“The dog is the most faithful of animals and would be much esteemed were it not so common. Our Lord God has made His greatest gifts the commonest.” ― Martin Luther
“Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ― Dean Koontz, False Memory
When people talk about their dogs like they are nearly human there are some that think them crazy. Of course they are entitled to their opinion but then they haven’t had our dogs. Judy and I both grew up with dogs and neither of us can imagine not having one to spoil.
Our little dog Molly has a rough life. She is our third dog and has all the benefits negotiated by our first two dogs. She gets a dog biscuit because our first dog, an incredibly stubborn Wire Hair Dachshund that we got on Christmas Eve 1984 in Wiesbaden Germany named Frieda. Now Frieda was the “dog from hell” and tested us every day of her life. She never got it that she was not the top dog and every day it was a different power fight. Eventually she succeed in getting us to pay her to do her business outside and not on the rug. Our second dog, Greta a fat little Red Dachshund that we got in San Antonio when Frieda was four years old also got the same deal even though she was easy to housebreak.
Molly simply takes the “cookie” as we call it as her due. We talk about “renewing her contract” when we buy dog food and well she has a more toys than some kids. It is funny to see dig through her toy basket for specific toys especially when she drags out toys from her puppyhood. She is a fearless little creature and absolutely calming. When we went to the beach to watch fireworks on July 4th she was steady as a rock as people set of their own show grade fireworks above our heads and I was trying to control PTSD related flashbacks and a major anxiety attack she seemed to sense it and kept close to me, her calmness helped me calm down that night.
One of the things that she loves to do is come with us down to the Island Hermitage in Emerald Isle North Carolina. Since I am stationed at Camp LeJeune and I am a geographic bachelor this means that I make the trip home to Virginia every couple of weeks. Judy had surgery on her Achilles tendon two weeks ago and this week came down here with me since my apartment is all at the ground level and there are no steps to negotiate. Of course our little dog Molly made the trip as well.
Molly like the island life. I live about a quarter mile from the beach in a quiet neighborhood with a lot of woods and wildlife. Molly has discovered that the local deer like to hang around where I live, she loves the beach, the walks where she can track various animals and of course the 6 foot long bean bag in my living room which she has decided is hers. Molly is half Dachshund and half Papillon and weighs all of 15 pounds. However she has decided that the bean bag is hers thank you.
She came down the first time with Judy during the summer and then had a short vacation with me here in October. When we came down here this week she seemed to anticipate where we were were going, obviously a trip this long means that she is going on vacation.
Yes she is spoiled. She was a rescue that we got when she was about 6 months old. We don’t know if she was a run away or dump but we came out with a gem. Incredibly smart, sweet and always playful she seems to know that she is cute and funny. She can be obnoxious and is entirely too entitled but she is a monster of our own making.
She has a sense of fairness about her that is funny. She will divide here time between us almost as if she doesn’t want either of us to feel left out. She has figured out that Judy hasn’t been well and has poured out extra attention on her while ensuring that I take her out for her walk and make sure that she has her food and water.
Anyway she is entertaining and sweet and always fun. We are blessed to have the her and hope that if you have a dog that yours brings as much joy to your life as molly does ours.
Peace
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