I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when Julia said it. We were looking out to the sea and sharing our feelings about the passing of a dog in our family. I've always felt this way: the death of animals, but especially dogs, gets to me - sometimes too much. And when it happens to be a furry friend that I've cuddled to sleep on my lap countless times, it feels as if a small part of me has gone with them - as if the world has become a little poorer and emptier. It's a very unique feeling and completely different than with people. There's something innocent that dies with every dog.

How do they do it? How do they accomplish it? Where do they come from? And what would this world be without dogs?

I used to laugh at the cat video fans and yet I have long since become a passionate dog video worshipper myself. Especially these days, in a world that seems to be consumed by so much hatred, division and violence, I sometimes have the feeling that dogs are our beacons of hope. They could teach it all to us, because they really are: truthful, selfless and loyal. They don't constantly whine about every little ailment and they are happy when we are happy. They seem, for the most part, truly content. And what's best: they are already among us - angels without wings.

As so often, we looked out over the sea, across to the Albanian mountains. And then Julia broke the silence. My first reaction to her thought was laughter. I laughed loudly and from the core. And then it began to sink in. I was flooded with incredible gratitude - for Sammy, our faithful companion and for all the dogs that ever were and those that are right now. And then the tears came back.

"Become like dogs", I would believe it, had it been written like that.