MY DOG ……. A SURPRISE FOR ME
OR
HOW I FINALLY GOT HIM!
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INTRODUCTION
As I have said before, no dog has ever really loved me in the way that my father’s dogs loved him or as friends’ dogs have loved them. I had quite resigned myself to this. I had decided long ago that I would never again own a dog after the somewhat abortive efforts of my childhood. Over the years, friends have literally nagged me to get a dog, but I always had some good excuse not to own one: I live in a flat and it would be unfair to have a dog and expect the poor animal to live in a confined space; I like to travel a lot and it would be unfair to go away and leave the poor creature with others or else put him or her in a kennel; etc. etc. etc.
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Once I moved into a house and once I retired from full-time work and began to travel less, many of my excuses were no longer valid. However, I still did not get a dog ……. or a cat ……. or any other kind of animal for that matter. I decided that I was too selfish and did not want to share my living space with an animal that would make demands on me! With reference to a dog, I believed that no dog would take to me and allow me to become the centre of their world.
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I have lived in my house now for some fifteen years and have successfully been dog-less and happy with the situation. During this time, a friend continued to nag me and suggest that we go to the local Animal Shelter and allow a dog to choose me. Here, I am told that one walks past a series of large kennels inhabited by homeless dogs. As one walks, one is supposed to inspect them and find the ideal companion. My friend said that, in actuality, the best way to find the right dog is to walk past the kennels and allow to dog to choose you! According to him, there is a dog for everyone!
Click here to hear Hank Williams (1923-1953)
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The idea of strolling past an endless number of poor, friendly, homeless dogs, all looking for homes through their sad eyes, has always disturbed me. How could one choose between them?
But, to tell the truth, what actually filled me with horror was that, despite knowing how desperate these poor creatures were, I always believed that no dog would ever be desperate enough to choose me! Evidently, when it came to judging my appeal to a dog, I have very low self-esteem!!!
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Despite this, how could one choose between any of those poor dogs when each one is in desperate need of a home?
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Seeing or even just thinking of these poor creatures is more than enough, shall we say to make your brown eyes blue!
Click to hear the song sung by Crystal Gale (1951)
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And if this wasn’t tragic enough, listen to the following while looking at these poor dogs:
Click here to listen to Willie Nelson (1933) sing Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain
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So, it is obvious that I was not going to get a dog and had to content myself with the china Scotty and the little statuette of Greyfriars Bobby that I bought in Edinburgh! At any rate, I certainly did not dare go to an Animal Shelter to seek one out. I could not face being humiliated despite what I was told by friends that this would not happen. Of course I could not bring myself to believe them and, no matter what I was told, nothing was going to get me to the Shelter. However, there are other ways to get dog than by going to a Shelter, as I was to learn!
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