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 Entertaining, Educational Stories about dogs and the families who love them. Purebred or mutt, showdog or showoff, puppy or veteran, dogs love and protect their human pack. No pet has more loyalty than a dog. A pet dog will stay with its family no matter what, even if abused or starved! What other animal will do that? |
It was very late when something woke the sleeping dog. He had been really busy that day. The kids had worn him out running around the yard pretending to be goblins and witches. “Bob” had been in a grouchy mood all day. He remembered making one last round through the kitchen after checking each bedroom. He was sure no one was up but – there is was again! A soft rubbing sound. It seemed to come from behind the fence where his doghouse stood in now-vacant glory. Jeesh! When they had brought him home from the shelter, the first thing Bob had done was build that stupid house. He hated that house and had quickly made it known to “Bob” that he was a house dog and his job was to sleep inside the family’s house. Okay, so the “dog house” would’ve been better than the cold damp floor and the constant barking and wailing in the dog pound. He had spent most of his time curled in the back corner of the run, pretending to sleep but really, thinking about his people, missing them terribly. It had been a good life, then the female had gotten pregnant and demanded a “better house” for herself and “the baby.” So the man had found a new place and then for a couple of weeks, they had showered him with what turned out to be guilty attention. He had been excited that day when they invited him to jump in the car. He rarely got to “go” but loved the novelty of seeing new places speed by the window and sometimes they would crack the window so he could feel the wind on his face. When they had pulled up at the strange building and he could hear dogs barking like mad, he became apprehensive but they assured him “everything will be alright” so he had walked into the “nice facility” like the “good dog” that he was. It had been a long two weeks and then Bob, “mom” and “the kids” had stopped right in front of his space. He remembered how the man had knelt down and spoke softly to him. She had been hesitant. It seemed she had her mind set on a little hairy dog but the man said they needed a bigger dog that could romp and play with the kids. They had moved on but then, they came back to him. The man knelt down again and called to him. He had somehow known it was time to uncurl and go to him. The man scratched his ears through the chain link, the woman tapped her foot, and then the kids pushed up to the fence and he licked their hands. He remembered kids. They were just smaller people with shrill voices. They left again and dejected, he went back to his corner. But then, suddenly, the whole human pack was back and the keeper opened his gate and well, that was that. He got to ride in a car again and before long, they had arrived at his new home and things had been swell ever since. They had yelled at him for howling when they left him outside but pretty soon, they just gave up and let him “sleep inside.” Bob had pointed out that a guard dog should be inside where they were and he thought right then that even though the man had built that stupid house outside, he was really a pretty smart guy.
Wait, there’s that scuffling sound again. Instantly
Rover was on his feet! Moving quick as a cat (how he hated that term) he
slipped out through partially closed patio doors. There! What???? On the fence, about to jump down into his yard! Silhouetted against the full moon, it looked like a man but it was growling? Yes, growling! He was perched right on top of the fence where the roof of the dog house (built way too tall to be snug) met the fence. And yes, he was making that low pitched sound that sounded like a growl but was somehow different. Intrigued, Rover watched for just a moment and then fearlessly, he charged across the patio towards the fence. It didn’t occur to him to bark. His ancestors were indeed guard dogs, not watch dogs. Dogs that watch stuff were barkers. His job as he saw it, was to catch any intruder and that meant a silent attack! He skidded to a stop just as the man-thing jumped down, landing only a leash length away from him. They crouched low, ready to spring at each other. Rover’s lips curled back to show the thing he meant business. He exhaled a deep low rumble, enough to end most standoffs. But the thing crouched lower and pointed at him! Rover had never seen a gun but immediately sensed it was to be feared. For a split second he debated whether to bark to rouse Bob. Just as quickly he dismissed the thought, realizing the woman and the kids would rush outside too. No. He would handle this himself, quietly and with a power he knew was his but had never used.
He stood taller and taller – and taller. He summoned
the ancient eye, today seen only in the collie but inherent in his
ancestors. He focused on the man-thing, turning his head slightly
sideways because he knew his power was concentrated in the left side.
He saw the man’s history and his left eye projected those images into the human-thing’s brain. The thing recoiled, then its shoulder slumped and the gun wavered. Rover sent a vision of ancient ages when man first stood upright and followed it with an explosion of power, projecting the man’s past and his immediate future! All time ceased. Every cell in his muscular body concentrated energy and eons of Celestine ages into his gaze. The man staggered back, the gun slipped from his hand, and then suddenly it was over! The personification of man’s inhumanity turned, took a step toward the fence, then in three giant leaps, he was up and over the roof of the doghouse and – gone. Rover trembled. He had never done that before. He felt weak all over. He glanced up at the full moon, and then sat back on his haunches. He howled. He proclaimed victory in the only way he knew. And then, in a long quavering note that ascended to the stars, he poured out overwhelming sadness for his wild brethren. For them, it was the end of time. When his power had concentrated time, it had also shown him the future. He turned and wearily started for the patio door as lights came on upstairs. The woman scolded him. The man looked at him strangely. Rover just went into the corner and curling up, tucking his nose under the tip of his long tail. They found the pistol the next morning when Bob went out to water the lawn. She called the police and everyone speculated over how it got there. Later, sipping coffee, the man looked at over Rover and for just a moment, they spoke the same language. The dog’s tail thumped twice. All was good. He would be on duty tonight just as his ancestors have been for thousands of years.
reprinted courtesy of
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