I thought of this poem when I read this:

I wish someone had given little Jesus a dog
As loyal and loving as mine
To sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
And adore him for being devine.

As our Lord grew to manhood His faithful dog
Would have followed him all through the day
While he preached to the crowds,
Made the sick well
And knelt in the garden to pray.

It is sad to remember that Christ went away
To face death alone and apart
With no tender dog following close behind
To comfort the Master's heart.

When Jesus rose that easter morn,
How happy He would have been as His dog
Kissed His hand and barked its' delight
For the one who had died for all men.

Well, the Lord has a dog now;
I just sent him mine, the one so dear to me-
And I smile through my tears
On this first day alone
Knowing they are in eternity.