Ode to My Pets(The Dogs)

My doggie history

It seems like we always had dogs when I was growing up.

First, there was Puppy(clearly named by one of us). He was a collie we had when Susie and I were little. I remember that he used to eat the wrappers we dropped when our neighbor gave us butterscotch candies.

Later there was Spot the beagle. (Clearly coming up with interesting dog names was not one of our strengths.)

Here is the only photo I have of him.

Then came Ivan(he was Susie’s dog) and Brandy…the Samoyeds. They were soft, fluffy, and fun and they loved to run and lick our faces. They had the most outrageously adorable puppies which we would give away to friends. I think we gave them away. I’ll have to check with dad on that.

I remember that when we opened their wet food with the electric can opener the dogs would come running from wherever they were. Unfortunately, Ivan often forgot to check if the sliding-glass door was open or not. He was a looker but a bit slow on the upkeep.

I also remember that he and Brandy used to sneak over to the neighbor’s house and attack their fancy birds. Poor birds. And while the responsibility for damage was still ours, all these years later I only have one thought. Only in the Encino suburbs would people keep peacocks?

Regardless, because of the “snacking” issue, we were eventually forced to give the dogs away.

Not all fun and fluff

I remember the joy of playing with the dogs and the excitement of waiting to see them after school. Struggling to keep them off of our Sunday morning bagels that we ate on the patio. We loved watching these fast, energetic dogs become positively winded trying to catch the squirrels in the yard.

What I don’t remember is ever picking up poop, brushing their fur, or cleaning their teeth. That’s because I don’t think that we ever did any of that…or at least not very often. I can only assume that dad took care of all of that. We just blissfully enjoyed their company in a “no care needed” vacuum. Although, I do have some vague memories of leashes and my sister walking Ivan. Hard to know all of these years later.

It should be known that picking up poop was and continues to be the only thing about dogs that I do not like having to do. It just feels so squishy and warm as the bag wraps around it. Yuck!

When would I be ready to take on the responsibility?

There were no dogs in my life for many years. I felt certain that eventually there would be others but I needed to make sure that I had the right living situation and was ready for the responsibility. Because this time it would be all me.

It wasn’t until I was settled in Quebec with a yard and our house that I finally felt ready to have another dog in my life.

Becoming the poop “picker-upper”

I named her Casey and for some reason that I can’t think of now, I got her as a puppy. I say that because even at that point I knew about rescuing animals and how it “doesn’t have to be a puppy to be fun”.

It felt like the perfect time. We lived in a wooded area with lots of space. My work schedule was manageable and mostly…I was ready to assume the responsibility. Even the poop!

I saved money for months to buy her. And once we had her I continued to save for her vet visits, shots, and eventual sterilization. I stayed up with her for two nights straight when we first brought her home because she was scared and missed her mom. When her training didn’t seem to be working I found this amazing man Eric who trained dogs for blind and differently-abled people who required canine companions. Seven weeks later Casey had become the poster dog for what obedience training could do. She was awesome and growing into a wonderful dog.

I loved her so much. I brushed her teeth and her fur and walked with her. Even the cats were finding their way with her…sort of. And it was good. Until things began changing.

When life throws a curve ball

First, we discovered black mold in our house and had to move. The new house had a small yard but was in town so there were all sorts of new dangers and rules that required that she be inside more than out. That created problems for the cats who were also dealing with the new digs. While there is one now, at that time there was no doggie park for her to socialize with other dogs. In the country, there was so much going on outside that it never seemed to be a problem.

And then I found out I was pregnant(this would be Nathan) which added to my load.

It was soon clear that Casey didn’t like living in the town. Lots of unknown noises and lights and smells. I did my best but even I was changing and ultimately letting her down.

When I got her I swore that she would be with us for life. Now I was always feeling guilty about how things weren’t going well. Those thoughts, mixed in with the hormones, were not a great mix. The situation was degenerating quickly and something needed to change.

My “Hail Mary” pass

Struggling with my guilt and embarrassment, I contacted the gentleman who trained Casey the year before. I explained our situation and, lo and behold, he was able to help! He gave us the name of one of his students that might be interested in adopting her. After a few calls, it was organized.

One Saturday morning Robert, Camille, myself, and Casey took a drive to La Tuque. It was with a heavy heart that we made the four-hour drive to her new home. We tried to make an adventure out of the drive. Stopping for snacks and short walks so we could all stretch our legs. As we got closer to our destination it began to feel like nature was all around us. It was beautiful!

When we arrived at the house, we were greeted by “Brian”(honestly I cannot remember his real name). Brian explained that his property was 40 acres consisting of fields, forests, and a river. He introduced himself to Casey who walked over to him without even a second thought. He took off her leash and replaced it with what looked like a very long piece of dental floss. It was immediately clear that he had trained with Eric. He did a few things with Casey to determine her skill level. Then he explained that because her training was so complete she would be his “star/example” dog when he offered training courses. So that people could see what was possible. That made us smile. I was just happy that we hadn’t messed her up too much.

When they are ready to move on

Then it was time to meet her new friends! They had been waiting in an unseen enclosure and were very eager to meet their new buddy. There were two but I mostly remember Shrek. He was huge and furry and awesome. Within seconds of the meet and greet they had accepted Casey and the three were off playing and running. We had unceremoniously been dumped. As if her time with us was just a means to getting her here…her real forever home. It stung briefly but as we watched her play we realized that she was meant to be here.

Within 10 minutes Casey was resting because she was so winded. For the next half-hour, she would run, play, rest, repeat. It was funny, magical, and bittersweet.

There was one brief second when she came back to us at the car and touched Camille’s hand with her nose…and then she was gone. We knew it was time for us to go. I am still not sure if the tears in my eyes were from sadness or also from relief. It wasn’t that I was happy to be rid of her. I was just so happy that things had worked out so well.

Will I ever have a dog again?

The kids have been after us for years to get a dog. With talk about how they will clean up and brush and feed it, you can tell they are sincere. So much so that they suggest trading in the 6 cats for a dog. The badgering never lasts very long so I just wait it out. And yet I know that the subject will ultimately come up again, as it has every year since Casey.

I am not ready yet. I know how lucky we got with Casey. And even if we were her way to a far better life, I know I will not get any more “hail Mary” passes. I need to be ready…and sure! However, when I contemplate having another dog, I am leaning toward older rescue dogs who need a forever home and someone who gives a damn.

So until we have a fenced yard or at least a system to keep a dog safe and in our yard, I will only contemplate having a dog. Knowing that one day will finally be the right time…even with the poop!