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Local woman’s story published

Elizabeth Cutting dug within herself to find happiness amid grieving.

And now others can learn from her story.

The Smithville resident’s story, “Integrating My Inner Dog,” is one of 101 stories featured in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: What I Learned from the Dog,” which was released this past fall.

Her story details how the loss of her dog, Joey, devastated her. The Golden Retriever, who passed away at 12 years old in 2004, was no longer there to unconditionally wag his tail with excitement every time she came home. Also gone was the non-stop barking that reminded her to go for what she wanted and not give up.

But then, as her story goes, she found a way to find the things Joey gave her within herself — something she both jokingly and seriously refers to as “integrating her inner dog.”

“Just like an inner child might remind me to play or find comfort, my inner dog could remind me to find satisfaction in simple pleasures,” Cutting wrote.

She focused on loving herself, just as Joey had loved her. And she found ways to remind herself of his life lessons.

“Receiving his lessons honored his life and gave strength to go on. Joey taught me that whether we live twelve or one hundred years, it’s good to sniff out what the day has to offer, to savor the good, and to hold ear the gifts he gave with his life,” Cutting wrote in her story.

She likes that those who read her story think about their own connections with their own pets. And she hopes people realize that it’s possible to find within yourself something you think you’ve lost — something she learned from her interest in Jungian psychology.

She now lives in rural Smithville with two pets — a Border Collie, Cara, and a black and white cat, Sebastian.

Today, the lessons she learned from Joey stay with her. One of those lessons, she said, is to live in the moment.

“The fact is that dogs don’t live as long as humans. They aren’t going to be around forever,” she said. “So rather than running in or out of the house, I really stop and take a few minutes to really give my dog and cat some attention.”

Smithville Editor

Nancy Hull Rigdon can be reached at 532-4444 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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