A Dog Named Bosko ; She Made Our Home One Of Creature Comfort

Bosko with her wild eyes from flash glare from the photograph. Rob Currie photo

THERE'S SOMETHING MISSING AT BIRCH HOLLOW - AND I HATE THE VOID CREATED BY THE LOSS OF A PET

BOSKO WAS THE GUARDIAN OF THE HOUSE - THE MASTER OF DECEPTION!

     IT HAS TAKEN A FEW DAYS TO BE ABLE TO WRITE ABOUT THE LOSS OF OUR BIRCH HOLLOW GUARDIAN. I WROTE ABOUT OUR RESIDENT CATS ON SUNDAY EVENING, SHORTLY AFTER OUR DOG BOSKO EXPIRED, BECAUSE EVEN AS TOUGH AS I THINK I AM, IT'S OBVIOUS, AND MAYBE A SERIOUS WEAKNESS, THAT I'M SIMPLY UNABLE TO FACE THE REALITIES OF WRITING MUCH OF ANYTHING, WITHOUT MY DOG LAYING ACROSS MY FEET. WHENEVER I DID THE PROOFING OF MY BLOGS, PRIOR TO PUBLICATION, BOSKO WAS EITHER ON MY FEET, OR BESIDE ME, IN CASE I HAD A COUPLE OF CHIPS TO THROW HER, OR A MILK BONE SHE KNEW I KEPT IN A CONTAINER BY MY CHAIR. SHE WAS A SORT OF "COMFORT" DOG FOR ME, GENERATING AN INSPIRING ATMOSPHERE OF HOMESTEAD SANCTUARY, WHERE WE ALL GOT ALONG WITH OUR SPECIAL "CREATURE" COMFORTS. OUR INMATE CATS AND DOG LIKED TO BE PATTED, FED ON SCHEDULE, AND TREATED IN THE EVENINGS, TO ITEMS NOT OTHERWISE ON THE MENU. BOSKO OCCASIONALLY LIKED A SIP OF SPECIAL "CAT" MILK WE GIVE OUR CAT BEASLEY, TO KEEP UP HER NOURISHMENT. WE'D OFFER A FEW SPOONFULS FOR BOSKO, BUT SHE WOULD HAVE EATEN THE BOX RIGHT OUT OF MY HAND. I INFORMED HER THAT SHE WOULD SOON LOSE HER DOG IDENTITY, IF SHE KEPT DRINKING CAT MILK. THIS WEEK, THE HOUSE, DESPITE THE CATS FILLING-OUT THE HOMESTEAD, RUNNING AND WRESTLING WITH EACH OTHER, STILL FEELS UNCOMFORTABLY VACANT OF THAT SPIRITED OLD DOG, THAT HAD CURLED UP ON THE SAME PIECE OF CARPET FOR YEARS AND YEARS. I KEEP LOOKING DOWN, BECAUSE I SWEAR I CAN STILL HEAR HER LICKING AND SLOBBERING AT CHAIR-SIDE. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME A CRITTER LEAVES US THIS WAY, AND WE ALL WISH PET OWNERSHIP DIDN'T HAVE THIS DREADFUL OTHER SIDE, OF HAVING TO SAY GOODBYE, EVER. WE CAN SOFTEN THE SORROW, BY TALKING ABOUT THE CYCLE OF LIFE, AND ABOUT BOSKO'S SPIRIT BEING WITH MY FATHER, ED, WHO ROUTINELY FED HER THE MOST EXTRAVAGANT TREATS WHEN WE VISITED HIS BRACEBRIDGE APARTMENT, BUT IT STILL DOESN'T CUT IT; AS FAR AS ALLEVIATING THE HOLLOW FEELING IN THE LIVINGROOM, WHERE SUZANNE AND I WOULD HAVE OUR TEA AND, YES, CRUMPETS, EVERY NIGHT, WATCHING CORONATION STREET. BOSKO SCRATCHING AS IF PLAYING BANJO, BUT STOPPING WHEN THERE WAS A TASTY LEFTOVER DROPPED HER WAY. SHE DIDN'T GET MANY TABLE SCRAPS, BUT SHE KNEW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DOG BONE, AND MEATLOAF, AND WOULD NOT TOUCH THE BISCUIT IF THERE WAS ANYTHING AT ALL, EVEN CARROTS, LEFT OUR OUR PLATES. THIS WAS SOMETHING OF A HABIT FROM A PREVIOUS OWNER, SHE CAME WITH, AS A SURRENDERED DOG, AND WE JUST FELL, LOCK, STOCK AND BARREL, INTO THE BAD HABIT, OF SNEAKING HER A FEW MEAT PORTIONS, YES, BECAUSE OF HER BEGGING EYES. HEY, WE'RE NO MATCH FOR PET EYES. THEY CRUSH US INTO SUBMISSION ALL THE TIME. WE ARE TEXTBOOK BAD ACTORS, WHEN IT COMES TO THE GENTLE COAXING OF A PET WITH A BIG WANT LIST.
     TO LOOK AT OUR DOG BOSKO, THE CASUAL PASSERBY WOULD HAVE MISTAKENLY THOUGHT TO THEMSELVES, OR MUTTERED TO SOMEONE ELSE IN THEIR COMPANY, "SAY, ISN'T THAT A CUTE LITTLE DOG YOU'VE GOT THERE." IT WAS THE MOST PHOTOGENIC PET WE'VE EVER OWNED. EVEN WHEN WE VISITED THE HUMANE SOCIETY, JUST THINKING ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF ADOPTION, WE WERE INITIALLY COMPELLED TO TAKE BOSKO FOR A WALK, BECAUSE IT WAS SO DARN CUTE AND CUDDLY. WE DIDN'T APPRECIATE THE RAGING BEAST WITHIN! WE FIRST SAW ITS PICTURE IN A NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT, FROM THE BRACEBRIDGE ANIMAL SHELTER, PRINTED IN THE BRACEBRIDGE EXAMINER; BUT THE INFORMATION SUGGESTED IT WASN'T BEST AROUND OTHER ANIMALS. THIS WAS PARTLY CORRECT. IT WENT CRAZY NEAR OTHER DOGS, BUT GOT ALONG WELL WITH CATS. BOSKO WAS A FRIENDLY, GENTLE, CHARACTER-BRIMMING PET, THAT GOT ALONG WITH THE SEVEN CATS WE HOUSED AT ONE TIME. NOW WE HAVE FIVE. BUT IT WAS ALSO A DOG WITH A VICIOUS STREAK ABOUT A MILE WIDE, A SORT OF MOVIE-LAND PARALLEL TO THE CREATURE "WHITE BUNNY," FROM MONTY PYTHON'S, "IN QUEST OF THE HOLY GRAIL," WHERE IT WAS INSTEAD, A BRUTAL GUARDIAN RABBIT, THAT COULD TEAR A MAN IN TWO. YOU HAD TO PASS THE BUNNY FIRST, YOU SEE, IN ORDER TO STAY ON THE TRAIL, IN QUEST FOR THE HOLY GRAIL. IF FOR ANY REASON, YOU WERE TO HAVE ENTERED OUR RESIDENCE UNINVITED, THIS CUDDLY CREATURE, BOSKO "THE SOFT," SUDDENLY BECAME A HOWLING WOLF, AND BY THIS I DON'T MEAN THE FAMOUS BLUES MUSICIAN BY THE SAME NAME. WE HAD A CLOSE CALL THIS WAY, WHEN A COURIER ONE DAY, DECIDED TO OPEN THE BACK DOOR, AND PLACE A PACKAGE OUT OF THE WEATHER. WELL INTENTIONED, BUT IT STILL COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A NASTY BITE FOR THE YOUNG DELIVERY MAN. I REMEMBER ONE AFTERNOON, WHEN A NEIGHBOR CAME TO OUR BACK DOOR, WITH SOME OF OUR MAIL IN HER HAND, THAT HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO HER BOX INSTEAD. I THOUGHT BOSKO WAS GOING TO CRASH RIGHT THROUGH THE GLASS PANEL TO GET THE LADY, WHO CERTAINLY BEAT A HASTY RETREAT AROUND THE HOUSE AND DOWN THE ROAD. IF ANY SALES PERSON, OR CHURCH AFFILIATED INDIVIDUAL, KNOCKED ON ANY OF OUR DOORS, BOSKO WOULD GO BEZERK. WE FELT GOOD ABOUT HAVING BOSKO AS A GUARD DOG AT BIRCH HOLLOW, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY WE ADOPTED HER. WE ALSO HAD SEVERAL GUESTS AT BIRCH HOLLOW, WHEN BOSKO WAS LEASHED, WHO MADE THE MISTAKE OF EXTENDING THEIR HANDS TO PAT HER ON THE HEAD. THE GROWL WAS ENOUGH OF A WARNING, TO RETRACT THEIR INTENTIONS. WE HAD BEEN EXPECTING THIS MIGHT HAPPEN, BUT SOME PEOPLE BELIEVED THE WARNINGS WERE RIDICULOUS. HOW COULD A SWEET CRITTER WITH BIG FLUFFY EARS, AND SUCH A SWEET FACE, BE AN ATTACK DOG. BELIEVE ME, WE WERE ALL SHOCKED BY BOSKO'S STRENGTH AND FEROCITY, UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES OF INTRUSION. THE FIRST TIME WE REALLY UNDERSTOOD JUST HOW ULTRA SENSITIVE SHE WAS, CAME WHEN WE HAD HER NAILS CLIPPED EARLY IN OUR RELATIONSHIP. WE HAD A SUSPICION SHE MIGHT OVER-REACT, BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE BRUSHING HER FUR PREVIOUSLY, THE PAWS WERE CLEARLY OUT OF BOUNDS. I BROUGHT ALONG A MUZZLE JUST IN CASE, AND IT WAS GOOD I DID, OR THE NAILS WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CLIPPED THAT DAY. OR SOMEONE, MAYBE ANDREW AND I, WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING TO THE HOSPITAL TO GET TREATED FOR DOG BITES. ONCE THE JOB OF CLIPPING WAS OVER, SHE WAS FINE, AND ONCE AGAIN WAS VERY CUDDLY AND GENTLE. SHE WAS A MIX OF BORDER COLLIE AND GERMAN SHEPHERD. SHE'D LEAD US TO HER FOOD DISH BY NUDGING US ON THE BACK OF THE KNEE, AS WE WALKED TO THE KITCHEN, AS IF SHE WAS HERDING US DUE TO THE LACK OF SHEEP NEEDING DIRECTION, AND THE SHEPHERD PART WAS OBVIOUSLY THE VIGOROUS DEFENSE CHARACTER, SHE DISPLAYED FOR HOME AND FAMILY. THE ONLY DOG WE HAD MORE FEAR ABOUT, WAS OUR FIRST CANINE PET, "ALF," WHO WAS A SIMILAR CROSS, BUT WITH A TERRIER AND OF ALL THINGS, BLUE-TICK HOUND. WE HAD GUESTS COME TO OUR BRACEBRIDGE HOME ONE NIGHT, SHORTLY AFTER SON ROBERT WAS BORN, AND IN GENERAL FOOLING AROUND, THE GENTLEMAN PICKED ANDREW UP ONTO HIS SHOULDERS. WELL, ALL OF SUDDEN, ALF GRABBED ONTO THE CHAP'S ARM BEFORE HE COULD GET ANDREW ALL THE WAY UP, AND SHE LET IT BE KNOWN, THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THE HOUSE SHE WAS GUARDING. WITH HELP, OUR FRIEND GRADUALLY LOWERED ANDREW TO THE FLOOR, WHILE WE PULLED ALF AWAY. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, ALF ALSO HALTED AN INTERLOPER WALKING NEAR OUR GARAGE, AT THE SAME HOUSE, AND CORNERED HIM AGAINST THE METAL DOOR. WE CAME OUT WHEN WE HEARD THE FELLOW YELLING. ALF DIDN'T WANT TO BITE HIM, BY VERY MUCH DESIRED, THAT HE STAND STILL UNTIL THE CAVALRY SHOWED UP. ALF WANTED US TO IDENTIFY OUR GUEST AS EITHER FRIEND OR FOE. HE JUST HAPPENED TO BE A NEW NEIGHBOR, WHO WAS GOING TO BE MOVING NEXT DOOR THE NEXT MORNING. A SIMILAR SITUATION HAPPENED WHEN A FELLOW WAS BREAKING IN TO ROOM, AT THE END OF OUR PRESENT HOUSE. WITHOUT KNOWING THERE WAS A BREAK-IN HAPPENING, WE LET ALF OUT FOR A PEE BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN CRYING AT THE DOOR. SHE RAN QUICKLY AROUND THE END OF THE HOUSE, BEFORE I COULD FASTEN HER LEASH, AND IN MOMENTS, USHERED THE INTRUDER DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, OFF THE PROPERTY, AND EAST ALONG THE STREET ABOUT FIFTY YARDS. WE UNDERSTOOD WHY SHE WAS SO ANXIOUS TO GET OUTSIDE, WHEN WE SAW THE MAN BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, WITH HIS HANDS UP, AWAY FROM HER MOUTH, AND THEN RUNNING OFF DOWN SEGUWN BOULEVARD, ALL THE WHILE, ALF SNAPPING AT HIS ASS.
     OUR OTHER DOG KRAMER, WAS ALSO FIERCELY LOYAL, AND A GOOD HOUSE-PET; SHE WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD AT RIDING IN THE BOW OF OUR BIG ALUMINUM CANOE, WHENEVER WE WENT TO ALGONQUIN PARK ON CAMPING TRIPS. HE WAS A LAB CROSS, AND HE COULD GET AGGRESSIVE, THE SAME AS THE OTHER TWO, BUT WE WEREN'T TOO CONCERNED ABOUT HIM EVER BITING ANYONE WHO CAME TO THE HOUSE. SHE WAS A COWARD WHEN IT CAME RIGHT DOWN TO DEFENDING THE HOMESTEAD. SHE'D TRY TO GET UNDER THE BED IF SOMEONE CAME INSIDE. I REMEMBER ONCE, LEAVING HIM WITH MY OUTDOOR EDUCATION TEACHER FRIEND, DAVE BROWN, AND I THOUGHT IF EVER THERE WAS A MATCH, OF DIFFICULT PERSONALITIES, IT WAS THE TWO OF THEM SITTING ON MY DECK. KRAMER WOULD GROWL AT DAVE, AND DAVE WOULD GROWL BACK. BOTH STUBBORN AND AGGRESSIVE IN THEIR OWN WAYS, THAT ALTHOUGH AN UNCERTAIN RELATIONSHIP WHEN I LEFT THEM, BECAME A FRIENDSHIP BY THE END OF THE DAY. I RETURNED HOME TO FIND KRAMER ASLEEP ON DAVE'S FEET, OUT ON THE BACK DECK. "WE HAD A FEW TENSE MOMENTS LEARNING ABOUT EACH OTHER, BUT GRADUALLY, HE FIGURED OUT THAT I HAD SOME A POCKET FULL OF THOSE MEATY SNACKS, AND THE REST IS PRETTY OBVIOUS HISTORY."
     IT HAS TAKEN A FEW TOUGH DAYS TO RECONCILE THE LOSS OF OUR OLD FRIEND, AND TRUSTED GUARDIAN, BOSKO, AS BEING ONE OF THOSE REALITIES OF THE HUMAN-PET RELATIONSHIP, YOU NEVER REALLY GET USED TO DESPITE MUCH UNDERSTOOD LOGIC AND LIFE AND TIMES PHILOSOPHY. SHE HAD BEEN SLOWING DOWN IN RECENT MONTHS, AND THE FUR ON HER MUZZLE AND EARS HAD TURNED GREY OVER THE PAST YEAR. SHE WAS A LITTLE SLOWER ON OUR WALKS, AND TOWARD THE END, IT WAS AS IF SHE WAS TAKING A LITTLE LONGER, TO STUDY THE WOODLAND ABOVE THE BOG, AND THE CROWD OF BLUE JAYS AND CHICKADEES, THAT VISIT THE BIRD FEEDER ON THE VERANDAH. INSTEAD OF TRYING TO JUMP AT THE CONSTANT LEAPING PARADE OF BIRCH HOLLOW'S INHABITANT SQUIRRELS, BOSKO WAS SATISFIED TO LET BYGONES BE BYGONES. THE RAZOR SHARP ZEAL TO RUN AFTER THEM, AS SHE HAD DONE FOR ALL THE DAYS WE OWNED HER, TO THAT POINT, HAD GRADUALLY, PEACEFULLY SUBSIDED. INSTEAD, THERE WOULD BE A BARELY AUDIBLE GROWL, THAT I'M SURE THE SQUIRRELS HEARD, POSSIBLY EVEN WHISPERING TO ONE ANOTHER, ABOUT "FUZZ-FACE" GETTING COMPLACENT AND KINDLY IN HER ELDER YEARS. THE SPARK WAS DWINDLING. WE DIDN'T PAY TO MUCH ATTENTION TO IT, EARLY ON, EXCEPT TO THINK OF HER CALMER DEMEANOUR, AS PLEASANT TO OUR OUTDOOR SOCIALS. IT WAS ALWAYS EMBARRASSING TO HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO A NEIGHBOR, WALKING THEIR DOG, WHEN BOSKO STARTED BARKING LIKE AN ATTACK DOG GUARDING THE ROYAL PALACE. SHE'D STARTLE THESE FOLKS, ENJOYING A NICE EVENING STROLL. BUT WE COULDN'T MUZZLE BOSKO EVERY TIME A DOG TROTTED DOWN THE LANE. OUR STREET IS A DOG WALKER'S HAVEN, WITH MANY DOZENS OF DOGS UP AND DOWN THE STREET, SO IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS WE DECIDED TO ENDURE, AND THEN OFFER OUR REGRETS TO FRIGHTENED PASSERSBY AFTER THE BARKING INCIDENTS. AS SHE MELLOWED IN THE LAST YEAR, EVEN THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOGS THAT GOT ONTO OUR FRONT LAWN, FROM LONG LEASHES, DIDN'T RAISE HER HACKLES, AS IT ONCE DID, WHEN SHE HAD TO BE LEASHED WHILE ON THE VERANDAH, WITH US FIRMLY AT HER SIDE.
     SHE STILL REACTED AGGRESSIVELY TO ANY DOOR TO DOOR SALES PEOPLE RAPPING AT OUR ENTRANCE-WAY, AND WOULD GROWL AT US, HER BEST FRIENDS, IF SHE SAW US COMING WITH THE BRUSH, THE NAIL CLIPPERS, OR THE CLOTH USED TO WIPE HER DOWN. SHE NIPPED SUZANNE ONCE BUT IT WAS JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER, ABOUT WHAT WAS ACCEPTABLE INTERVENTION, AND WHAT WAS PERSONAL SPACE NOT TO BE VIOLATED. BOSKO WAS NOT A THE KIND OF PET YOU PLAY-WRESTLED WITH, IF THAT IS EVER A GOOD THING TO DO OR NOT. SHE WASN'T A DOG TO TEASE OR GET WORKED UP, IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO SUFFER CONSEQUENCES. SHE GOT MAD, EARLY IN OUR RELATIONSHIP, THAT I HAD TO LEFT HER IN THE CAR FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES, ON A COLD SPRING DAY, TO ACCOMPANY ANDREW INTO A MUSIC SHOP IN DOWNTOWN LINDSAY. WHEN WE GOT BACK, SHE HAD A DETECTABLE SMIRK ON HER FACE, AND WHEN ANDREW AND I WENT TO PUT ON OUR SEAT BELTS, WE GOT SLOBBER ON OUR HANDS. THAT'S WHEN WE NOTICED THAT BOSKO, BEING TICKED-OFF AT NOT BEING INVITED ALONG WITH US, ATE THROUGH HALF OF EACH SEAT BELT. TO REPAIR THEM WAS, TO ME, A RIDICULOUS PRICE, BECAUSE YOU CAN'T JUST REPLACE A SMALL SECTION OF BELTING. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT IN THE SHORT TIME WE WERE OUT OF THE VEHICLE, SHE WOULD HAVE DONE THIS TO OUR BRAND NEW VAN. I GUESS SHE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS KNEW OR HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR. AND WE COULDN'T REALLY TAKE IT OUT OF HER ALLOWANCE, OR FOOD BUDGET, AS RESTITUTION FOR OUT LOSS. IT WAS MY FAULT FOR BRINGING HER ON A ROAD-TRIP, WITHOUT KNOWING HER CAPABILITIES FIRST; OR HAVING PUT HER ON THE LEASH, AND TAKING HER FOR A WALK ON THE MAIN STREET OF TOWN INSTEAD.
     SUZANNE AND I SAT WITH HER ON SUNDAY MORNING, AS SHE LAID HER HEAD DOWN AFTER A BRIEF VISIT, FROM OUR ADOPTED CAT, BEASLEY, WHO HAD JUMPED DOWN A MOMENT OR TWO EARLIER, AND GOT UP CLOSE TO BOSKO'S MUZZLE FOR A LITTLE SNIFF. BOSKO STUDIED BEASLEY, WITH HER BIG BROWN EYES, WHO THEN TURNED AROUND, AND MADE HER WAY BACK UP TO THE TOP OF THE KITCHEN CHINA CUPBOARD. WE HAD BOSKO WRAPPED WITH HER FAVORITE BLANKET, AND VERY GENTLY, IF DEATH CAN EVER TRULY BE THUS, BOSKO PASSED AWAY IN SUZANNE'S ARMS. "SHE'S GONE DAD," SHE SAID TO ME, AS THE TEARS BEGAN TO FLOW, AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT. I COME FROM A LONG LINE OF NON-CRIERS, BUT THIS TIME, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO WELL UP, AND FEEL TEARS STREAKING DOWN THE CHEEKS. THAT HORRIBLE FEELING YOU'VE JUST LOST SOMETHING THAT CAN NEVER, EVER BE REPLACED. WHEN ALF HAD TO BE PUT TO SLEEP, I HADN'T ANTICIPATED THE OUTCOME, WHEN SUZANNE TOOK THE DOG TO THE VET'S OFFICE. WHEN THE LUMP ON HER STOMACH TURNED OUT TO BE A FAST MOVING CANCER, FILLING HER MILK DUCTS, I PULLED THE MOST COWARDLY OF ACTS WHEN I SAW THE VET'S LOOK OF APOLOGY, AND THE NOD TO SUZANNE, THAT IT WAS TIME TO END HER LIFE. I HAD TO LEAVE THE ROOM. I COULD NOT STAY AND WATCH. I AM STILL EMBARRASSED ABOUT THIS ACT OF EXTREME COWARDICE ALL THESE YEARS LATER. I WAS NOT GOING TO LEAVE SUZANNE'S SIDE THIS TIME, AS BOSKO'S LIGHT DIMMED AND FINALLY FLICKERED, INTO WHAT I BELIEVE IS A SPIRITUAL REALM. ASK A DEDICATED PET OWNER, IN SUCH A CIRCUMSTANCE AS THIS, IF THEY BELIEVE THEIR FURRY FRIENDS HAVE SPIRITS! YOU KNOW THE ANSWER. WE HAVE HAD OUR OLD CATS PASS IN MUCH THE SAME FASHION, GIVING US LITTLE WARNING OF THEIR PENDING DEPARTURE. ALWAYS PROFOUNDLY UPSETTING OCCASIONS. I SAT WITH OUR CAT FESTER, THAT HAD SUFFERED SOME SERIOUS EVENT OVER NIGHT, CRADLING HER FOR AN HOUR AFTER HER DEATH, UNTIL SUZANNE CONVINCED ME IT WAS TIME TO LET GO. I LOVE OUR PETS, BUT I TRULY HATE HAVING TO SAY GOODBYE.
     IF YOU'VE LOST A CHERISHED PET, AT SOME POINT IN YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THIS STRANGE AND UNCOMFORTABLE HOLLOWNESS OF THE HOMESTEAD, IN THE DAYS FOLLOWING THE LOSS; THINKING OCCASIONALLY TO YOURSELF, TO SOFTEN THE DISMAY, WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID TO YOU IN THIS REGARD OF SUDDEN LOSS. "IT WAS JUST A PET, FOR GOSH SAKES, GET OVER IT!" I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS EVEN IN THE PAST FEW HOURS, AS IF TO BRING MYSELF AROUND SHARPLY, TO THE SENSIBILITY THAT PETS AREN'T HUMAN AFTERALL, AND DON'T DESERVE THE SAME DEGREE OF MOURNING AS IF WE LOST A FAMILY MEMBER. YET I REBOUND JUST AS QUICKLY IN REFLECTION, IN SINCERE FAITHFULNESS TO MY MEMORIES, THAT EVERY PET WE'VE EVER HAD, INCLUDING THE RESIDENT SQUIRRELS, CHIPMUNKS, MICE, MOLES AND BIRDS, THAT KNOW THIS URBAN RESIDENTIAL LOT, AS HOME BASE, ARE BY ASSOCIATION, ALL MEMBERS OF OUR EXTENDED FAMILY. IT READS VERY MUCH, OF COURSE, AS BEING THE SENTIMENTAL, SAPPY OPINION OF YET ANOTHER DISTRAUGHT PET OWNER, NOW CLAIMING ALL OF NATURE TO BE PART OF HIS FAMILY UNIT. RATHER, IT IS THE INHERENT FEELING, A PET, THAT GAVE UNCONDITIONALLY TO ENHANCE OUR SENSE OF HOME AND FAMILY, HAS FINISHED ITS CONTRIBUTION TO OUR WELL BEING; MAYBE EVEN EXPECTING WE CAN CARRY ON WITHOUT, JUST AS WE DID BEFORE ITS ARRIVAL.
     ALL OF US KNOW THAT BOSKO WAS INTEGRAL TO THE WAY WE OPERATE AND SURVIVE HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW. AS SAPPY, BLATHERING AND MAUDLIN AS THIS WILL READ, AS A CONFESSIONAL, WE APPRECIATED EVERY MOMENT WE HAD TOGETHER, DESPITE SOME OF OUR DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, AND REACTIONS, ABOUT WHO COLD COME INTO OUR HOUSE, AND WHO WAS BARRED FOR LIFE. SHE HAD HER QUIRKS, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. LET'S JUST SAY, WE ALL MADE ALLOWANCES FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND THE MIX OF CATS AND DOG, AND HUMANS, JUST SEEMED TO WORK, AS ASKEW AS IT COULD GET WHEN TURMOIL STRUCK; AS IT OFTEN DID IN A CRAZY-ACTIVE HOUSEHOLD.
     I AM MY OWN CREATURE OF HABIT. AS YOU MAY HAVE GATHERED, VISITING THESE BLOGS, I MIGHT BE CRITICAL OF OUR TOWN COUNCIL BEING STATUS QUO, BUT I QUALIFY MY OWN SENSE OF EMOTIONAL EQUILIBRIUM ON THAT PLEASANT ATMOSPHERE OF "SAME OLD, SAME OLD," BECAUSE IT HELPS ME GET THROUGH THE PROJECTS OF THE WORK DAY. AS I STILL WRITE A LOT FROM BIRCH HOLLOW, AND HAVE GOTTEN USED TO WORKING SIDE BY SIDE ALL OUR CRITTERS, IT'S TO BE EXPECTED THAT IT WON'T BE SITUATION NORMAL FOR QUITE AWHILE. IT'S NOT THE CASE, WE GOT A DOG, OR OUR CATS, SO THAT I COULD HARNESS THE SUBTLE INSPIRATIONS THEY PROVIDE. AT THE SAME TIME, I WON'T DENY, THAT HAVING THEM CLOSE BY, IS A PREFERABLE RELATIONSHIP, THAN HAVING A ROOM WHERE I AM THE ONLY ONE BREATHING AND SCRATCHING. SUZANNE DOES NOT COME NEAR ME WHEN I'M WRITING A BLOG OR EVEN AN EMAIL TO A FRIEND. I'M NOT ABLE TO FOCUS WHILE ANYBODY IS TALKING, EVEN IF IT'S NOT TO ME. THE ANIMALS PURRING AND SNORING IS MUSIC TO MY EARS. I DIDN'T WISH TO HAVE A DOG IN THE HOUSE, SO THAT IT WOULD ENABLE ME TO WRITE. WHAT I FOUND OUT, WAS THAT HAVING A DOG LAYING ON MY FEET, MADE COMPOSITION, A MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE EXERCISE.
     WE HAVE ADOPTED THREE SURRENDERED DOGS, FROM THE HUMANE SOCIETY, DATING BACK TO THE DAYS WHEN I WAS A BOARD MEMBER OF THE BRACEBRIDGE ANIMAL SHELTER, IN THE LATE 1980'S, SHORTLY AFTER THEIR FIRST FACILITY ON OLD HIGHWAY 11 WAS OPENED. EACH DOG WAS A WELCOME ADDITION TO OUR FAMILY, DESPITE HAVING SOME CHALLENGES, CAUSED IN PART, BY THEIR UNFORTUNATE EARLY LIFE SITUATIONS, THAT LEND TO THEIR SURRENDER. EACH ACCEPTED OUR PECULIARITIES AS A FAMILY, AND WE ACCEPTED THEIR CHARACTERS IN OUR RESPECTIVE "NEW NORMALS." IT FORCED US TO ADAPT TO THEIR NEEDS, EVEN ABOVE OUR OWN, BUT THE INVESTMENT OF TIME AND COMPASSION, NEVER FAILED US OR THEM. THEY BECAME LOYAL COMPANIONS, ASKING NOTHING MORE OF US THAN BASIC PROVISIONS, AND FAIR TREATMENT, AND OF THIS, WE CAN ONLY HOPE THEY FELT WE HAD BEEN A DECENT ADOPTIVE FAMILY.
     PLEASE SUPPORT THE HUMANE SOCIETY NEAR YOU. THE ANIMALS IN THEIR CARE, NEED GOOD HOMES. IF YOU CAN'T ADOPT, FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS, POSSIBLY YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO OFFER A CASH DONATION, TO HELP THESE SHELTERS LOOK AFTER THEIR RESIDENT CREATURES. PHONE THE SHELTER NEAR YOU, AND ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO TO ASSIST THIS HUMANE CAUSE.