It’s National Dog Day so I asked Spanky to get up earlier than normal for our daily walk. He thought it wasn’t such a good idea and decided to hide under the pillows. Spanky decided to come live with me four years ago and has changed my life. First he decided he didn’t care for our carpets. We ripped them out and installed hardwood flooring. He felt like he wasn’t getting enough fiber in his diet, so he ate my wife’s favorite blanket. He doesn’t think the couch has been cleaned to his expectations. He constantly licks it. He is constantly on alert for the sound of the doorbell. So much so, that even a text message sets him off. He feels it is his duty to greet everyone who comes into our home. He’ll talk to them (Not bark, but talk.) for several minutes before he determines if they can stay. He guards my backyard that he calls his kingdom. No critters are allowed to trespass. No meter reader or fertilizer crew may enter the perimeter without approval. If I leave home he guards the door I exit from until I return. If I sit in my recliner, he sits in my recliner. If I go to the bathroom, he goes to the bathroom. I don’t think he trust me to be alone. He’ll gobble up a roadkill frog in a heartbeat if not watched. He seems to like large beetles, too. But he has an annoying habit of heaving them up in the middle of the night when we are sound asleep. He likes to ride in my truck and wipe his nose on the passenger side window. If I sit too long in my chair he’ll come stand in front of me and stare until I get up. So to all of you folks out there that are owned by a dog- I hope you have a great National Dog’s Day.

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Rick Algood
August 26, 2020