Callie's funeral was the only I ever officiated at. As a Kohen, I am forbidden to enter mortuaries and cemeteries, so funerals are generally not practical. But Callie's was different because she was a Yorkshire Terrier and there is no prohibition against entering a pet cemetery.
It was a sad event for her lonely, elderly owner who cherished Callie's company. There are no prayers or services for an animal's burial. But there we were, standing around the little grave in Calabasas Pet Cemetery, when Callie's owner asks me to say something in Callie's honor...
So here's what I said, in a nutshell. (By the way, this was no form eulogy. I knew Callie personally (?) and in fact we enjoyed a stormy relationship during my visits, what with her growling and glaring at me through her bangs, with all the menace a Yorkie can muster
A dog's job is to be Man's best friend. Callie was a best friend to her owner. She made her owner happy and secure. Thus, Callie was a good dog.
Which should give us pause (pun intended.)
The world is created in layers of life. Four layers to be precise:
1. Mineral
2. Vegetable
3. Animal
4. Human
The minerals nourish the vegetables, which sustain the animals, which serve the needs of Man, which in turn reads the Torah and serves the Creator directly.
And the energies we receive from the animal, the vegetable, and the mineral are all synthesized and channeled back to the Source of all energy when we use them to serve His needs with Mitzvot.
That is the only reason humanity has the right to make use of the world's natural resources. For if and when we use them to elevate ourselves, we elevate all of existence.
So how can we pay tribute to Callie, who was so good at her part, serving her human faithfully? By emulating her example and serving our Creator faithfully.
Callie provided companionship, happiness, and solace to her owner. She was a good dog.
We must provide Tefillin, Mezuzahs, Kosher, Tzedakah, Torah study, love for each other and myriad other things to bring pleasure to our common Owner.
Then we rise to Callie's level.
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Man is G-d's best friend.
Good Shabbos, Shabbat Shalom!