Tag: dogs

Faithful Companion

I am not sure what it is but there is always a soft spot in my heart for a dog. I have been fortunate to have a number of dogs in my life. My first dog was a gift from one of my uncles and since then I have had some wonderful dogs with which to share life. Currently we have two dogs in our home and I adore both of them. Some of my readers may recall that at the end of May we said goodbye to one of our dogs, Herky, but a couple of weeks later we welcomed Belle into our home. I think our dogs make our home complete.

My first statement in this post is not truly accurate. I do know what it is about a dog which causes me to fall in love with him/her. Actually, quite a few reasons that come to my mind. I fall in love with a dog because the dog has already fallen in love with me. One of the truths regarding these animals is that unless they have suffered abuse, a dog is the most loving creature which I know. This love is unconditional. Only if they have been mistreated, or they have been trained differently does this love not extend to you at first contact.

If unconditional love is not a good enough reason, then unwavering faithfulness is a very good one. A dog’s loyalty remains strong. I am sure that you have seen the pictures of a dog laying in front of the casket of a fallen soldier or at the headstone of their owner. This commitment is unmatched in most relationships. There exists a bond between dog and owner which never seems to fade or is broken.

These characteristics endear dogs to me. Yet, I would be remiss if I did not mention one more and that is companionship. Wherever I am, that is where my dog(s) wishes to be. I cannot be out of a room for more than five minutes before one or both dogs come searching for me. When I am away from the house, the excitement and joy with which I am greeted when I return is abounding. As much as I am an important companion in their lives, they are a vital companion in my life.

I love dogs! Here I give you just a brief glimpse of why. But if you have been fortunate enough to have a dog in your life, you know these and the many more that are in my head. So, thank you to all the dogs who have made a difference in my life…

Terrington, Buddy, Brandi, Hayden, Herky, Ellie, Leroy, and Belle….. not to mention, neighbor dogs Paulie and Wiggles…. or my niece puppy, Jewel…. or my grandpuppies, Ryder and Koda.  

More Than Just an Animal

Last month I read an article in The Atlantic, “What the Crow Knows,” written by Ross Andersen. Andersen provides this introduction to the article:

The idea that animals are conscious, long unpopular in the West, has lately found favor among scientists who study animal cognition. Now even some insects are thought to have interior lives. A journey into the depths of the animal mind.

Ross Anderson

This article resonated with me because I have always been a proponent of the concept that my dog is very conscious and has cognitive abilities which too many people deny.

Over the course of my life, I have had the privilege of sharing my life with eight different dogs. Some of them have been with me their entire lives and others have shared only a part of their life with me. Currently, we have two dogs in our household which adds to a blended household. Each one of these terrific animals have their own personalities, character traits, and influences. I am convinced that each of my dogs thinks and feels in ways similar to myself.

In the last ten years or so, I have noticed that more and more individuals are starting to truly understand their pets as members of their families. There are some who would say that this has gone to an extreme in many cases but I think society might finally be on the right track. Afterall, you can now purchase health insurance for your pet. You can add to your auto insurance a provision which insures your pet as a passenger. There are spas for our pets and kennels are promoting more of a vacation resort concept if you need to board your pet. All of this speaks to a change in understanding that our pets are more than just animals.

While I do not take either of our dogs to a spa or include them on our auto insurance, I do value them as important members of our family. They display emotions. They learn routines and demonstrate expectations. Each bonds to us in very different and specific ways. My dogs can distinguish between individuals and settings.

After reading the article which I mentioned above, I am glad that science is starting to see that my dogs are more than just animals. They are true companions in the full sense and deserve to be treated as such.

The Trip

The morning after the movers left was planned to be the loading of our two cars. My husband is much better at packing vehicles than I am, so I delegated that responsibility to him. Besides all the items which the movers could not take and the items we needed until they arrived, there had to be room in the cars for a driver and one of our dogs. You can imagine what a challenge this was for my husband. We do not have small cars, we have four-door sedans, but there still was a lot to fit in each of them.

Our plan had been to begin our journey by 8:00 am or 9:00 am at the latest. Yet, it became clear that even though we had awakened early, our time frame was not going to be met. The packing of the cars was a challenge which required some unpacking and repacking. This all was taking place in rain and light snow which added to the challenge. There also was clear evidence that we had more left in the house than we were going to be able to fit in the vehicles.

One of our family members and our neighbor came to help us out again. They began going through the cleaning supplies and food we had planned on taking with us. Some of it was thrown in the garbage, some was to be taken home with our neighbor, and some would go home with my husband’s brother. We would have to replace what we needed once we got to our new home. While my husband packed the cars and the other two sorted through items we could not take, I began cleaning what we had to leave until the last minute.

Around 11:00 am, we were ready to pull out on our journey to our new home. We said our final good-byes and loaded the dogs into the cars. Each dog would get one foot well in the back seat of the car. We had put their beds in each car respectfully but our largest dog, a black Labrador mix, had no room if the bed was in there, so we moved that one to the trunk of the car. We would be on the road for close to twelve hours.

As we started our trip, the snow had started coming down. For the next four hours it would snow off and on as we made our way. We made it out of Iowa and had entered Missouri when we decided to make our first stop. This stop was mainly to let the dogs get out for a stretch, but we also used it as an opportunity for a restroom break and to get something to drink. The snow had stopped but a cold wind from the north made standing outside with the dogs unpleasant. After taking care of the needs of all four of us, we were back on the road.

Our trip consisted of driving on interstate almost the whole distance. We made stops for the dogs, to get gas and/or to grab some food. We made it through Kansas City without much hassle. Our journey down Kansas’ tollway was uneventful. There was just one time we had an issue convincing our oldest dog to get back into the vehicle. He seemed done with traveling and having bad back hips did not want to climb back in the car. Eleven hours later, we were coming into the metroplex which would be our new home.

After traveling almost 900 miles and going through five states, we arrived safely but weary at our new home. We pulled the cars into the garage, only to realize it was a tight fit. We let the dogs out and into the house so they could explore a little. Next the dogs went outside into the fenced-in back yard to take care of needs and get the layout of their new yard. While they were outside, we started to unpack the necessary items from the cars.

Once the dogs and the needed items were in the house, we put air in the mattress, added the bedding and laid down for our first night of sleep in our new sparsely furnished home.