And yes, we treat our dogs like children. I suppose some would say more like grandchildren; they do get away with a lot! Well, let's just say we love them; they are a big part of our family.
I used to be pretty particular where my house was concerned. Well, many things have changed through the years and especially the last five years. Bill now cleans the house, not because I am lazy; I'd give anything to be able to clean my house again! Well, Bill does the best he can, need I say more!
I am sure our house would be more near passing the white glove test if our dogs had other homes or they lived outside in the cold. But if that were the case, Bill and I would miss their love, companionship and their amusing antics. Plus, they would feel cold, lonely and unloved. When we took them in it was with the promise they could forget how they had once survived in
their previous homes.
I am not sure about Missie; she had been picked up by the dog catcher and her owner never came to claim her. But, Luke, though not abused by having been beaten, had been tied up in his former owner's backyard, and according to his age, that meant he spent last winter out in the cold, rain and snow.
Both dogs have their own personalities. Missies' character has gone through a metamorphous as age has sneaked in upon her. Her years have welcomed aches and pains against her will and the affects have yielded a "leave me alone" attitude at times. Where as Luke is just a youngster eager to play and irritate
Missie!
When we brought Luke home they sent his teddy bear with him that had kept him company at the shelter; we added to his toys after he moved in. He seems to like stuffed toys and each new one becomes his favorite. There was the ball with a handle, the stuffed ball and then his Hedgehog. He loved that hedge
hog, tossing it around and bringing it to me to throw and him retrieve.
One day before Christmas, before the packages had all been wrapped, Luke showed just how childish he was!
The Christmas gifts had all been placed on the bed in the middle bedroom waiting for a spare moment Bill could find to tie them all up in ribbons and bows. The time had come and most had been wrapped and placed under the tree.
In one of Luke's playful moods I asked where his Hedge Hog was and wheeled myself into the family room to see not only his hedge hog, but his Christmas surprise – another toy bear! Reaching down to pick it up with the intent of putting it up again until Christmas morning, Luke grabbed it out of my hands!
"NO WAY MOM; I found it and I'm keeping it!"
Checking out the bedroom there were a few items left on the bed but nothing else was disturbed. How Luke knew that was his toy lying in the middle of the bed and how he managed to get it without bothering anything else surrounding it, is beyond me!
Like a sneaky child Luke had found his Christmas present and
like a dutiful dad Bill made another trip to the store to
make another purchase for Luke to open on Christmas morning.
Missy relinquished her Christmas gifts to Luke, all except those she could eat. There comes a time when toys take a back seat to a satisfied tummy!
Missy has settled in as the bossy old lady of the household and Luke allows her the privilege as long as he can have the toys. Missy, like most women, has come to realize a boy without his toys can be hard to live with.
So Missy and Luke are learning to coexist and we are learning about second families and the joy they can bring as we set back and let the kids entertain us.
If you are minus a dog in your family, I'm sure your home is neat and clean and smells super sanitized. Our house may fail a white glove test, but bored we will never be!
© 2007 Betty King
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Betty King is an author, freelance writer, a Life Style and Devotional newspaper columnist and a frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series and other anthology books and publications.
