Jaguar-Take One

 Jaguar, a miniature schnauzer really belongs to a neighbor, but makes frequent visits to our home.  For the past two summers (2010, 2011) we dog sat her while her owners vacationed.   It was in the nascent stages of our relation that I began to observe the peculiarities of canine behavior.  We live in one of a row of town houses.  The back of them faces a rather busy street while the front faces a nice yard with apple trees, just beyond our driveway. One morning Jaguar’s owner had burnt the toast for breakfast.  Instead of throwing it on the ground, she speared a piece on a tree branch. Apparently, Jag didn’t miss a beat; as soon as the door was open she flew outside, across the lot, scaled the wall in one fell swoop, leapt up, grabbed the toast, and gobbled it down.  I imagine that Jaguar hadn’t the slightest bit of interest in that burnt toast, but in her doggie mind … it was “What’s mine is mine and I’m going to keep it.”   Okay, so, I’m anthropomorphizing, but there is a method in my madness.  To what extent do we as humans go to defend our turf and do we not look as silly as the picture I just gave you of Jaguar?

As we have gotten to know Jaguar, she has brought great joy to many. Her owners jokingly refer to her as the “neighborhood association dog.”   She visited our elderly neighbor until his death from kidney failure brought on by a heart condition and several falls.  She would "put on a show"  in  their living room by lying on her back and wiggling around.  She would announce her presence by barking at their front door … to the simple command, “Tell them you’re here.”   She loved to beg animal crackers.  To some of my readers this may sound ridculous. She knew how to be a friend -- and she still does.

Jaguar and my dad had a special bond. Daddy loved dogs. He and Jaguar were a common sight on the university campus where I work.   My last memory of the two of them is being able to get the dog into Palliative Care.  We had been through a grueling time in ICU, and we now knew nothing more could be done.  God was calling him home. We filed necessary paperwork and in came Monica, John, and Jaguar.  I am so thank the Lord allowed it to happen on his last day on earth.