Hey {{first_name}} ,
Today’s message isn’t about leashes or treats or training breakthroughs.
Today is about something deeper: presence, sacrifice, and the quiet kind of love that stays — especially when it’s hard.
Good Friday, observed by millions of people around the world, commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
It’s a day of stillness, sorrow, and reflection.
A pause before the joy of Easter.
A moment to remember love that gives without expecting anything in return.
And as we reflect on that love — that steadfast, selfless, deeply personal love — we can’t help but notice:
It looks a lot like the love we see in our dogs.
🕊️ What Is Good Friday?
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday. In Christian tradition, it honors the day Jesus willingly gave up his life — an act of profound sacrifice, forgiveness, and devotion to humankind.
It’s not a holiday of celebration.
It’s a day of honoring grief.
Of remembering loss.
Of holding space for the kind of love that costs something.
And that’s why it matters — even in a community like ours, made of dog owners and pet parents from all walks of life.
🐾 What Good Friday Has to Do With Dog Ownership
At first glance, maybe not much. But when you look closer?
So much.
Because love that stays through suffering? That’s what our dogs teach us every day.
When your pup sits beside you through heartbreak — without needing to fix it
When you choose to keep showing up for a senior dog, even when it’s hard
When you rescue a dog others gave up on — and help them learn to trust again
When a service dog helps a veteran walk back into the world with dignity
That’s the kind of love that Good Friday invites us to notice.
It’s not loud. It doesn’t ask for applause.
It just stays. And holds space. And heals.
🤔 Trivia Time!
What does Good Friday commemorate?
A) The birth of Jesus; B) The Last Supper;
C) The crucifixion of Jesus; D) The resurrection of Jesus
(Scroll down for the answer!)
🙏 The Sacred in the Simple
In a world that moves too fast, Good Friday asks us to slow down. It reminds us:
That love often looks like showing up even when you don’t have the right words
That grief deserves space, not a fix
That presence is its own kind of prayer
And honestly?
That sounds a lot like a long, quiet walk with your dog on a gray Friday afternoon.
🧩 What Our Dogs Teach Us About This Day
1. Sacrifice is love in action.
You’ve probably sacrificed a few things for your dog — your time, your money, your plans.
They’ve likely done the same — they give their whole lives to us.
2. Redemption is real.
Ever rescued a dog who was shut down, fearful, untrusting… and watched them bloom with love? That’s redemption. That’s resurrection in motion.
3. Presence is powerful.
Your dog doesn’t need you to be perfect. Just present.
Neither did Jesus, according to the message of this day. He just needed people to stay near.
🐕 Did You Know?
Good Friday is also called Holy Friday, Great Friday, or Sorrowful Friday in various cultures
The term “Good” reflects the holy and redemptive nature of the day, not the feeling it brings
In early Christian communities, dogs were seen as loyal guardians and healers, often symbolizing unwavering presence in art and literature
Dogs can sense human sorrow and have been shown to physiologically respond to our grief
🐶 The Redemption Stories We Witness
At the USA Dog Owners Association, we hear them every day:
Dogs abandoned at shelters, now therapy companions
Senior dogs adopted just in time to know comfort
Handlers who say, “I didn’t rescue her — she rescued me.”
These stories mirror Good Friday’s message:
Even in the darkest places, love still chooses to stay.
❤️ A Gentle Invitation
This Good Friday, we invite you to:
🕯️ Light a candle for a pet you've loved and lost
🦮 Take a silent walk with your dog, phone-free, just being
📝 Write a thank-you note — to your dog, your vet, your foster community
🤝 Support a rescue org — with your time, money, or voice
This isn’t about doing more.
It’s about being with what is.
And letting love — the quiet, faithful kind — rise up in you.
😂 Joke of the Day!
Why did the puppy walk softly on Good Friday?
Because even his tail knew it was time to paws and reflect. 🐾😂
💬 Morgan’s Moment
“I remember one Good Friday years ago, sitting on my porch with Willow beside me.
I didn’t go to a church service that day. But in that quiet moment, with the wind brushing through the trees and her head on my foot…
I felt peace. I felt held.
And I thought: maybe this is the kind of worship the world needs more of — quiet, faithful presence.
Our dogs don’t preach. They don’t quote scripture.
But they know how to stay when things are heavy.
And maybe, that’s what Good Friday is about, too.”
📩 Stay in the Pack!
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✨ Final Blessing
Good Friday teaches us:
That grief is not something to rush
That love is worth everything, even when it costs
That the presence of someone who stays changes everything
We see this in faith.
We see it in dogs.
We see it in you, every time you show up for your pet, your family, your community.
So however you mark this day — in prayer, in quiet, in memory — know this:
You’re not alone.
You’re doing better than you think.
And your love matters more than you know.
Wags & gratitude,
Mark
🐾 USA Dog Owners Association
🐕🦺 Trivia Answer: c) The crucifixion of Jesus Good Friday is the day Christians honor the sacrifice made for love — before the celebration of resurrection on Easter.