Sam’s the maCritter Tails

CARPE DIEM DOG—Sam may not be heroic, but his joie de vivre and sense of humor keep his family amused. Kathy Austin of Thousand Oaks describes her pal Sam as a source of joy and laughter.

“My man Sam hasn’t saved any lives lately nor has he made any lasting impact on our community,” she writes, “but Sam makes me laugh. In another life he must have been a leprechaun.

“He knows no strangers. Everyone is a friend. . . . He has this funny run/hop thing he does as he bounds across the grass to me,” she said.

Austin said her Sam inspires her to find joy and live in the present moment. “His mantra is ‘don’t worry, be happy.’”

When she takes the time to join Sam in “that happy place” the personal rewards are great.

“Sam has given me the things money cannot buy,” she said. “Unconditional love, consistency, loyalty, forgiveness and absolute acceptance.

“Now that I think of it,” Austin said, “he’s not a clown, he’s an angel.”