black lab – Page 16

I Didn’t Mean It as a Challenge, Pup

“It’s about the journey, not the destination, unless the destination is Steve’s house as he gives out treats.”
Ellie

After the hottest August ever recorded, and the hottest start to September ever recorded, the heat finally broke and we’ve had lovely temperatures this weekend (and even a little bit of rain last night). It was in the mid 60’s yesterday when Ellie and I took our morning walk, I was pleased to see that she wanted to go further south than what has become normal this summer. She wanted to turn around a few blocks before Steve’s house, which I was also pleased to see as when she is worn out her footwork gets a little sloppy and I don’t want her to hurt herself. She was panting heavily once we got back home and it took a while for her breathing to return to normal, but she then took a well-deserved nap for the rest of the morning and afternoon.

It was in the low 60’s this morning on our walk, and just two days after I said I wasn’t sure she’d ever see Steve again, she was up for a walk to his house even after spending some time in the dog park. Sadly he wasn’t out but she did her normal inspection of his front yard, trying her best to summon the treat giver. She was up for an hour and fifteen minute walk (!) — she even asked for an extra walk around the block before going in the house — so after plenty of fresh water she again slept off the late morning and early afternoon, snoring quietly on her dog bed while the cats and I watched football.

You amaze me in so many ways, pup, what a blessing you are.

Look What I Found, Can I Keep It?

I don’t think so pup.

An Act of Worship

Ellie and I meander on our walks around our neighborhood, within limits I let her choose which streets we walk down. There’s only one place she always wants to visit on her long walks, without fail, and that is the house of Steve (I think his name is Steve, I asked once but I forget names as soon as I hear them). He lives on 8th Avenue at the southern end of Irvington, almost as far south as we go, and is frequently sitting on his stoop. He’s an animal lover at heart, feeding not just his cat but the neighborhood crows and squirrels. And he always has dog treats in his pockets and eagerly hands them out to pups who wander up to say hello.

Our pup always wanders up to say hello. His house is her pilgrimage.

She starts looking for him the moment his steps come into view and starts pulling on the leash as soon as she sees him. On days he’s not there she just stares at the steps, trying to work out how to summon the giver of treats. On this winter day with the neighborhood still buried in snow and ice, Ellie took an unusual path south and I thought she was having so much fun in the snow that she was going to forget about Steve. But as we walked further south she suddenly veered back to the west and I knew where we were headed. I warned her that he wouldn’t be out on such a cold day but doubts do not pass the ears of the faithful. Her faith was rewarded for there he was and they spent a moment in mutual worship.

I don’t know if they’ll cross paths again, Ellie has rarely been up for walks long enough to visit Steve the past few months, but it’s hard to say how much of that is from advancing age and how much from hot weather. Should they never meet again I’m thankful for all the times they did, a neighbor’s love and a dog’s devotion.