous example of human crudity and barbarity. Universal compassion is the only guarantee of morality.” ~ Arthur Schopenhauer
“I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it’s such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her.” ~ Ellen DeGeneres
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Here’s to Marley, who’s lived a happy, loved life, and is on her marche futile. Here’s also to Footoo, Pookey, Nepu, Biloo, Moitié and Mojo – those who brought love and laughter, some who are no longer on this earth, and a couple who are. And to all the pets I’ve loved now and before, who travelled in and out of my door…..(click here– this version of the song always cracks me up)
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Marley when she was 5 years old. All photos of Marley by David.
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The Gipsy Geek 