Going to the Dogs

Kasey

After having watched so much about the Westminster Dog Show, I thought about my animal history.  My mother was not a dog (or cat) lover; however, my dad loved dogs. That meant we were destined to be dog owners. When I was young, my parents purchased a toy Boston Terrier, who became the love of our lives. My mother shed her annoyance toward animals quickly when our “Terry” snuggled up to her. My father did the training, but my mother was the one the little pup always ran to for comfort. Living among three small children, Terry became our companion, security guard, and trusted ally. She absorbed our tears and licked away our sadness, but she also herded us in the right direction as needed. As tiny as she was, Terry seemed like a mastiff when confronted. She only lived for seven years, and she died of a brain tumor, leaving us bereft.

When my younger brother was diagnosed with leukemia, all he kept asking for was another dog. My parents bought him a small German Shepherd puppy, and “Mugsy” was totally devoted to my brother.  Unfortunately, he hated me.  I never understood why, but if I walked into the room, he jumped up on me, dug his claws into my clothes, and growled. My parents had me walk him, groom him, feed him, and play with him, all to no avail. He just plain hated me.  My brother died before the dog was two, and in their grief, they let another family adopt him.

My daughter always wanted a kitten, despite the fact that my husband and I were not so fond of felines. So we began our collection of cats – small, large, long and short hair, friendly and not so. Through the years we had a total of four, one living to be sixteen before he died. Misty, Molly, Tiger, and Puff lived the good life here, but when the last one left, I didn’t want any more.

Then my son began asking for a puppy. We were able to hold him off until the fall of ’07, when we promised him one for Christmas. We were lucky that our neighbors began breeding Golden Retrievers, and they were willing to give us a discounted price. So, in January of ’08, Kasey became a part of our family. He was the cutest cuddly little ball of fluff I had ever seen. He stayed here until my son and his school buddies opted for a house in Philadelphia, and Kasey became a city dog. Now we see him when my son goes on trips and we puppy sit. He’s here with us now, and I just love him to pieces.

Kasey will never be a true watchdog – he just wants everyone who enters to be his friend. He’s way too spoiled to be a companion or aide dog, but he provides the residents with lots of smiles when he visits my mother’s nursing home. So he could be a therapy dog. He’s great with the little guy, and never goes near the grandie’s toys.

My daughter and SIL recently had to find another home for one of their dogs -- Bailey, a huge one, because he snapped at the baby twice. Now they just have an aging Siberian Husky – Doc – who mainly likes to eat and sleep. Our close friends have two little Cavalier King Charles brother and sister, and they are the cutest little darlings. Each Thursday, a chocolate lab – Cocoa – visits my mother’s home. So, when we don’t have Kasey with us, we can reach out to others for a “puppy fix!”

I do love these furry friends, and I can’t imagine life without them.

Peace,

Muff    

Terry

Mugsy