Losing a Friend and Companion

Most of us have had pets, like Junior, pictured above. All of us who have had pets have had pets who were not just a part of our lives, but a piece of us.

Most us could not have put our feelings down in words; although some of us have tried.

James Lileks has just lost a pet as well, and has described not only the pet, but the multi-year relationship exquisitely.

For those of us who have lost pets, you will empathize and relive your own pets.

For those who have not; this will introduce you to the experience and the value of that relationship.

You Sometimes Reach a Point

I ran into this story while out and about on the Internets. I think somebody has over reacted.

We can start with whether or not this guy should have taken his dog mountain climbing with him, then move into not being properly prepared to be on the mountain. 

The guy's story rings true with me. I can see who he would have made every decision he says he did, based on the situation he says he was facing. I can also see why he would cough up the bucks for the vet's bills after dog was rescued.

But then, I am a dog lover, and hated losing each of my dogs when they died. It would have been a hard decision for me  to leave a treasured companion on the mountain like he did.

So why the animal cruelty charges? Was what he did cruel to the dog? Absolutely. But it wasn't intentional.

Unless somebody believes he should have stayed on the mountain and risked his life and his companions because of the dog?

As I said, I'm a dog lover., But after all, he is an animal. There has to come a point where you weigh the value of the two lives involved, and determine that the human life is more valuable.

Treating this guy like a criminal is just adding insult to injury. Animals should be protected from abuse. And pets see too much abuse in this country as it is.

But treating this guy as a criminal abuser cheapens the real abuse.

And the picture is a couple of my dogs. The light colored one is my wife's long-haired chihuahua Bandit. He left us late last spring, and is up on the hill next to Junior. The dark one is Daisy, the Young'uns dog. And yeah; I took the picture.

Daisy

This is the Young'uns puppy, Daisy. Named after Daisy Duke, from down Hazzard County way. The Young'un INSISTED.

Her middle name is General Lee.

We found her at the pound and believe she is somehow related to Junior.

Can you see the family resemblance. Or is it just me?

Junior

I did a post a few months back about my dog Junior, and now that I have my pictures back I can post one of him.

He was a grand old dog. But our new pup shows signs of being just as good.

But that is another post.

Snow Day

Yesterday was a snow day for both me and the kids. I worked from home and the kids spent most of the day either outside or drying their clothes out.

They built a ramp in the pasture for their sleds that is about 3 feet tall and 10 feet long. I'll be mowing around the remnants of that thing until June.

And yes, they rode their sleds off of it.

It kinda reminded me of a Road Runner cartoon. The sled would run to the end of the ramp and fall straight down in slow motion. It was just like they hit an invisible wall.

The Young'un was right out there with them, climbing the hill with sled in tow and riding down toward the ramp. I don't know whether it was because she has more sense than the boys do or not, but she always seemed to miss the ramp. But every time they went out, she went out with them and stayed until they came in.

The new puppy enjoys the snow too. Yesterday it was a little deep for her to run, so she was hopping from point to point, always at the end of her leash. I had to untangle myself from the cord and almost every tree we went past. I have some video, and as soon as I can figure out how to upload it to this computer thing I might post some.

The New Addition

We have been talking about getting a puppy since July when Junior died. We were only half-heartedly looking, because we wanted a collie shepard mix and didn't think we would be able to find one.

Then serendipity reared its ugly head.

Tuesday night the Young'un called us in tears. Her Mom and stepdad gave away her cat. The wife and I consoled her as best we could and called her Daddy and let him know if we wanted to get her a puppy, we would be more than happy to keep it for her here at the house. Son agreed, and let the Young'un know she was getting a puppy. Information she immediately shared with Mom and stepdad; information they did not appreciate.

Which made our decision even sweeter.

So Grandma immediately went to work to find a puppy. The first place she went was our local animal shelter. Where they happened to have a few puppies. Collie shepard mix puppies. And one of them has markings that reminded her of Junior. That puppy saw my wife and walked toward her, wagging its tail. She picked the puppy up and it licked her nose. The Youn'un had her puppy.

Saturday we took the Young’un to meet the puppy; to make sure they were compatible. Compatible? They were inseparable. She has decided to name the pup General Lee Daisy after two of her favorite characters from her favorite show. I am fairly sure we will be using her ‘middle name’, as the Young’un has determined Daisy to be, more often than her first. As much as I like the name, I just don’t think I could get used to calling a female puppy General Lee.

It was a strange set of events that lead us to the Animal shelter just in time to find this pup. When we were there on Saturday a few folks can in and would have taken her home except that we were there and had already put down a hold deposit. A day later than when the wife was there and she would have been gone. A couple of days earlier and she would not have been there yet.

And then the strange similarities to Junior. Her looks, especially in the face, some of her markings and the way she HATES a leash and collar. And the way she took to all of us immediately. Junior had several siblings that we got into good homes locally, so it is possible this is one of his nieces or grand-nieces. Or a granddaughter. Obviously I can’t prove that she is.

But I’ll always believe it’s so.