This is NOT involving the friend who is a dog owner that I mentioned late yesterday. But this one sure can use Love sent their way today too. I have a delightful friend named Carrie Abts who has been my lil sis since Coronado High when she was Carrie Page. A novel I wrote before the car wreck is finally coming out later this year. Originally entitled Dog Gone: The Fire Hydrant-way to Heaven, it will be released as The Shadow Nose. Chapter 8 is called RUBY. I just learned an hour ago that, they made that horrid yet loving decision to put Ruby to sleep on Monday. Once I stopped blubbering, I decided to post this chapter which was inspired by Ruby and Carrie......in honor of Ruby who is now playing with Nubble by The Rainbow Bridge. RUBY “Herding dogs don’t know to do anything straight. Even running for a goal, they do it in zigzags.” David Page / Page-4 Ranch LONG LEGS, DEEP BROWN watchful bright eyes, short two-toned fur due to her bloodlines, and speckled. Her human, Carrie, shared in the nice legs, bright eyes, freckles . . . and good bloodlines. When her boys turned six and nine, she and her husband decided it was time for a dog, for a puppy. She made the choice, and having been raised on a ranch, she turned to the only breed she knew, Herders. The pup she picked was obviously of herding lineage. Few would have known to label her as a Catahoula. Fewer could even pronounce it and still fewer had ever heard of it. As near as research can tell, the present splotchy breed with mottled spots is the result of the Mastiff-type war dogs the Spanish explorers brought to America, which they ended up losing or leaving behind in the early 1700s. The American Indians mixed this left-over breed with their dogs and the Red Wolf from the Louisiana Territory. It is seen as a mixture now of some seven main varieties of the Herders and considered one of the most versatile. A working and dominating dog not to be tied or ignored! Carrie knew all this but Ruby had taken it upon herself to teach her fast-paced human some new tricks. Within the first year, the pup had corralled all four hearts of the family. The youthful mother’s personal lessons began with the walks. “Come on, Ruby,” she cheerfully shouted as she rushed in the door from work. “Let’s get your leash. Time for your walk!” The dog, although extremely eager on the inside, remained slow to respond. “Come on, Girl. Let’s go,” she encouraged. “Have to hurry!” The ruddy pup stretched its long legs, the solidity showing in the lean muscles. Her broad flat head included the characteristic grin of her breed. “Ruby!” The human’s patience thinned. “Time to walk to the dog park!” The pup came bounding around the corner and leaped up, pawing in the air with her front legs. “Okay, Mom. Shake a tail, let’s go.” Folks and even me found Carrie remarkable. Den Mother, a driving force in the PTA, accomplished in Tae Kwon Do, traveling, collecting O-gauge trains with her hubby, a rubber-stamp business on the side, avid reader, sports with the boys, extensive remodeling of their loving home, serving with alumni for her high school’s upcoming reunion, all marked her special energy. In addition, she worked full-time with the city of Scottsdale where she began in high school and served as a Redevelopment Specialist for one of the fastest growing cities in the country. She seldom needed to dust her home; they lived in a perpetual whirlwind. Downtime was not in her vocabulary. This was the life she chose. She knew no other way, until Ruby came along. When Scottsdale opened Park Bark, she was elated. Both she and Ruby were regular participants in the large leash-free grounds. I like going there to scout out potential Dog Gones. Even the fleet-footed lady found challenge in taxing the energy of the Catahoula. There must have been fifty dogs plus the humans as they entered the double-gated enclosure of the cyclone fence. She stooped to release the silver clasp from the nylon leash attached to Ruby’s red collar. “Thanks, Mom!” She stood upright kangaroo-like as her pink tongue made a quick slurp and swipe across her human’s freckled nose. “Gotta go! So many dogs, so little time” as she bounded in a zigzag across the worn grass to a trio made up of blond Labrador, tan/white Welch Terrier, and a Harlequin Great Dane. Carrie’s dad had told her, “Herding dogs don’t do anything straight. Even running for a goal they do it in zigzag.” Carrie stood amazed at his speed, coupled with his agility, not as fast as me of course, but fast. And at some core deep within, something looked familiar. Then the overall antics made her laugh aloud as she grabbed a couple of the small bright blue plastic bags in preparation for the inevitable. The dog’s tail signaled like a long curled whip into a question mark. Due to the wagging tail’s constant activity, they seldom set things on their coffee table. The appendage virtually erupted from her short, single coat of tight hair. It waggled with excitement as she sniffed the other back fields in motion. “Here a butt, there a butt, everywhere a butt, butt.” All beings often focus on the far and miss the close, the proverbial forest for the trees. The driver who watched the signal lights ahead as green only to fail noticing the sudden bright red brake lights of the car stopped directly in front of him. Carrie’s eyes followed the scampering dog as she stumbled over a large red one. Me. “Ooops,” she pardoned. “Humph. Haven’t you ever heard it is best to let sleeping dogs lie?” I rolled on my back and pawed at the air, exposing an eager belly. Even Dog Gones still need lovin’. The human laughed aloud. “Well, you don’t appear hurt. How about a good scratch” as she kneeled and began? “Awwww, chase my tail and call me content,” I sighed audibly. She noted the time on her wristwatch as she called for her dog. “Ruby!” I raised my head and looked at the pretty lady. “You could take a lesson here — rrrrrrrrelax.” I knew it was time. Carrie hooked up the leash and they began their brisk walk back. I remained in the background. About halfway home, she noticed Ruby looking about the neighborhood. “You okay?” Ruby, able to see me, turned the narrow muzzle upward. “Looks about as good a place as any.” And with that, the dog sat down abruptly upon the sidewalk as the leash went taut. Unprepared for this abrupt halt, the human’s arm went out behind her, pulling at her shoulder as she went off balance. She gave a couple of tugs at the leash, but the dog would not budge. Commands, became demands, became requests. Still the dog remained still as she finally began to study the dog. Ruby did not appear hurt, nor was she scared. Nothing even seemed to be holding her attention as she glanced about. She just would not get up. So the human made a decision to join her. She just sat down in the lawn next to the sidewalk and watched to see what her dog would do, which was nothing other than look around. Therefore, soon she was doing the same thing, just observing . . . rather than being a part of the action. It was not a long time ruby kept her in place, just a pawful of minutes. Long enough for Carrie to taste solitude. “Okay” as the dog abruptly stood and licked at her human’s face. “That should do it for tonight. Let’s head home,” she signaled with a wag of her tail and a bounce in her step. So with a puzzled look, the human stood. I still look in on Ruby as she teaches. The lesson to stop and smell the butts is a subtle one. Well — stop and smell the roses in Carrie’s case. * * *
Posted on: Sat, 27 Sep 2014 00:39:16 +0000
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