Puppy passion

A few days ago I saw a Facebook post that said "Life is better with dogs." That started me thinking about some special dogs in my life.

When I was six years old we lived in Fisk, way off the main highway. Umm, I think that would have been around 1952. Oops, I think I just told my age. Anyway, back then we had lots of flooding and of course the flooding brought lots of snakes.

We had a dog whose name was of course, Brownie. He was part beagle and I do not have a clue what else. I just know he was such a loving dog and we loved him very much. His passion was fighting snakes! When he found one look out, it was attack time and the fight was on. Poor little guy was bitten so many times that he lost his eye sight.

His head would swell so badly from those vicious snake bites that many times we thought his head would burst. His eyesight eventually got so bad that he actually attacked a tree branch sticking out of the ground thinking it was a snake. After about three years, Dad had to put him down. What a sad day.

Feeling our sadness, Dad came home with another little beagle. The most I remember about this little guy is that every day when my brother Farrell, my sister Linda and I all came home from school, he would stand at the window and cry until we went outside and played with him. I can't remember why, but we didn't have him very long.

The next significant little cutie in my life was a small black poodle named John. We raised him from a puppy and enjoyed him for several years.

Then, there was my little Tiki. She was a Maltese that Collin got me for my birthday. We drove to Selma, Ala., to pick her up when she was six weeks old. She was a "southern" lady, and soon became the love of our lives.

We chose her from a litter of four because of her personality. She never met a stranger and loved everyone. I cannot remember a person or other animal she didn't love.

When Collin was down nearly completely health wise for over two years, she helped me keep my sanity. The long scary nights of his sickness were bearable because she was by my side. Many nights we sat up all night long, mainly because I was afraid to go to sleep.

But there she was, right beside me, her head on my lap, looking up at me with those big black eyes as though she was saying "It's gonna be alright".

There are so many Tiki stories, but space won't permit. Our little sweetie went to Doggie Heaven in 2009. We still miss her.

A funny story I love to tell is about a dog that didn't belong to me. Ken and Kristy Rinehart were our neighbors at the time of "the incident."

One Easter I decorated our front porch with a large pair of Mr. and Mrs. Bunny. Oh yes, they sat in their chairs all prim and proper like good little bunnies should. But one morning things just didn't seem right. I couldn't put my finger on it. I forgot about it until one morning Ken came over to talk to me. His words were, "Kathleen, my dog went rabbit hunting on your front porch." I guess I looked puzzled and he told me the story. He had found rabbit parts in his yard and all around the neighborhood. A leg here, an ear there, Mrs. Bunny's apron, and alas, even her poor head!

Ken went all around the neighborhood gathering up rabbit parts and took them home and performed surgery. He re-attached all the parts, including Mrs. Bunny's apron. When he finished, he brought Mrs. Bunny back and set her back in her proper sitting position. After listening to his story, I then knew why things had not looked just right. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard as hearing Ken tell his story and visualizing him doing all that sewing.

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny finished out their decor job until the end of Easter season without further incident. They graced our front porch several more Easters thanks to the handiwork of Mr. Ken. Memories like this are worth a fortune. Thanks for the memory, Ken.

Until next time, see ya somewhere in "The Korner".

Remember, you never know when you might be one of my heroes or heroines.

Kdover28@gmail.com - 573-820-2404 - www.dailystatesman.com or Facebook