Origin of the sentence: "The dog is the best friend of man"

Since my childhood (and most of us also) I have heard the phrase "The dog is the best friend of man" and repeated it without knowing its meaning and richness that it contains. With the passing of age I understood the value of so named phrase. I thought it was called that because of the good attitudes of the dog, however, it has a fantastic story that deserves to be remembered every time it is mentioned. Here I tell you the origin:

Source

---

Charles Burden was a farmer from the County of Warrenburg (Missouri), United States, a lover of animals and especially canines, recognized in the town for his admirable relationship with his foxhound hunting dog, Old Drum. His neighbor, on the other hand, was not sympathetic to animals. In spite of that he had a flock of sheep and he feared that they would be food for any predator, so if one of them broke through the barriers of his house, he did not hesitate to take their lives without compassion. His constant threats to his neighbor to kill his dog kept ceasing, although the dog did not enter his home. One night, in 1869, Charles encounters the devastating surprise of finding the lifeless body of his old friend Old with several bullet holes in his neighbor's fence. In the face of such a crime that had happened, Charles promised his four-legged companion to do justice for his death and not rest until he succeeded.

With the evidence in his favor, the owner of Old Drum made an appearance in the court of his town to fulfill what he had promised. In the case presented, the authorities laughed at him for pretending to do justice because they had killed his dog. At that time, what we consider today as animal abuse was only penalized with a maximum of $ 150. The first trial lost it, but it was so consistent that the case went to the state court.

A great disadvantage that the farmer had was that his neighbor, who was the murderer in cold blood of his dog, was a millionaire and was represented by two great lawyers of that time, therefore it hindered the case to go ahead. Charles and the colonel who was helping him to continue preparing the trial before the court, took advantage of the visit to Missouri of a recognized lawyer and adviser to the president to take his case, as no lawyer of the people wanted to take him for fear of making a fool of himself. defend an animal in the United States. George Graham Vest did not hesitate to take charge of the case and accepted the challenge that no other lawyer had dared.With the evidence in his favor, the owner of Old Drum made an appearance in the court of his town to fulfill what he had promised. In the case presented, the authorities laughed at him for pretending to do justice because they had killed his dog. At that time, what we consider today as animal abuse was only penalized with a maximum of $ 150. The first trial lost it, but it was so consistent that the case went to the state court.

A great disadvantage that the farmer had was that his neighbor, who was the murderer in cold blood of his dog, was a millionaire and was represented by two great lawyers of that time, therefore it hindered the case to go ahead. Charles and the colonel who was helping him to continue preparing the trial before the court, took advantage of the visit to Missouri of a recognized lawyer and adviser to the president to take his case, as no lawyer of the people wanted to take him for fear of making a fool of himself. defend an animal in the United States. George Graham Vest did not hesitate to take charge of the case and accepted the challenge that no other lawyer had dared.

In 1870, a year after Old's death, the long-awaited day of the trial arrived. The defendant's lawyers were based on the economic loss argument that involved the death of the dog, it was fair that Charlie and his lawyer Vest to sit and listen to the defense of his defendant. At the end of the defendant's justification time, Vest got up from his seat and as he walked from one side to the other, he explained what was really important: An individual had cruelly murdered a dog. The lawyer gave a speech where they appealed to the good qualities that the canines made to the family and the fidelity they have no matter what happens. Part of the speech was this:

Knights of the jury: The best friend that a man can have, can turn against him and become his enemy. Your own son or daughter, whom you brought up with love and infinite attention, can show you ingratitude. Those who are closest to our hearts, those to whom we entrust our happiness and good name, can become traitors.

The money that a man may have can also be lost, it will come back when he needs it most. A man's reputation will be sacrificed for a moment of madness or weakness. People are willing to fall on their knees to honor our successes, they will be the ones to throw the first stone, when failure puts clouds on our future.

The only, absolute and best friend that man has in this selfish world, the only one who will not betray or deny it, is his dog.

Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog is at his side in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold floor where the wind blows and the snow falls, only to be next to his master. Kiss the hand that has no food to offer, lick the wounds and bitterness that produces the confrontation with the harsh world.

And when the last act comes and death makes its appearance and the body is buried in the cold earth, it does not matter that all the friends have left. There, next to the grave, the noble animal will remain, its head between its legs, the eyes sad but open and alert, noble and sincere, beyond death.>

His words served to win over what Charles had fought, the trial and justice for his beloved dog, he had also fulfilled his promise to Old. This case moved the jury and the entire city so much that it changed the judicial history of the United States with respect to the right of animals and a statue was built in the vicinity of the court of Warrensburg in memory of Olr Drum.

Source

---

The speech known as "Eulogy to the dog" gave rise to the phrase we know and repeat many times: he is the best friend of man. A phrase that we hear and teach us from small but few know their origin.

I hope this post has helped you understand the origin of such a phrase. The dogs are more than animals, they are faithful and sincere companions of life that will help you in your daily life.

Grateful I am for having taken a time and read this post.