Gene Hill - Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies

Welcome to the Daily Quote – a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, for October 22nd.Today is National Make a Dog's Day day, a heartwarming observance that celebrates man's best friend and encourages us to do something special for the dogs in our lives. Created by animal behaviorist and bestselling author Colleen Paige in 2008, this day is all about giving back to the animals that give us so much unconditional love every single day.What makes National Make a Dog's Day special is its simple premise: dogs enrich our lives immeasurably, and today we're reminded to return that favor. Whether through extra treats, longer walks, new toys, or simply more quality time and attention, this day asks us to show our appreciation for these faithful companions.Today's quote comes from American journalist Gene Hill, who said:"Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot about puppies."Hill's playful observation gets at something deeper about our relationship with dogs. While technically you can "buy" a puppy, what you're really receiving is immeasurable and priceless – companionship, loyalty, joy, and yes, a kind of happiness that money alone could never purchase.Think about what dogs bring into our lives beyond their physical presence. They give us purpose and routine – someone depending on us to show up, to care, to be responsible. They give us unconditional acceptance on our worst days. They teach us to be present, to find joy in simple things like walks and playtime. They connect us to other people through the universal language of "dog person."National Make a Dog's Day celebrates this truth: that while we may have "bought" or "adopted" our dogs, they've given us gifts far more valuable than anything we paid. Today is about recognizing that disparity and trying, even just a little, to balance the scales.
Our dog is a rescue dog from Texas but she is 100% Canadian now.We've had her for several years now and she is an awesome addition to the family. It was a strange process picking her up because CoVid restrictions were still in place so we couldn't cross the boarder. So I had to drive to zero avenue which is right on the Canada USA border and the van that drove up from Texas with the dogs pulled up into a parking lot and a man walked across a field carrying a couple dogs. He called out the dogs name and the new owner went and grabbed their new puppy. When he called Pepper's name I walked up to the 49th parallel and while keeping my feet on Canadian soil reach across into the United States and took this cute little puppy and her paperwork into my arms. I was thinking... can you actually do this? I had to take Pepper over to customs and declare the dog and they treated this as completely normal situation. So I guess you can hand an animal across the border.So today, embrace the spirit of National Make a Dog's Day and Gene Hill's playful wisdom. If you have a dog, do something special for them today – an extra-long walk, a new toy, their favorite treat, or just quality time without distractions. Show them the same joy they show you every single day.If you don't have a dog, consider volunteering at a local shelter, donating to a rescue organization, or if you're ready for the commitment, visiting a shelter to meet the dogs waiting for their forever homes. Maybe you'll find your own happiness waiting in a kennel.Remember Hill's insight – while you can't actually buy happiness, you can open your heart to a dog who will teach you what happiness really means.That's it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern, signing off for now. But I'll be back tomorrow. Same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.