TIME ENJOYED,
TOGETHER
by Kimberly
Stauder
I live in an older established area
where people regularly walk their dogs and dogs regularly walk their
people.
We even have dogs that walk themselves.
Every
morning, one elderly resident and her aging pet shuffle by my house. Both
are stooped over as they inch along. The woman always carries a coffee cup
and walks about six feet behind her dog. The animal is attached to a leash
that drags behind him on the sidewalk. In all the years I have noticed
this pair of friends walk by, I have never seen the woman pick up the
leash. The pair quietly acknowledges our community leash law that, in all
probability, never states a person has to be attached to the other end of the
leash.
It is common to see children being
dragged along behind dogs twice their size, or pets straining so hard at their
leashes they spend most of the walk at a 45-degree angle to the sidewalk.
There are the new mothers trying to get back in shape that run by with the
family dog attached to the baby stroller.
This
dedication to good health is a mystery to me but certainly looks
impressive. One man had been out of work for months and walked by with his
beagle, Toby, at least five times a day. The endless hours of walking the
pet and observing his neighbors paid off for Toby's owner. Bob decided to
start his own pooper-scooper business noting several opportunities right under
the dog's nose, so to speak.
Evening is when I
see the men of the neighborhood and their furry companions. Whether trying
to work off the stress of a busy workday or avoiding a chaotic home life, they
are very happy to be out with man’s best friend. The men will congregate
on the street corners to play with their dogs and share "guy time". This
surprises me, as the women who walk their dogs always seem to be on a schedule
and rarely stop to chat.
With the recent change
in the weather, I have spent the last several days outside planting
flowers. This has afforded an opportunity to meet and greet many neighbors
and their dogs that have been housebound during the difficult
Every spring, I am aware that several of the elderly dogs did not make it
through the cold months. Sometimes I never see their owners again.
The pain of losing their faithful friends remains too great to ever entertain
another pet.
Over time, I have come to know all
the dogs of my neighborhood by name. However, I can only identify their
owners as
The neighborhood canines are well groomed
though I wish I could say the same for their owners. People will wear
virtually anything when walking their dogs. I have seen an abundance of
mismatched clothing and ridiculous headgear. A person who will spend hours
brushing and grooming their pet will neglect to brush their own hair before
taking Fido out for a walk.
Yes, it is true -- a
great many pets and their owners do resemble each other. The woman up the
street with the very large thighs waddles by with her two hefty bulldogs as the
trim jogger runs along side a sleek Greyhound. My elderly neighbor with
the gray beard takes daily walks with his gray bearded Schnauzer, Max. And
the redheaded woman at the end of the block enjoys the company of two splendid
Irish Setters.
The majority of the people who
walk by with their furry friends don't have the first clue as to what type of
collar or leash is appropriate for their breed of dog, nor do they understand
how to train their pet to walk appropriately on a leash. And many forget
to carry doggy bags to pick up pet droppings left in unwanted places on
neighbor's lawns.
I could write an entire column
on these issues, however, I am aware of something much more important -- people
simply want to spend time with their dogs.
Young
people, old people, young pets, or old pets -- it is just time enjoyed –
together
.
That is the true beauty of owning a
dog.
-- Kimberly Stauder
<Misscristy2001 @ aol.com>
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