Within the last 2 weeks there have been 2 local instances of animal cruelty: 1) a dog was lured by neighbors into their car. It’s on video. Also on video is their returning him home; opened the door, he comes limping and stumbling out having been shot several times.
2) Another story about two men who were shooting a caged dog. Let me repeat – the dog was in a cage while they were shooting at it.
Now I have two dogs – as many of you know: Big Guy and Little Guy also known as Bret and Pico. I think about them often. They are compliant, satisfied, adaptive. They accept their lives as well as their bodies. They are who they are, we are who we are.
Pico had a torn muscle in his leg. He didn’t whine. He walked on 3 legs. He lives inside his head. He doesn’t think about his body (well, except when he’s had a bad haircut which makes him hide under the bed). If he sees something he goes after it. He doesn’t think about his leg.
And Bret – such an active puppy. Now he’s polite, asks for things (in his English setter way of touching me with his cold nose). When we sleep, he sleeps. When we go outside he goes outside.
They both accept this as their life. Whatever I am, whomever I am, they are with me. We move as one up and down the stairs, inside and outside. If there’s a sudden noise – we all look at each other. Our eyes meet. What was that? We have thoughts we share.
My ‘guys’ aren’t things. They are creatures with brains and sensitivity. They come to be petted, they lick a hurt I might have. They cuddle.
The lurer in story 1 says he can’t wait to tell his ‘side’ of the story. How can he have a side that would explain hurting and shooting a dog after luring him into his car? How can he think he has a ‘side’ to tell?
I feel sickened by the stories. I have no sympathy for the human beings. I have anger. I need to get this off my chest.
I’ve been away from the blog for a bit. I had a mitral valve replaced in my heart and am 8 weeks this side of the surgery. I am so happy to have a properly functioning heart and to return (though gradually) to my former life but in better shape. There will be more about that.
But I wanted to let you know that one of our activities is going over to our neighbor’s deck (or our neighbor coming over to ours) to have a glass of wine and watch the sun set. Since the wine includes cheese, Big Guy and Little Guy celebrate the activity with dancing and rolling about the grass. Once they tire of the reverie they pull up a chair to the table watching the sun with us. Or, sometimes, they join in the social nature of the conversation.
Husband began a conversation with an introduction to Henry James which immediately sparked up Big Guy’s ears. He had to have a say. His remarks were amazingly appropriate. Appropriate enough that I share them with you. Enjoy!
Ok, Bret. Years ago when my husband and I were Ph.D. students at Ohio University, we had an English Setter named Brett – her breed name was Lady Brett Equity (named after Lady Brett Ashley in The Sun Also Rises). She was a terrific setter – field dog.
Pico was such a success, I started to look about for a second dog – most likely of Pico’s breed when happen chance – our veterinarian had access to a litter of English Setters and my heart skipped a beat when I saw them.
Red Dog @ 12 weeks
Today Bret is 2.5 years old. He was 12 weeks when he came to live with us. All of a sudden. Saw the litter and brought him home. Called husband, of course, but he wasn’t going to say no.
Bret was ‘red dog’ because the dogs in the litter were named after the color of their collars. We named him after our previous setter – dropping a ‘t’.
Bret as an English Setter is considered “soft tempered”. Meaning he takes criticism, loud noises, obedience, and training with great affect. When the tree fell into the gazebo with us in it (another story) – Bret was up on the deck with his face in the corner. Well, actually, both dogs were on the deck. We decided later they were in their doggy way yelling ‘Get out! Get out!’ But of course we didn’t hear. But Bret was ‘atremble’ and really needed hugs.
Couch Potato
This is a photo of couch potato Bret – in the house. But outside? Mister alert. I’ll have to tell you about our bonding ritual.
At 2.5 he is close to being an adult. Adulthood happens at 3. Right now he’s still a bit bull headed and pushy. Still jealous of Pico. Really. If Pico needs hugging or petting – Bret does too. The downside? Pico is a lapdog and Bret thinks he is too. Doesn’t really work when he tries to sit on my lap.
As for being a guard dog? Not so much. Barks quite a bit at people passing by. But is quick to run and hide if anything untoward is going on. Pico, Little Guy, however, does his part. Vicious little 11 pounder. Goes right after the ankles.
Just Sayin’
"Just Sayin'" As an expression is most often used at the end of a rant or at the end of a suggestion ameliorating a hot pitch with a shrug and an I don't care. Of course the speaker cares but in the span of life she'd rather point out the issue than make a life's crusade out of it. Not that a life's crusade couldn't be merited and not that the thing itself isn't a real pita but, really, one has to move on. "Just sayin'"
Within the last 2 weeks there have been 2 local instances of animal cruelty: 1) a dog was lured by neighbors into their car. It’s on video. Also on video is their returning him home; opened the door, he comes limping and stumbling out having been shot several times.
Enjoy!
