MY BEST FRIENDS WERE NOT HUMAN
The day we met is ingrained in my mind. It was a memorable March trip to downtown Winnipeg. I had recently moved to a small village in rural Manitoba. On an all too rare but much enjoyed occasion some of my five children accompanied me on a shopping trip. We visited a few shops in the mall, had a leisurely bite to eat and then prepared to depart.
My family were all aware of my telling of a visit as a youngster to my Uncle’s farm where I met and played with his two Dalmatians. Intrigued I began asking him many questions as I had never seen such splendid dogs, good natured and adorable.
Before leaving for home I had recalled announcing to everyone, “This is the kind of dog I want some day. ”Having checked out a nearby pet store my children rushed up yelling, “Mom, you have to come and look they have a Dalmatian.”
Unknown to me at the time,they had already approached a staff member to bring the pup out of the enclosure. Upon arriving and seeing no Dalmatian and about to inquire, where is this dog, a girl appeared through a side door holding a three month old black and white bundle. With wide brown eyes that looked frightened, she huddled closely to the girl’s chest, quivering like jello. Told I was the interested party, she placed her in my all too willing arms.
It was love at first glance for both of us and she never did return to that enclosure. When inquiring what they had been calling her, they informed me Dally because of her breed. I said; “Dolly how would you like to come
home with me.” As far as I was concerned there was no longer any choice in the matter.
My children passed her around ooh . . . ing and ahh . . . ing over her, while I prepared to pay and sign papers as she was registered. Was I in for a tremendous shock, never realizing a dog could cost that much. For better or worse she had a new name and home. I had a new dog, a lighter pocketbook and a large problem.
That March day in a mall in Winnipeg, the “some-day” I wished for so long ago, was here and my partner as yet knew nothing of this whole event. She was about to meet my daughter’s spaniel Jessie shortly, as we would be staying there until returning home. She was much more thrilled to meet him than he was at making her acquaintance. Being young she enthusiastically wagged her tail and wriggled all over on approaching him, but became confused on being received with a growl and retreat in response. She never-the-less, with good nature, shared her newly acquired bed. (why not go whole hog) Persistantly she insisted, until making a fast friend before departing for another adventure.
Meeting my husband, (not only unaware but not-agreeable to my latest spur of the moment purchase), would certainly qualify in the latter category. On arrival home I was afraid a pet had been traded for a partner. With deep snow still on the ground, came the statement, “Of all the stupid times to get a puppy requiring training.”
Well, when the price was disclosed, all other arguments fell by the wayside. Now he was sure that all sense of reason had left me. Talk about a war zone, probably a battlefield would have been a safer place at that particular moment. As with all explosions, the dust eventually settled. With a tenuous truce declared, things drifted into a shakey peace of sorts. Aside from flare ups caused by the occasional incontinence on the floors, what to do with the dog when going away or the chewing of something important, (like our rug or my glasses), the battle was over. As soon as she became aware that the much desired love, attention and approval were gained only with proper and acceptable behavior, these skirmishes were soon a thing of the past.
If only it was that simple and easy with humans! She then soon became a loyal friend, confidant, a great source of joy, pride and entertainment. Not only to me but the party on the other end of that war in the not too distant past. Wherever he went he had a shadow of black and white that wiggled all over with tail in wild motion. We often warned people, watch out or she’ll lick you to death.
Although there were no longer any children in our home, whenever grand-children or those of friends visited, she began to bark until realizing they were children. Then she immediately went into wild gyrations and deep throated grumbling of sheer pleasurable excitement. She picked up many tricks with very little effort or teaching. She learned to flip food from her nose, and catch it and to play dead, both at nine years of age.
So much for that old theory that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. With lots of praise on succeeding, she found it a pleasure to learn, just in order to please us.
While growing she had the company of a small white male cat with orange tabby spots and tail. He had been there six months before, when rescued from a garbage dumpster by my eldest son. Some cruel and thoughtless person had abandoned him there to slowly starve to death. Unable to keep him, as living in an apartment, he appealed to soft-hearted “Mom”, who can seldom say No.
He gained the label jumper as his first food of choice was deer meat. They were a comical pair, sharing her fake fur bed where they slept together, or the cat performed many a groomings on himself and his newly acquired sister. They did many things together such as drinking from the toilet, discovering snow and catching a few rays atop the car side by side.
A nephew’s son greeted her with, “It’s a fire dog”, when they arrived one evening to play cards. When tired he grabbed a sleeping bag, piled in with her and went to sleep there in the dogs bed. The cat curled up on top and only looked up in curiosity when the camera flashed. Wonder of wonders the camera was handy and had film in it so this event, as well as the others were all amazingly caught on film and preserved for all time.
These are especially cherished now that she and the cat are no longer with us. Becoming very ill one Sunday, the cat curled up under our bed that night and was gone by morning before we could even discover what had been wrong with him, and was buried near the lakeside that he loved.
I could tell Dolly my joys, secrets and frustrations and she never told a sole. She simply snuggled up, grumbled softly in my ear, licked me and listened patiently, with empathy I’m positive. She was always there if I needed to share a burden, complaint or sorrow, such as the passing of our cat, or just required a companion or a hug. She asked only food, exercise and love in return and gave back so much more.
She greeted us at the door with boundless animated enthusiasm when arriving home from any absence, no matter how short. The dejected look she bestowed as you prepared to depart and advised her she must stay, was enough to melt the coldest heart. Even though you assure her care with a well known friend or relative, left the
radio playing for company and a small light on, the guilt was still there at deserting a good friend.
Some people say in wonderment how could anyone leave money to assure the care of their pet, grieve over the loss and give them a funeral or other such behaviors they feel should only be for humans.
Either they have never owned a pet or else have not had the UN-adulterated pleasure of having one who became a member of the family. Sure there are some drawbacks such as the smell, hair and the initial breaking-in period, but what they give you in return more than makes up for any of these. They are always there when you need a friend, make no judgments, have no prejudices and forgive your many mistakes and accept you for who and what you are. Always loving you in spite of your faults. They share with you all the ups and downs, good things and bad times in life.
Wonder if they could teach we humans these tricks!
Written by Dolly’s best friend .
Two year following her being put down at just over ten years due to Cancer in June, 1997.
Gone To Join My Brother - Jumper
| Diamond Dolly |
| June 1997 |
| Lorna Eastcott |