Over the last 30 years, I've been blessed with 3 wonderful rescue dogs… Freeway, Stormy and Sophie. Like any good dog mom, I have done my best to love and protect them. I have provided them with a loving home, a safe place to play ball, a plethora of treats and piggy ears, a firm hand when needed, and a thousand bike path journeys. I have protected them against the bites of fleas and ticks, the inquisitive hands of small children, the confrontations of unfamiliar dogs, the invasion of heart worms, and the unwelcome sounds of storms, fire whistles, and fireworks. But the one thing I have never been able to protect my dogs from is the menacing backyard varmint known as Thumper! The devil himself dressed a cute, fluffy animal.
The evil bunny has wreaked havoc on the lives of my dogs and, therefore, on me for decades. Let's start with the obvious. The number of hours and miles I've spent searching for my dogs after they chased the damn rabbits all over the neighborhood. And for what? The dogs never learned that the rabbit was faster then them. I can count on one hand how many times they actually caught the damn thing. Which leads me to the second reason I despise Peter CottonTail. Sophie is the only dog who has ever caught rabbits! Let me tell you that dog holds on to her hunting victims with a pride I've never seen. It takes 3 people to prior a dead bunny from here clenched jaws! And for some reason I was always the only brave one who was willing to put my hands in mouth to pry the jaw open! I guess you never know how strong you are until you have to open the mouth of a 50 pound Terrier!
Let me tell you, bunnies are cunning. In order to keep the dogs safe in the yard, we installed the invisible fence. While it kept Stormy and Sophie in, it was also a source torture mechanism for Thumper. Those damn rabbits would sit on the other side of the line just twitching their nose and taunting the dogs…. "Come get us if dare, chicken!" "What? Afraid of a little low voltage zap?" Eventually Sophie couldn't take it anymore and would bolt across the line after the backyard bully. Of course yelping when she made contact with the electrical force. Then, she would repeat the sound when she had to crossed back over the line to reenter the homestead.
Little Rabbit Foo-Foo has also cost injury and, therefore, monetary duress. While chasing one of the hares around the back 40, Sophie's leg caught in a mole tunnel and she fell. The resulting outcome was a ripped ACL and major surgery. That little episode cost $1500 and a 3 month recovery process. Every time I watch her walk, I am reminded of that horrendous day and the evilness of the bunny. I, too, have been injured by the rabbit. While on a walk around Dawes Arboretum, Sophie spotted a bunny that I did not see. The dog took after the animal while I was walking a different direction. Sophie pulled my arm so hard, it resemble a child's water sprinkler break dancing across the lawn. I'm reminded of that day every time I try to raise my right arm higher than my shoulder!
But the final straw came last week. While hanging out in the backyard one sunny afternoon, Sophie spied a bunny under the pine tree. Sophie went on high alert! With her nose to the ground, she ambled over to the bunny. Instead of taking off, Thumper just sat there with a taunting look in his eye. In fact, I'm pretty sure he was laughing on the inside. The two engaged in a stare down…the rabbit's whiskers were twitching and Sophie's tail on point. Sophie was the first to leap! The rabbit started to scamper with Sophie in chase. But then, it happened. After about 10 feet Sophie just stopped. Her 2 year old spunk was snuffed out by her 12 year old arthritic body. She couldn't physical go any further. It broke my heart. In a split second I was reminded that my baby girl wasn't a young pup anymore. Sophie had aged just like me. We are both young at heart, but old in body. Stupid rabbit! It made me face the reality that my best buddy was old and closer to the end of her life rather than the beginning. It hurt my heart.
However, anytime you face the devil, God is there trying to help you learn the lesson. As I wrote this post, I realized that it was a blessing in disguise. I will approach each day with Sophie as a blessing and learn to treasure each moment I have left with her. So, in honor of National Dog Day, I wish all of you blessed moments with your man's best friend. May you treasure the time you have together.
Make Every Day Count
Denise
