We spent years trying to get legal leash-free areas in public parks for us and our dogs. We ended up with a small core group, and its interesting that our dogs rarely or never met each other. We had meetings to get business taken care of, make it brief, assign tasks and go our separate ways.
My dog died awaiting closure of this issue nine years ago, all while I attended community meetings nearly every night and got certified as a pseudo-community advocate. Others followed with the last I heard of today. It’s tough to get back in the game and champion the cause when grieving for the dog whose cause you wanted to champion. I stayed in it, but it was difficult. Years later and several moves hence it’s easier to look back on it with some clarity.
Our dogs may be gone but we’ve maintained a friendship over many years. Perhaps my colleagues were always expert in this area of public debate and causes. I was not. Only willing and able and a fast learner. We’ve gone through battle together. Even though I’m no longer in residence, the cause remains the same, dog or not. That’s how I felt but it took a couple of weeks to get there after my dog died.
We have a wonderful dog now, and we had to have her hips taken out as a pup. No, she will never replace my old one but she’s ours and is happy to be with us and is a very different creature. Today I give honor to Hilde, a very special dog who died. I give thanks to Miss C. for stepping up and taking care of our girl for a few days. This gal is not yet ten but wants to be a Vet so I bought her Dr. Pitcairn’s Natural Health for Dogs and Cats, that is my bible for pet care. Mine is a much older edition, in storage of course.
Now her parents know she has to be an Aggie! Don’t worry, we have enough family around there to take care of her. RIP, Hilde, you weren’t fun to walk but you were definitely loved. Cheers, Dee
Cooking with Dee 