Musings of a Dog Walker in 2006
It was just about five years ago today that my 11 year old son Harrison began to beg me unmercifully for a puppy for his birthday. I told him that a puppy required responsibility and I would expect him to take his puppy on daily walks. He promised me with enthusiasm that his dog would always be taken on daily walks.
So, I capitulated and in January of 2002, we went to the Michigan Humane Society on the I-75 service drive and East Grand Blvd. Harrison’s best friend Chaz came with us to assist us in picking out the perfect pet for the family. The Society allows you to take the dog to an outdoor yard to see if the dog will obey you and play catch. After playing with numerous dogs, we settled on a two year old Doberman named Marie. I told the folks at the Humane Society that I could not pick her up until the following week since we were going out of town for a ski week-end. They said that they could not promise that Marie would be available unless I promised to take her for the week-end. If another person came in to adopt her, she would have to go with them. I decided to take the risk since we had made these travel plans months earlier.
The following Monday, Harrison and I went to retrieve Marie whom he talked about for the entire week-end with utter glee. We went to her cage and her name was still written in black magic marker on a paper but Marie was not there. When we asked where she was, we were told that a family was playing with her in the outdoor yard. We ran to the yard to see the beautiful russet colored Marie playing catch with a young couple. Harrison’s face suddenly became sad, “Mom, they are going to get Marie”. I went to the young lady and told her that we were going to adopt Marie, she looked at me sadly but told me that she and her husband already made the decision to take Marie.
Harrison would not be consoled. It was my fault of course for not taking Marie the moment we bonded with her. I told him that there were many more dogs that would love to be adopted by him and this seemed to appease him for the moment. We looked through several cages and played with many puppies and older dogs. Then, a sad looking black Lab mix puppy stared at us from the cage as if in total despair and loneliness. She did not jump, bark or run around, she just sat there with her big brown fetching eyes. We took her from the cage and played with her in a small room. She cuddled with us and was so soft and black. We were in love and of course she came home with us and has brought joy, companionship and protection ever since.
Duchess has become a part of our family and of course, Harrison never walks her but I do, everyday. She is my furry fitness friend. I’ve gotten to know many dogs and their owners over the years from our neighborhood. Handsome Beau, irresistible Chassie, energetic Jefferson and zealous Zephyr. Sonya is always stunning in her pretty pink coat, and there is boisterous Humphrey, sophisticated Max and Emma and Pretty Mindy just to name a few. Having a pet means that you get a chance to see the beautiful homes and gardens of your neighborhood as you walk through every season and holiday.
So in 2007, consider adopting a dog from one of the many shelters in your City. It is true, a pet, be it dog or cat, will enrich your life. The best part is that they make you exercise. I once heard Clinton being interviewed after his heart surger. He mentioned that the best part of his illness was that he learned to really take long walks and listen to the birds. Duchess has taught me this simple rule of life too
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