The Gift of Dogs
I received my first
dog when I was four years of age – I didn’t know what a priceless gift and
companion I had been given. She was a
tiny brown Chihuahua. Her bed was cardboard box stuffed with towels – okay it
was the 1960’s … and it was she was used to when she came to us. Actually, she usually snuck into bed with my parents at night
--- Little Bit was her name. I think she
reminded my dad of his Chihuahuas – Tiny and Boots. I loved Little Bit but from a distance; the
problem was she wasn’t overly fond of children. I remember, though, crying when
she died; it wasn’t a natural death she had to be put down because of illness.
Little Bit taught me about the joys of having a dog – beyond the stories of
Spot in the basal readers.
Bo ambled into our lives – he was more or less a mongrel
dog, belonging to our next-door neighbors. This relationship began a pattern of
unabashed thievery – yes I’m afraid we stole the hearts of our neighbors’ dogs.
It was never intentional – it just happened. Bo got us all through a dark
winter – we had just moved from suburbia to a more rural area to a house we had
designed and now weren’t all that happy with.
We were able to move, but that’s an amazing and different story.
Bamboo – a mix of cocker and something else came into my
life on a dark day. I was hurting, and
the tan cocker-mix helped ease the angst that had arisen in my heart. Bamboo
had separation issues – we left on vacation. Bamboo was placed in a kennel, but
after two days of not eating, we contacted a teenager from the church who would
retrieve her, take her home, walk and feed her twice a day; however, there was
thunderstorm. I believe it is well known that most dogs and thunderstorms do
not mix. Bamboo was no different – she was so distraught that she decimated the
carpet. Poor dog! As we were contemplating moving into a new house (again!), we
felt it best to find a new home for the dog – and what a home! Bamboo landed in a home where she was even
more of a top dog than she been with us--- she even went to college!
Years passed and dogs would amble in for a week or two – the
Chatmon dog hotel. We would feed and
shelter them and then pass them off.
Then in the 1980’s Max came on the scene – he was a German shepherd mix.
Yes, he really lived next door, but he
captured our hearts and we apparently captured his. He kept a guest hostage in
his vehicle for most of the afternoon even though he had a key to our house. He
was big, but as gentle as a lamb – I remember when friends with small children
visited. Their young son climbed on the dog’s back and walked back and forth,
and there was nary a peep out of Max. I
think before our neighbors acquired Max, he was food-deprived – as soon as we
presented him with a dog biscuit – he would bury it in the woods. Max
disappeared one day – he was found dead, presumably of heart worms the killer
of dogs. He left and missed his meds ---
how I mourned his passing. I loved that dog!
Then my neighbor acquired Prince – another Shepherd mix –
who really loved no one except himself.
He would invade our kitchen almost knocking us down in the process,
stand on his hind legs, place his front paws on the counter as if to say --- “Where’s
the beef? (Or any other food)?” Prince didn’t last long – he attacked the son
of his owner – an unprovoked attack – an unpardonable sin for any dog. I did
not mourn Prince.
Then we met Sarge, also the dog of my neighbor –a lively
Golden Retriever—who knew dogs could love so much? Sarge, however had one bad habit – he couldn’t
or wouldn’t stay away from the road and it cost him his life. Princess followed Sarge – it broke my heart
to move and leave her behind, even though she wasn’t my dog. Neither retriever could be fully convinced that
they were too big to be lap dogs. They
loved to enter our house and jump on my
dad’s lap – by this time my mom was in Heaven.
These goldens were a great source of comfort – I remember talking to my
Mom as she as dying about the antics of Sarge. (I didn’t realize at the time it
was her last hours.)
Now there is Jaguar --- the miniature Schnauzer – she lives
two doors down. She visits frequently
for sleepovers. She spent two summers
with us while her owners travelled. I
think she still grieves his passing. She visited him in Palliative care . She
allowed us to dress her a bumblebee and take her trick or treating – to amuse
an ailing neighbor. We think of her as the joy bringer. She is around 12 with a heart condition, but
super energetic at times. She loves squirrels or the thought of chasing them --
Jaguar is a great dog—she also enjoys showing off as I eat (and does the same
thing for her owners or so I am told).
Jaguar is truly a joy- bringer.
So what do I have from the gift of these dogs – Little Bit
taught us --- it’s only for a time. Bo
taught us that sometimes love is just being there. Bamboo taught us – when life is too much –
just tear up the carpet – (just kidding --- at least let someone know how you
feel). Max taught us that a gentle spirit works while Prince showed us that
belligerence never pays. Sarge reminds us that you need to obey – stay out of
the road. Princess taught us that you’re
never too big to be loved. Jaguar says
it’s about bringing joy to other people.
The gift of dogs – even though most of them did not really belong to us;
each canine brought its own unique gift to my heart. I am so thankful for dogs and those who were
willing to share them.
