| life without "Dodge" |
| Written by Harold McArthur | |
|
Dodge, a retired greyhound who came into our lives as a last ditch effort as he had issues. He could not be around little children, especially if they were wearing any kind of fluffy coat. As he had been trained to chase the "Rabbit" around the race track and would attack if he would get the chance to get it. Also he was a "Alpha" dog, and could not be around other dogs. My love, Louanne wanted a new dog to replace her German shepard that had himself just died, and she had contacted the retired Greyhound association to be put on their list. Which within a month they called us to say that they had a dog.
In all intents a purposes Dodge was Louannes dog, but eventually he became my responsibility , he would snap with his powerful teeth, when-ever touched about the head. or other wise touched when he did't want to be touched, petted, or rubbed. One time when Louanne was cleaning his feet after he had been out running around the backyard one rainy night, he tore a small part of louannes ear off. When walking around a mine field of his temperament with kid gloves. I took him for walks around the neighborhood, avoiding all other dogs and their owners. Taking my constant doggie bag to pick up his messes that he would leave a reminders for all to find. One time he got off his leash, and was running through the neighborhood at approximately at 25 mph. He had been trained to respond and come to a duck call, when I hurriedly went home to go get it, he was across the street at the time. As I was going in the front door he rushed across the street to come to me. As he had spent all his life in a cage at the greyhound racetrack he didn't know what cars were, or anything that we take for granted every day. So, he didn't look to see what could have been coming from either direction. Fortunately there was nothing and he made it safe across. Louanne passed away two years ago and within one month Dodge developed an incurable cancer in his upper body. For a short while it was a wait and see how things would happen. He started to hop around on one foot and started to cry in his sleep. Calling a local chapter organization of retired greyhounds the lady owner said that I needed to put "Dodge" to sleep. As he was not living a pain free life and was not enjoying it. When I took him to the vet that day, the veterinarian said I needed to make that decision for him. With his head in my lap, i waited for the shot to take him away, which happened so fast. Crying uncontrollably as I was writing out the check, I was going to have him cremated. Later when I got his remains in a pine box and was going home I stopped off at a Taxidermist, and talked to the owner that did he know of someone who could burn "Dodges" name into the box. He did it himself,and now his remains are on the fireplace mantle.             |
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