Arrow's diagnosis and treatment has made me think a lot about the relationship between dog and dog owner and the meaning of pets in our lives. It's funny because pets didn't take center stage in my upbringing at all. Let's just say I have a book I can write about city farm animals going back to the "farm" and "lost" kitties. Long stories -- for another day (or not). But Arrow really has changed the meaning of friendship and companionship for me. And I hate to say it, but I think she, more than any other thing or person in my life, has taught me about responsibility and caring.
I have such a deep bond that has grown over the years with her. I remember picking her up at the shelter and how cute and tiny she was. And I remember not fully understanding the dog commitment. But she taught be pretty early on that she would be there for me and in return, I learned pretty quickly that I would always be there for her.
I remember the night before she got spayed I had this dream about her. She was about six months old. It was the funniest thing, yet so intense. I dreamt that she was walking on her hind legs, holding onto me with her front legs walking along side of me. And she was looking up at me (with those dark intense eyes) saying, "please don't take me to get spayed, I'll take the pill I promise!" That dream still makes me laugh, but I think about it because it reminds me that that was the first time I felt the responsibility of what it meant to enter into this relationship with her. And that's what it is: When I brought her home, I entered into a relationship -- one in which I would get way more than I could give.
Sometimes, I think I'm a bit overinvolved in her life. For example, when we went to the animal hospital for her initial exam, the oncology student was asking about her history and Sally and I went through all the crazy little ailments and weird things that she's had over the years (including the eye tumor/larva that fell off of her eye!). And when we finished she said, "is there anything else that she's had?" to which I said, "lyme disease" and then caught myself and said, "Oh, no, wait. That was me." My boundaries were a little bit off :)
I really never would have imagined that I would have such a relationship with my pet. Never. And I have to say that I am a better person for having let myself open up to all she has to offer me. I know there is a perspective that exists in the world that says, "she's just a dog." That perspective is really sad to me. And to that I say, "If you think she's just a dog (whatever that means)...then you haven't met Arrow!"
I feel really lucky!
Arrow
3 comments:
My thoughts exactly! My dogs, I feel have taught me so much about life, I don't know what I would do without them. There is nothing like the bond between a dog and it's owner, they truly are man's best friend!!!!!!
Hope your week goes well...xoxo
I know your dogs mean as much to you as Arrow does to us. They are really amazing little beings!
We always had pets growing up. Our dogs were Piggy, the pointer, Winnie, the shephard mix, and Sundance, the shephard-rotti mix. Sunny lived to a ripe age of 16 after 3 years of living with Diabetes. Our dogs were always important to us, but they were home bodies. Stayed at the house, hung out at the pond, occasionally went to work at Dad's store with us, but didn't really travel or go places with us like Arrow does. And each taught me a bit about life, companionship, your place in the pack and dealing with loss. Arrow is a true pal, so easy going in spite of her anxiety about metal things, Glo's driving, ice skates, wind, and ice skates, that we take her everywhere. We have hiked Mt. Toby, Skinner and Sugarloaf, swam at Puffer's, and Mill River and even the CT river because of Arrow. It is weird but taking care of her is merely paying it forward because she in turn takes care of us.
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