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Beau Longfellow and Rex
Beau Longfellow
We all know that all dogs are special to those who love them. Beau Longfellow was our special boy. My wife and I picked him up at the breeder's house when he was ten weeks old: a beautiful smooth, red Dachshund. What a wrinkled face, how perfect he was - the beginning of a love affair.
As he grew, he proved to be absolutely delightful in all ways, he loved cruising in the car, head and tongue hanging out, surveying the scene. He was crazy about yellow tennis balls and red frisbies and he did not ask us to play with him, but rather demanded it. He would bring his ball into the room and nudge my leg as if to say, "I'm ready, let's go outside!"
Beau did not really care for other dogs, he thought he was, well - human. He slept in a basket beside our bed and I loved it, because I could wake up during the night and reach down and pet him.
As he got older he developed a fondness for rocks! He would find one in the yard (about the size of a baseball) and push it all over the ground, growling at it the entire time. We laughed and were entertained by this behaviour.
Beau liked to tease my mother. She would frequently leave correspondence on a desk and Beau would watch for an opening. He would slip over, pull the letters down and stand just out of reach with them in his mouth.
This would provoke mom to scream, "Ahhh, give me those letters!" Then the chase was on, around the den, into the kitchen. I always had to intervene, grab Beau and retrieve the papers.
Beau was only two years old when he swallowed a piece of rock about the size of a large pecan. We did not know when he swallowed it, or how long it was in his stomach.
I noticed he was somewhat lethargic and was not eating his food, then he would dry gag a little. Finally, he threw up the rock. I called the vet, he examined Beau and said he was all right.
The problem persisted. My feeling was he might have cut himself internally. This went on for several days and I demanded the vet do something. I took Beau to another vet and he agreed with me and x-rayed him and said he saw a little something.
He operated, it was a small piece of red plastic. But the vet said the rock hand lacerated Beau's stomach and part of the intestine had gangrened. He could not repair the severe damage. Without question, the hardest decision of my life had to be made. Beau was put down.
Worse than difficult days followed, sleepless nights, overwhelming sadness - all the punishing emotions. Beau passed January 3, 1999. Our present dog, Rex, showed up at our house on February 8, 1999, five weeks after Beau left us.
He was a stray about six months old and we took him in, not to replace Beau, but rather to ease the loss somewhat. Rex and helped, but I do not think any dog could ever replace Beau, and if I were to try to forget him, I would feel guilty at the attempt.
Early Morning Dog Love
Our dog, Rex, does not have a pedigree! For that matter, he does not have any kind of degree. Rex showed up at our house on February 8, 1999, some 35 days after we lost our Dachshund.
Rex was afraid and looking for comfort. He was well-fed, but had no tag, no ID. We decided to advertise for his owner and did just that. After two weeks, no one had called to claim him and I, frankly, was delighted.
So off to the vet for all necessary shots, etc. The vet said Rex was about six months old. Later we had him neutered and as time passed, he appeared to be perfectly happy with us; however from time to time I thought I noticed him looking at me rather strangely as if to say, "I won't forget that!" - but it was probably just my imagination.
Rex is black and white, many people say he's a Blue Tick, while others contend he has Australian cow dog in him - whatever! What we do know, is he is a gentle, loving dog, not a bad bone in his body.
A quiet dog and like most, he loves his food. He is a fat boy, hard to control his eating, since he eats here, and later goes down our road to eat there, munching and brunching at various neighbor's houses - even had to elevate the bird feeder higher, as I saw him gobbling bird seed one morning - maybe he is a bird dog?
But we love dogs. Those who like dogs can relate to our feelings. Rex sleeps in the garage in his own bed. When it is cold weather, I have to tuck him into his bed and cover him with his special blanket - he loves it.
In the early morning, I let him out. A little later he is scratching on the door and I let him in. I have to lie down on the floor with him as he likes his stomach rubbed.
I do that and he makes little guttural noises - he loves it.
He also likes to be cuddled and talked to, even though it may sound like blah, blah, blah to him, he loves that also.
It's what I call "early morning dog love." Watch out or you'll get early morning dog kisses, too. My wife says nobody lies down on the floor with his dog day after day, well, I do. So what?
Rex only wants food, shelter and love - and for all our technology and all our sophistication, if we reduce our wants and needs, isn't that true for us too?
The more technically advanced we become, the more computers we have, the faster we run, we should pause and reflect upon little creatures, like Rex and his need for his early morning routine.
And I am sure if you could ask Rex if there is anything better than early morning dog love, he would quickly say "yeah, early morning dog food."
Jack Lightfoot, Tiger, Ga.
