Once long ago the dogs in the world prayed to God to improve their lot. They sent one of their number as ambassador to heaven with the petition that they not be whipped any more by their masters. So God wrote out a great document, putting a stop to the whippings and providing also that the dogs be fed.
The ambassador locked the document under his tail and started for home. But he lost it swimming across a river and was afraid to go home without it. He never did go back.
Ever since that time every dog examines every other under the tail, for until the document is found dogs will continue to be whipped and go hungry.
—Early American folk tale from
God Had a Dog