Animals bond with their owners and with other pets, too. We may not always see it at first but there are cats and dogs who actually snuggle together when sleeping and they defend their friend when there is danger. They often make sure no one eats the friend’s food and one Rock Island Red hen provides food for her ole dog friend.
Each morning the chicken goes to the dog house and wakes him. She messes with him until he finally wakes up and exits his domain. Then, the hen enters the dog’s home and, after searching for the warm place where the dog has just been sleeping, she “lays an egg” for him. The Rock Island Red goes on her merry way and the ole dog enters his house to encourage, with his nose, the egg out of his quarters. He cracks the egg and eats the contents. Later the hen returns to retrieve the shell and takes it back to the chicken yard. This happens every day.
On a recent Easter morning a friend had just finished making from scratch a coconut cream pie. She placed the pie aside on the kitchen island to cool and set up while she began to whip the egg whites for the frothy meringue topping. A family member walked through the kitchen sniffing the air. His intense scent found the pie and he decided to have a lick or two. He probably thought the kind baker wouldn’t notice but just as he went in for a third lick, she turned and caught him. She loved that Walker Coon Hound, but she couldn’t serve her guests the pie that the hound had helped himself to. So, she scooped the pie into his bowl and started over on another pie for the Easter Sunday human dinner, making sure the second one was placed in a safe location away from long hound tongues.
The son of an elderly lady told me about her nine year old cat she’d gotten when he was only weeks old. The cat knew when she didn’t feel well or if she was happy or sad from the very beginning. If she was in pain, the cat would lay on the very spot where she was hurting and purr. The warmth of the cat eased her discomfort and the purring helped to calm her. That cat would flitter around and dance to keep his mistress smiling and happy. He knew his responsibilities. When the time came for the lady to go to a nursing home, the cat was to go live at the son’s home. It didn’t take long for the cat to sneak out and find the new home of his mistress. He climbed to the outside window sill of the lady’s bedroom. The son was called to retrieve the cat. Everyone laughed about it. But the cat continued returning until it was decided that the cat could stay with her. They were never separated again. Four years later, they died in their peaceful sleep snuggled together.
The last dog my daddy had was a black and tan German Shepherd named Rusty. That dog went everywhere with Daddy and would wait by the back door when Daddy would come into the house. He got to ride in the pickup truck when Daddy drove into town for grain, feed or delivering stock to the market.
On the occasion when Rusty didn’t tag along, he’d sit behind the grainery at the farm, waiting to see that aqua and white Chevy pickup come down the backroad toward home. Once spotted, Rusty would race toward the truck and hop into the cab waiting at the corner.
The morning that Daddy died, Rusty had been howling all night. Of course, we knew he was missing his buddy, who had been in the hospital for several weeks. Rusty was lonely and nothing anyone said or did would calm his howling.
A few weeks later my brother was driving that Chevy down the back road. He spotted Rusty making a run to meet the truck, so my brother stopped at the corner, just as Daddy always did and opened the passenger door.
When Rusty got to the door, he stopped and looked at my brother. Rusty realized it wasn’t Daddy. He returned with his head low and slowly walked back through the pasture to the farm. A few weeks later, Rusty died, also. I can easily imagine Daddy and Rusty in heaven.
Last week I had an amazing experience. I was sitting quietly and sort of meditating when I suddenly felt a breath on my cheek. I turned to look into the eyes of a Great Dane. I’d been around her before but her mistress, my friend, was always with us. This time it was just the two of us. I said hello and she made a greeting sound and proceeded to kiss my cheek with her long tongue. She had to keep kissing my hands as I petted her and talked.
Dogs always find me and that’s ok because I really like them. Some are silly or anxious, while others are somber and lean on you, waiting for your attention if they like you. This Great Dane is loving and kind. Her name is Isabella, she stands almost three feet tall, weighs about 140 pounds, has a beautiful coat and loves to “walk her mistress” all over town. She favors cottage cheese for breakfast, likes the little chicken sausages, and finds the small ice cream cups a real treat.
Isabella followed me as I was selecting items I’d gone there to pick up. I talked to her and she’d respond. I loved every moment. When I left, she followed me to my car and had to kiss my cheek before I opened the door. She watched as I pulled away and out of sight.
I’m happy for my friend to have such a wonderful companion. Isabella has a huge, loud bark when she feels someone is threatening her mistress, otherwise she’s a lovely young lady.
She will turn 4 years old on June 23. A party is being planned. I wonder if she knows about blowing the candles out.
If you have a pet, have you hugged them today? Have you ruffled their fur, rubbed their belly, scratched behind their ears? Maybe you’ve talked to them and listened to their response? Think how important you are to them, how important they are to you. Perhaps you have been ruminating on a pet as a companion. Adopt one on a trial basis. You just might find a delightful friend.
