Jack

From My Perspective

by  • 

Jack

I’m so proud of Ash. He just turned six a week ago, but he has an old soul. What he did for Nellie on Valentine’s Day was really special.

Early on Valentine’s Day Ash woke up to hear Nellie crying. He asked her what was wrong, and for the first time since she came to  Asherpark, she poured her heart out.

Seems Nellie has been thinking about her life and how she’s not got a lot of time left on this earth.

Nellie has been such a trooper since we got her. Never cried with all the pain she was in. Never asked for anything, just grateful for the kindness we showed her. Loves her grub but won’t fight over it. Always waits her turn.

Even though she’s an old dog, Nellie still has feelings. She remembers when she was young and the boy dogs thought she was beautiful.

She still wonders why her people let her get so sick and filthy. Why didn’t anybody give her a bath and brush her beautiful coat?

Nellie told Ash she always wanted to be somebody’s Valentine. She wanted to feel special. She wanted to know she was loved.

When Nellie woke up on Valentine’s Day she got real sad. Time was running out. This might be her last chance to have a Valentine.

Despite her best efforts to keep her feelings to herself, Nellie couldn’t stop crying. When Ash asked her what was wrong, it all came tumbling out. Nellie picked the right mutt to tell.

Ash would be kind to anyone. But I know when Ash looks at Nellie, he sees his beloved Codie. He told me once Nellie and Codie get all mixed up in his head and heart. He still aches for Codie and when he can do something for Nellie, it’s like a little bit of Codie is still with him.

I saw Ash lick the tears off Nellie’s snout. I quick buried my face in my bed so Ash wouldn’t see I was crying too. How can you not feel Nellie’s pain?

Haven’t we all been lonely? Haven’t we all wanted to be special? We don’t know Nellie’s history, but we do know it wasn’t good.

But things changed for Nellie when Old Dog Haven saved her life and she came home to Asherpark. Yeah, that’s right. Home.

Home to a pack that let her move right in. Home to good food and warm beds. Home to silly rituals and bedtime stories. Home to people and mutts that care about an old worn out Aussie named Nellie.

When Ash told Tess about Nellie, Tess really stepped up to the plate. Valentine’s Day was supposed to be her big date with Ash. But it was Tess who told Ash it was okay to make Nellie his Valentine. And so he did.

Nellie was so proud. She giggled like a little girl. Nellie loved the card and flower and turkey neck Ash gave her.

When the day was over Nellie asked us all to come close. She had something to say.

Nellie said she never dreamed she could be so happy. She thanked each of us for letting her be special for a day. While me and Ash were shuffling our paws and wondering what to say, Tess spoke right up.

“Nellie, you are special,” Tess said. “We hope you will still be with us on Valentine’s Day next year. And if you are, you are going to be princess for the day.”

With that Ash started barking and running circles around the room. Tess and Nellie quick got out of his way. I dove into my bed just as Ash flew over top of me. You go Ash! You go with your silly wonderful self.

 

 

 

 

Asher

Be My Valentine

by  • 

Ash

About two weeks ago Tess started reminding me that Valentine’s Day was coming up. Like any guy, that got me to worrying about what to get her.

I’ve already been through this with Tess before. She doesn’t like roses because she can’t eat them. She’d like chocolate, but mom won’t let us have it.

No sense in me getting her something pretty to wear because she already has the most beautiful coat I’ve ever seen. I’m a sucker for her long red curls.  I went to bed last night wondering what I could do to make Tess happy.

It was still dark this morning when something woke me up. At first I wasn’t sure what I heard. Jack was snoring in the corner, Tess was on the couch in the living room. The sound was coming from where Nellie sleeps.

I held my breath so I could listen better. It was Nellie. She was making these funny little noises, like she was crying. I thought she must be having a bad dream, but the sounds kept up.

Real quiet without shaking my tags, I crept over to see what was going on. “What’s up, Nellie? I whispered.

“Oh Ash,” she said. “I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “Are you crying?”

I must have asked the wrong question because Nellie broke into deep sobs. I lay down next to Nellie and licked her ears.

“Nellie, you can tell me what’s wrong,” I said.

In the dim light I could see Nellie looking at me with her one good eye, her head still tilted from when she had the vertigo. “Tell me, Nellie,” I whispered.

“Oh Ash. It’s silly and foolish but I can’t help feeling this way. I’m an old dog. I’m lame and deaf and nearly blind. My head is crooked and I’m losing control of my poops.”

“This is probably my last Valentine’s Day. I don’t have that many months left. I just wish for once I could be special. I wish some handsome dog would choose me as his Valentine. You belong to Tess and Jack has no interest in me. There is no one for me, Ash!”

With that admission Nellie was exhausted. She put her head down on my paws and fell asleep. I watched her breathe and saw the last of her tears drip off her snout.

I thought about what Nellie said. We all know she is living on borrowed time. It’s a miracle she’s even with us.

I licked the salty tears off Nellie’s snout. Even though she was sleeping, I knew she felt my presence. I woke mom up and told her what had happened. We slipped out of the bedroom to talk things over. Tess heard us come out and joined us.

I told Tess about Nellie’s wish. I kinda figured Tess would make fun of Nellie, but she didn’t.

Tess took a deep breath and put her paw on my head like she does when she wants me to pay attention.

“Ash, this year you should choose Nellie as your Valentine,” Tess said. “I’m young and have a lot of years ahead of me. This may be Nellie’s only chance to feel special.”

I was so thrilled and proud of Tess. It was exactly what I wanted but was afraid to say. I quick grabbed a stuffie and shoved it at Tess. We started rolling around on the rug making awful noises. Mom was laughing. We were as happy as we could ever be.

Mom had a sappy Valentine’s Day card she’d bought for dad. I quick put my paw to it and scribbled Nellie’s name on the envelope. We found red ribbon to make a bow for Nellie. I grabbed a yellow flower that bloomed yesterday and put it with the card.

Next we found the perfect frozen turkey neck and wrapped it with a ribbon. We put the card, the flower, and the turkey neck on a silver tray. As soon as Nellie wakes up we’re all gonna sing “Sweet Valentine” to her and give her the presents. Later today we’re all going in the car for a drive. Me and Nellie will ride together. After all, she is my Valentine.

Nellie

 

Asher

Birthday Reflections

by  • 

Ash

Today is my birthday. Today I am six years old. So are my brothers Abel and Arrow, who live with mom’s good friend Carole.

So much has happened in my life already. I was born in the far northeast corner of Washington. My birth family lived in the country with horses and lots of other dogs.

Somehow my true mom found me when I was five weeks old. She claimed me and paid a ransom for my release. When I was a couple of months old I took a long car ride with Abel and Arrow to the big city.

Me and my two brothers lived in Seattle for a year. It was fun. Lots of noise and people. Lots of stuff to bark at. Every morning I went to the off leash area where I could run and be crazy.

After I turned one year old, we found Asherpark. Nice to have your own space in the country. Five acres with lots of smells. Chickens, goats, mice, coyotes, hawks, eagles.

I wasn’t always the best behaved mutt. When it was just me and Codie, I’d get bored hanging with an old dog and take off on adventures. Before we got the fence fixed there were lots of places I could get under or over. I’d go into the ravine and chase smells till I got tired. It worried mom a lot, but I sure had fun.

Codie died in 2009. I was so lonely. I pestered mom constantly to play with me. Mom got Tess to keep me company. Tess had been a stray and needed a good home. Me and Tess had a few tussles when she first got here, but now she’s my best pal.

When mom retired we all decided to take in old mutts through Old Dog Haven. Darcy was our first old mutt. He was really nice. Never bothered anybody. It was really sad when Darcy got terrible sick and we had to say good bye to him.

Next we got Jack. If you’ve read my barks, you know what a tough guy Jack was when he showed up. It didn’t help that he had no manners. It’s amazing what time and love will do. Once Jack knew he had a place forever and he was accepted into the pack, he turned into a big softie. Now he cries like a baby if he doesn’t get what he wants.

We got Nellie ten months ago. I thought mom had lost her mind bringing home that little stinky fur ball. We all gagged when Nellie tumbled out of the car. But with some meds, a bath and good food, Nellie turned out to be a little jewel.

Nellie’s a blue dog like me. She reminds me of Codie. I lie next to Nellie a lot and pretend that me and Codie are back together again. I see mom looking at me and Nellie and we’re both happy and sad at the same time. Oh man, I still ache when I think of Codie.

Mom worries that when I get older I won’t be so goofy like I am now. I’m the only one in the pack who can make her laugh. Mom says laughing is the best feeling in the world and she doesn’t know how she could ever get along without me.

Now that I’m grown up mom can count on me. I come when I’m called. I’ll stay in my place when somebody comes to the door. I even heel off leash when we visit the goats.

I coulda done that a long time ago, but it didn’t seem very important. Now I know how happy it makes my mom, I do whatever she asks. Well almost. I still steal her underwear and prance around the room until she chases me. But that’s part of making her laugh, so we’re both okay with it.

Because it’s my birthday Jack and me are going for a ride. Then I’m gonna get a super big frozen turkey neck this afternoon. Yumm.

I like birthdays. You get to be the center of attention. You get special treats. Everybody makes over you like you’re something special.

I’m hoping my brothers get something special too. Here’s a big shout out to Abel and Arrow.

“Happy Birthday Brothers!!!”

Arrow and Abel