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Native American folklore says that the Great Spirit felt the people on Earth needed a gift, so he gave them a special dog who is spiritual in heart. The special thing about the dog is that it was made without ego, a true God-given gift to mankind.

What was also special about this dog was that it was sent as a teacher to humanity, made so humans would be unaware of this particular aspect. As an angelic being, the dog is sent to man having unlimited forgiveness and unconditional love, gifts that forgive mankind regardless of the hatred, abuse and unkindness he showers on the dog.

Throughout history, the world has seen humans work hard at controlling the earth through power struggles and gluttony, conflict, massacres, global combat and environmental destruction. Yet many have the ability to love, forgive and have empathy toward one another. To them, this gift from the Great Spirit is nothing more than an animal…a dog that has no emotions, feelings or thoughts.

But as time goes on, newer forms of scientific research are showing the world that not only dogs capable of thinking, but people are thinking like the dog does.

"Here's this species we live with. Everyone has their views about how smart they are. No doubt we are overinterpreting - and in some cases underinterpreting," said Marc Hauser, a Harvard professor who has long studied cognition in cottontop tamarin monkeys and who heads the new lab. "To what extent is an animal that's really been bred to be with humans capable of some of the same psychological mechanisms?" (Purina) 

However, some of the latest information on animal research shows that the dog and other animals are thinking more on their own, using a specific type of intelligence they have developed within their own intellectual capacity. Books such as "When Elephants Weep" by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy; "The Emotional Lives of Animals" by Marc Bekoff  and Jane Goodall; and every book that Temple Grandin has ever written more than demonstrates this fact.

People who have pets and love them, choosing to care for them properly, will find this nothing new. Their dogs are part of their every waking moment, their best friends who is always there. No matter how bad of a dog any of these owners have, the spiritual dog will always forgive them and love them the very next second a sharp world or slap occurs.

People use bragging rights to let people know how spiritual they are. Dogs have no need. Yet all this bragging could never attest to the true spiritualism the dog has within its heart toward its family, its owner and any caretaker who shows it kindness. This is a God-given gift that is seen by simply looking into their eyes.