First Encounters
I still remember the first day my little sister summoned enough courage to pet our dog. I was surprised that it hadn’t happened earlier, seeing as our dog, Bunny is a small Maltese who wouldn’t hurt a fly. My sister, Lara, was only two years old at the time and was beginning to discover the world around her. Lara was still hesitant. She knew, of course, that Bunny wouldn’t hurt her; she was trained very well since puppyhood not to bite, scratch, or bark at kids. Bunny is generally a very hyperactive five-year-old dog, which acts more like a puppy. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen her stay in one spot longer than ten minutes, other than the time we spayed her, and she had no other choice than to sleep. You can clap your hands twice, and Bunny will run five laps around the living room, looking for a playmate. If you pat your chest, she’ll jump up into your arms, whether you’re sitting, standing, or lying down. She stands patiently by the door if she needs to relieve herself, waiting for somebody to let her outside. Bunny has never bitten or scratched any of us hard enough to leave a mark, yet despite all this, my younger sister was afraid to touch her. We used to try constantly, even putting her in Lara’s crib at one point to see if she would give in and pet her then, but still – nothing. I remember them; Bunny sitting quietly in one corner of the small crib, and Lara in the other, and they just stared and stared at each other. Neither of them wanted to make a move first. Eventually, we gave up. My parents and I decided to leave them be and that it would happen on its own when the time was right. And it turns out that’s precisely what happened. I was sitting in the living room that day, watching a movie. My parents were out of the house, and it was just my sister and me, and Bunny, of course. In my peripheral vision, I could see Bunny walking around, sniffing the floor for any crumbs she could find (she loves to eat), and then stopping by the large patio window to look outside. At that exact moment, I had a voice in the back of my mind, a nagging gut feeling telling me to get up and see where my sister was. I knew she was playing with her toys, but I realized I hadn’t heard her say anything in a while. When I looked to theside, I saw my sister on her hands and knees, slowly crawling towards Buddy. It wasn’t like Bunny hadn’t seen her. She had, but she decided to stay still and watch Lara as she got closer. Thankfully, I have my phone on me at all times, so I quickly opened my camera and took a picture of the perfect moment, just as my sister was reaching her hand out to pet Bunny. I knew my parents wouldn’t believe me if I told them, so I needed proof. After that initial moment of Lara reaching toward her, I saw Bunny take a careful step toward her, and to my surprise, Lara didn’t back away! She placed her fingers on the top of Bunny’s head and pet her gently. When Bunny realized Lara was comfortable enough, her tail started wagging from happiness, and she started licking Lara’s hand. This licking made Bunny laugh harder than I’d ever seen her laugh, and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Bunny jumped on her, almost knocking her onto her back! Even my parents couldn’t believe it until I showed them the picture, and they were even more surprised than me when they saw Lara sitting next to Bunny on the couch, resting her hand on her back while they both watched cartoons. After that day, the two of them have become inseparable. Lara is five years old now, and she always tells everybody that Bunny is her best friend.
Lesley’s Pet Gallery
About The Author Lesley is a pastor’s wife in the deep south. She has six beautiful children and one new puppy named LuLu. Lesley is deeply engaged in the ministry at her church serving children, women, and the whole body with the gifts of love, patience, encouragement, and service.
A True Tale of Love and Sadness
Two years ago, I was given a dog named Captain. He was a Christmas present from Mom and Dad. He was a German Shepherd, and he was huge! He was only four months when we got him. Black with tan paws, brown shining eyes, and covered in loads of fur. I knew from the moment I saw him he was perfect. We had been begging for years to get a dog. All six of us kids, especially me, though I was only ten. In my eyes, he was everything. He was love. He was a joy. He was happy. I love the feeling of his pink tongue rubbing my cheek. I loved to kiss him on the top of his head each day as I walked out early in the morning just as the sun rose and spread its beams across the earth, kissing the clouds and making the dew glow golden. We had a small backyard, but it was fenced in. Smiling every day, we would get up to play with him. Over the months, he grew, and we would play fetch for long periods, but he never grew tired, unlike us. Slowly the number of children going outside to throw the ball each day decreased until it was only me. Wondering how they could give up on such a wonderful dog, I was upset that they acted as if it was a chore. I lovingly played without the help of my brothers and sisters. Even when I grew tired, Captain was bursting with energy. He was also beaming with doggy smiles, and I loved how funny he looked when he yawned. His tongue would roll out, making a high-pitched yawning noise. It still makes me laugh to think about it. Sometimes in the afternoon, he would hop on our giant trampoline and nap on his back. Amusingly his paws would swat the air as if he were chasing a big piece of steak. He knew when I was sad and would try to cheer me up. He would show me he could kick his ball with his nose. He knew when I was happy and would get his ball stuck somewhere and cleverly find a way to get it back. Then one horrible night, Mom and Dad told me they were taking him back to his breeder. “Captain needs more room and exercise than we can give him,” Mom said gently. Her glasses reflected the light only to make it look like she was glowing. “And we need to think of his best interests and what is good for him,” Dad joined in. About two weeks later was when they told me that the next day they were taking him back. I cried for hours until I had no tears left and drifted into a troubled sleep. Dad would drive to Birmingham in the morning. We lived in Mississippi a few hours away. I wasn’t going to be allowed to go, but then Mom and Dad had second thoughts and told me I could go. It cheered me a bit that I would be able to spend a little longer with my precious dog. But my heart was broken, and it seemed nothing would mend the shattered pieces except keeping my dog Captain. We drove and met the breeder outside a store like Walmart but different. He and his wife drove up in a short white car. They trained German shepherds to be rescue dogs and had some kids of their own. They were friendly and would take care of him fine, but Captain made it clear that I was his person. He never growled though glowered and sent suspicious looks at the man who was a little familiar, yet it was as if he was trying to remember him. He warmed up a little over the next thirty minutes but mostly sniffed around the parking lot in front of the market. Finally, the time came, and though he did not exactly love hugs, I gave Captain a final one. Kissing his head, I buried my face in his fur for the last time. The next thing I knew, they were gone, and I was looking out the window of our car, half-conscious. I was dead but alive. Pain jabbed my heart more than ever. We’d had him for over a year! When I got home, I walked to the backyard with a hammer, nails, and a metal sign and hammered it into the play-set. “The Good Old Days” is the one I picked, not “Dreams Always Come True” because they don’t always, but you can always form a new one. I shed many a tear writing this, and I don’t know or care if this wins a prize. All I want is for people to hear this story and know that Captain did no wrong and was perfect. I could never deserve a dog so wonderful. I solemnly swear that when I get my driver’s license, I will search the ends of the world for him to say hi and mend this broken heart. I, Abigail, swear that, at the very least, my love will find you wherever you are. This event is the saddest thing in my life I have ever felt, but it is also the most emotional thing that has happened to me in my short life. But it has helped mold me into the person I am. Editor’s Note: Abby M. is one of my grandchildren. She is an avid reader, writer, and storyteller.Amazon’s selection of chew toys for active German Shepards will keep your pup entertained. With an assortment of textures and shapes, you’re sure to find something that will match your pup’s unique chewing preferences. From tough, durable rubber to softer, cuddlier material, there’s something for every active German Sheppard pup. The bright colors and exciting shapes are sure to capture your pup’s attention, while the construction of each toy ensures that it can withstand plenty of playtimes. With Amazon’s chew
Les’s Gallery of Dogs I’ve seen while walking
I love to talk to people about their pets while my wife and I are out walking. I frequently ask if I can take a shot or two of their animal. Here is a gallery of some I have taken.