Dogs, the loving pet

I have known many dogs in my life.  I really think the term ‘Man’s Best Friend’ is appropriate.’  Cats can be company even a friend at a distance. I can only remember one cat, close, in my life, Tom, from Shelby, NC. I think Tom belonged to the house we moved into.  Somehow cats seem to associate with places, rather than families. I think cats are more photogenic.

The few times Tom allowed me to hold him he cuddled a little, but what I remember was his ‘motor’. I was less than 5 years old but that purring sounded like a little motor inside him.  When me moved thirty or thirty five miles away, after three years we took Tom with us. Bingo (family dog) and Tom were in separate cages in the trailer.

(Me, Mark and Jack jr holding their (GITMO) dog Grouch, the only dog that could climb a tree.)

When I let Tom out of his cage he took off like a shot and I never saw him again at that house.  The next time I saw Tom was when we visited  the place we had lived, there was Tom. I called, but as usual, he was very independent. If he wanted to come he would, otherwise he just looked around or ignored me.

Bingo, the mixed family dog, would cuddle anyone who would pay her attention or hold her.  So I think early I chose ‘the dog’ in my mind, as a pet.

Funny things have happened over the years concerning dogs. The one thing I have noticed folks who have pedigreed dogs and folks who have adopted strays or pound dogs, ALL love them and are loved the same. Most of ours were strays, and one pedigreed dog with no papers. All were LOVED.

                                                         (ACE)

Incidents: We met an engineer and his wife on the AT who was in charge of building a skyscraper in Charlotte, NC. They were hiking with their two dogs. Our first encounter with trail dogs. They had small harnesses and back packs and carried their own food and water. The next day as we were hiking along the trail we heard a noise behind and stepped to the side to let the hikers by. It was the two dogs, by themselves, they passed us without hardly acknowledging us.

We laughed, had we not known who they were with, we would have thought  they were hiking the trail alone with packs. LOL The owners were ahead and they were following the scent.

(This was Mel and Slim's dog Brandy (?) I think. She crossed over the bridge soon after this. She was so loving and looked like Mieska)

Another time we met Mieska, a big red Lab hiking with her owner. One rainy night I had to get up to use the bathroom and came back to my sleeping bag, Mieska was in my sleeping bag. I had to urge her out and she snuggled up to my sleeping bag. For the night.

 (This is Charlie not long before he left his humans Buddy & Di.)

Life is interesting, pets, especially dogs can make life fun and pleasant. Dogs are great sounding boards, I do love ‘em.

Nite Shipslog