Onyx
About a month after he came to us
at almost five years old.
Onyx plays well with the
children. He shares his squeaky
toys…
It’s ok if someone pulls
his hair a little bit.
Here, a bit older, he shares his squeakies with baby Beck,
even putting them in Beck’s lap
so that they can play.
Onyx lets Trigg roll all over
him.
He even looks dignified
afterwards.
As an older dog, he turns the
tables a bit and has a nap with Beck.
Wherever the family
is playing, Onyx is there.
Chasing fish.
He always sits next to the children at the
table.
Onyx exemplifies
the
Inscription
on the Monument of a Newfoundland
by Lord Byron
When
some proud son of man returns to earth Unknown to glory, but upheld by birth,
The sculptur'd art exhausts the art of woe, And
stoned urns record who rest below; When all is done, upon the tomb is
seen, Not what he was, but what he should have been; But the poor Dog, in
life the firmest friend, The first to welcome, foremost to defend; Whose honest
heart is still his master's own, Who labours, fights,
lives, breathes, for him alone Unhonour'd falls,
unnoticed all his worth, Denied in Heaven the soul he held on earth;
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven, And
claims himself sole exclusive of Heaven! Oh, man! thou
feeble tenant of an hour, Debas'd by slavery, or
corrupt by power, Who knows thee well, must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust! By nature vile, ennobled but by name, Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame. Ye! who, perchance, behold this single
Newstead Abbey,
On
one side of the pedestal supporting the antique urn he had inscribed:
NEAR
THIS SPOT ARE DEPOSITED THE REMAINS OF ONE WHO POSSESSED BEAUTY WITHOUT VANITY
STRENGTH WITHOUT INSOLENCE COURAGE WITHOUT FEROCITY AND ALL THE VIRTUES OF MAN
WITHOUT HIS VICES THIS PRAISE WHICH WOULD BE UNMEANING FLATTERY IF INSCRIBED
OVER HUMAN ASHES IS BUT A JUST TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF BOATSWAIN, A DOG WHO
WAS BORN AT NEWFOUNDLAND, MAY 1803, AND DIED AT NEWSTEAD ABBEY,
NOVEMBER 18, 1808.
