Our old black Lab, Libby, is a great example of courage, strength, and survival. Whenever I am tempted to give up and call it quits, I think of her and what she went through, and it reminds me that I shouldn't give up. I must never surrender to my circumstances.

When Libby was just a year old, we got her a puppy so that she wouldn't be lonely. Since she spent most of her waking hours outside by herself, we thought she would like to have a furry friend. As a Thanksgiving surprise for our family, my husband and I found Sydney, a beautiful, purebred, Golden Retriever puppy. Immediately, we all loved Sydney. She was playful, loving, and seemed to fit right into the family. As her first year with us progressed, she and Libby became good buddies, so much so that Sydney would not let Libby out of her sight. Wherever Libby went, Sydney would follow.

In August of Sydney's first year, my husband and son decided to go camping and take Sydney along. They thought bringing both big dogs would take up too much room and be too much to handle, so they took off with Sydney by herself. In hindsight, this was a mistake, but we sure didn't know it at the time, and we still don't understand what went wrong. When they returned home, my husband and son reported that Sydney was scared the entire time they were away. She had barked all night and was jumpy all day. After they let her out of the car, she ran right over to Libby and seemed extremely upset with her, as though she was telling Libby off for leaving her alone. Libby was her normal, sweet self, but Sydney didn't care. She was angry, and from that day on, Sydney began to fight with Libby. It started with a few days of growls and snaps, but it soon escalated to all out brawls that drew blood. Out of the blue, something would set Sydney off, and she would attack Libby.

All of this made us so sad. We loved both dogs, but Libby had been part of our family for much longer, and she was the one who was being forced to defend herself. We wanted to protect her but didn't know how. As the battles grew more severe, we became more desperate, seeking help from our vet. We did our best to separate them, but nothing worked. The fights continued. One afternoon, Sydney attacked our little Lhasa Apso, Beau, and we knew there was no other choice but to put her down. How soon would she turn her wrath on us, our neighbors, or a passing child? It was a difficult decision, but the right one.

What has stayed with me throughout the years is that while she didn't start it, Libby never backed down. She survived an unfair, unprovoked, hurtful situation with dignity and honor. Even though you could tell that she was as mystified as we were, throughout every battle our sweet, sweet Libby never gave up. She would protect herself to the death.

Libby is a good example for every one of us. We all (some of us more than others) face times when we suffer through no fault of our own. When those times come, think of Libby. She remained true to herself, never letting someone do her in. She survived, earning the great respect of our entire family. You can overcome the struggles of your life, just like Libby. Even if you haven't realized it yet, there is a fighter inside of you who can make it through whatever comes your way.

Anna Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society