Canine Compassion

My Dog

We opted for a Labrador retriever and we didn’t

really care what color.  Oh, we had our preference

but the breed was of more interest than the color.

I grew up with big dogs…..no silly little poodles

or terriers for me, no way!  I’m certain they have

their place or God wouldn’t have created them

but I need a big dog.  Big enough to roll around

in the fresh mown grass on a hot summer night.

Big enough to wrestle with and perhaps big enough

to win the match!

In an attempt to fill the void left in my heart

when my collie had lived out his fifteen years

with me, I decided after several months that it

was time to “do it again”.  Berwick was a great

dog, I knew that another dog wouldn’t replace

him but could possibly ease the emptiness.

Jeff suggested that I call the local dog pound

and request a lab.  I thought he was nuts

(wasn’t the first and most likely won’t be the

last). I thought there would be no way this

beautiful breed would ever end up at the pound.

To my surprise the pound called within a few

days and said that they had a Chocolate lab.

EXACTLY what we wanted!  My friend, Terri

and I jumped in the car and off we went.

Terri is a dog groomer extraordinaire and a

very dear friend.  She attended vet school

for a while until her emotions got the best of

her when the realities of being an animal

doctor were too heartbreaking. When we got

to the pound we were led past dozens of dogs

before we got to the chocolate lab.  I wonder

how many people scoop up more than one

just because of the forlorn glimmer in their eyes.

There she was!  Cowering behind a Rottweiler

and having no personality whatsoever.  They

were left behind by a fella who was on the run

from the local authorities.   As soon as she

was taken away from the Rottweiler she

blossomed…she had such spunk that I wasn’t

sure I could handle her.

Hmm….left behind….how could he?  We didn’t

have to think long to agree on a name for her.

At that time Jeff and I were reading a twelve

book series entitled “Left Behind”.  It’s about

the apocalypse and taken somewhat loosely

from Revelation in the Bible.   We thought

it quite appropriate to pull a female name from

it.  We decided on Chloe.

Well, here we are 2 years later and we can’t imagine

being without Chloe.  She has all the standard

tendencies that most dogs have….chasing after

anything smaller and chasing after anything larger

too.  In other words, if it moves….she’s on it!

We found out, but unfortunately are still trying

to remember to put EVERYTHING even remotely

edible away prior to leaving the house or going to bed.

She has eaten entire loaves of bread, entire pies

and an entire box of broasted chicken (bones

included).  The chicken incident required a

call to the vet and the constant watch for what

needed to come out.  But the canine food

fest to beat all took place sometime between

midnight and 7:30 this Sunday morning.

The alarm didn’t even sound off yet something

woke me.  It wasn’t the standard 3-4 AM

call off women enduring menopause either.  It

was nearly 8 AM and as I began to stumble

toward the steps I see it!  Umm…readers….If

you’re eating---stop!   It was shiny, brown

and nearly 8 inches in diameter….an

interesting swirly pattern somewhat of an

art form, if you will.

Initially I thought that my son, home

from college, was playing a practical joke on

whoever woke up first.  As I stooped lower I

realized …..nah….this wasn’t a joke, this

wasn’t just an easy pick up and throw into

his bed,  this was going to be quite a task.

As I descended the stairway carefully looking

left, looking right and looking ahead I see two

more piles!  No odor…just messes!

I spot the kitchen waste can upended and

strew across the floor, a half eaten pumpkin

pie, an EMPTY bag of melting chocolate and

a VERY full dog!  Step #1 Call the vet:  1.5-2

pounds of milk chocolate is NOT toxic to a

90 pound dog.  The vet was glad that Chloe

was expelling through her mouth.  I suppose

it was the better alternative but by the time

Jeff and I had cleaned up 8 piles we were

wondering if our next call should be to a

professional carpet cleaner!

We were beginning to run late for church

as we just sat and watched her…waiting

and wondering for the next bout.  We realized

that we couldn’t wait any longer and decided

to chance it.

Upon our return several hours later we

entered our home filled with trepidation to

find the aroma of chocolate permeating the

air yet nothing on the carpet.  Could we still

smell melted chocolate from the previous day?

I think I’ll bring up the carpet scrubber just in case.

I wonder if the cat caused all this?

If forced to choose between romantic love and my

dog, I’d sure choose my dog.  –Solange

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It’s a strange thing, love.  Nothing but love has

made the dog lose his wild freedom, to become

the servant of man.  –D.H. Lawrence

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It’s no coincidence that man’s best friend can’t talk.

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Hugs, Happiness and Harmony,

Julie L. Rose

snlrose@hotmail.com