Fourteen years ago Mrs. Blair and I adopted a black miniature poodle from a poodle orphan's home. He had been anxiously hoping to be chosen for a year, as the underdog in that home for puppies with no parents. His protector, a little girl who called him "Lovie" favored him and was sad to see him go, but her single mother needed the money and had a house full of poodles for sale. From the first day, Lovie followed my wife, Bettie, with his nose touching her heels so she called him "Shadow" which is now his name. It never crosses Shadow's mind that he is a dog ... until another dog comes around and reminds him, which makes him angry, and he cusses them out until they leave. Shadow only has eight words. When he wants something, he snorts when he can't get our attention by just starring us down. Starring is his second word. He barks when anyone comes on the property, his third word. He says "NO" by dropping his ears; that's four. And he says, "I said NO doggonit" by backing up. That's the other four. Shadow has been worth his price plus vet's bills. He makes us laugh every single day at least two or three times. Yes, he is spoiled but very obedient.
In dog years he is older than us and can't last much longer. We will miss him tearly when he is gone. RB
Below is a dog story by a guy not as lucky in dog terms as we are. Shadow is a flag waving Conservative who pays his way, as a comedian, eats very little and works hard, taking four steps to each of Betties, helping her keep her garden, wash, clean and then guards her while she knits or computes. RB
I said "two kinds of dogs". Here is the Liberal....
Tiger The Watchdog Who Looks
Out For Himself Alone Is, Like
Some people, A Mooch Pouch
We were at the county dog shelter looking for a guard dog and snake and rat killer. The social worker there introduced us to Tiger and said he could do the job. Tiger growled and showed us his teeth to prove the point and then smiled and licked his lips. He didn't look intimidating enough for me, but my wife thought he was just weak from hunger and could probably tell that we weren't burglars and would show his mean streak when he smelled a rat. I was skeptical and wouldn't have chosen Tiger, but he had already chosen us and my wife's soft spot for man's best friend was working against me. So, Tiger beat us to the car wagging his tail and insisted on sitting up front in the passenger's seat. The Mrs. didn't mind sitting in back, and we three went to our home. We intended for Tiger to guard the house from the outside and sleep in his doghouse where he could keep an eye on the property and kill rats and snakes, but Tiger thought we would be safer if he guarded from inside where we were and we wouldn't have to open the door to carry his meals out there in
harms way. He chose my chair as the most strategic location to watch both outside doors, the kitchen, and the TV. So the Mrs. said she and I could sit together on the couch, hold hands and snuggle for a change. Tiger cast the deciding vote and went to work watchdoging .... as you can see below.
I Just this minute Realized Something:
My dog sleeps about 20 hours a day.
He has his food prepared for him.
His meals are provided at no cost to him.
He watchdogs wide screen HD TV while waiting on his dinner.
He visits the Dr. once a year for his checkup and again during the year, if any medical needs arise.
For this he pays nothing, and nothing is required of him.
He lives in a nice neighborhood in a house that is much larger than he needs, but he is not required to do any upkeep.
If he makes a mess, someone else cleans it up.
He has his choice of luxurious places to sleep.
He receives these accommodations absolutely free.
He is living like a king and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.
All of his costs are picked up by others who earn a living.
I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a ton of bricks ~Tiger is a mooch pooch ... and worse,
OUR darn dog is a darn DEMOCRAT!!!
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