I noticed that in the middle of the store there were some dogs. These were larger dogs. All mutts of course but were letting themselves be known at the customers going by. While Sonia looked at the cats, I meandered over to see the dogs.
Back in 2009, I had lost my two babies. Yes, I called my dogs my babies. I had Butterscotch since 1995. She was a beautiful golden retriever mix and then about a year or so later we found Oreo. She was a Bird Dog mixed with Beagle. She looked like a rather large dog on little short legs. They became friends and closer then sisters. Maybe more like lesbian lovers.
I remember one afternoon I was working in the garden pruning the roses, when I heard the little three year old boy from next door holler across the fence. "Mr. Ray, Mr. Ray what are those dogs doing?" I looked over and Oh my God! They were humping each other! I calmly told him that they were just playing leap frog and that because Oreo was so fat that she got stuck. It must have made sense to him because he just shrugged his shoulders and walked away with a confused look upon his face.
Butterscotch and Oreo was my buddies, my confidants and my babies. I enjoyed playing with them. I would throw a ball across the yard and because Butterscotch was so fast she would run out and get the ball. She was like my wide receiver. Then Oreo was more like my linebacker. She would attack Butterscotch who would just give the ball to Oreo and then Oreo would trot back to me and give me the ball, as if to say, "Look Daddy, I got the ball!"
In 2009 my Butterscotch died of old age and two weeks later Oreo died of a broken heart. It was a sad year for me because as they say, "It comes in threes." My Father, Dr. Elmo Peters died of complications to a stroke. It was a tough year.
I didn't know if I could have another dog or not. I had mourned the loss of two wonderful dogs and the passing of my Father.
I looked down and saw one dog to the left that was more like a slobber cannon because every time he barked slobber shot out three feet. No, that was just messy. I looked to the right and that dog was like on a speed ball and barking like crazy.
In the middle was this BullMastiff/ Labrador mix who was just sitting there looking at me like, "If you are not going to take me, just shoot me and get me out of my misery." I put my hand down into the cage and the beautiful brindled dog sniffed and started licking my hand. Sonia, came up beside me and looked at us. Sonia then said, "I think this dog likes you." I closed my eyes and said with a low voice, "Damn."
We filled out the paper work and paid $50 dollars. I took the dog out to the van while Sonia purchased a kennel and some other things to take care of the dog. Chew toys, food, snacks all of the regular things that you would get. I opened the back door of the van. I put the kennel in and opened the door. Surprisingly, the dog got into the kennel with no fuss at all.
We brought the dog home with no whimpering or barking or anything. We pulled up to the house and into the garage. I opened the door to the van and took the dog out of the kennel. We walked back to the back yard and opened the gate. We walked thru and closed the gate. I then unleashed the dog and let him free into the back yard. He trotted around as though he knew that this was home. Not a shelter or a foster home but home.
Soon Sonia opened the back door and he walked in. I went with him as he wondered thru the house. I told him what he couldn't touch with a loud AAAA! He looked at me as though he understood. To this day he has not touched those things. He has not chewed up any thing. He has not used the restroom in the house. Amazing since he is only 11 months old.
I think maybe he is the most intelligent dog that I have had to date.
I love him and he loves me. In fact, he is sitting in HIS chair in the office behind me watching me write this piece.
Had I not bought him, he probably would have went to a family that would not have understood him the way that I do. He has become what dogs are famous for .... my best friend.
