BarkingProse

It’s been a week since my last bark. I did this once before and got in big time trouble. This time it was worse. Mom didn’t scold me. She just asked me if I knew I was disappointing my friends who like to read about Asherpark.

Guilt. It’s worse than a good scolding. I don’t even have an excuse except I was goofing off and didn’t have much to bark about.

Mom told me when nothing much happens at Asherpark I can bark about other stuff. So today I’m barking about having a home.

It’s real cold at night now. Sometimes the stars are out and it’s dry and clear. Other times that pesky cold rain soaks through your coat and pretty soon you want inside.

When Tess was a stray it was summertime. She got picked up in July, right after all the fireworks. She said she wasn’t homeless for too long, but long enough to know she didn’t like it.

Jack had a home but the authorities took it away from him. Or they took him away. Either way he lost his home, but he wasn’t really homeless. He went right to jail.

When us house dogs go our for walks, we don’t have to stick together. The front is all fenced. I’ve tested every spot and haven’t made a break out for a couple of months. Tess used to try to break out, but that was before she decided she belongs to dad. Now she won’t let him out of her sight.

When Jack first got here mom had to take him out on a leash. He was afraid the door would shut behind him and he’d never get back in. Now he likes to go to the farthest corner of the pasture to do his business. He’s older and it takes him longer to find the perfect spot. Usually we’re all back at the house before he’s done.

When he looks up and realizes he’s alone, he gets this frantic look. He starts running like some guy who’s about to miss the bus. You’d better get out of his way when he’s on his mission. Mom waits for him at the door to let him in right away. When he sees her he eases up a little in his trot. She opens the door and welcomes him home.

Usually me and Tess wait for Jack just inside the door. Tess always bumps him when he comes inside. I sniff under his tail to make sure he’s feeling okay. Mom gives him a big hug and tells him not to worry so much.

It’s hard to figure out which of us house dogs is the lucky one. I’ve known nothing but kindness and good times. Tess was a stray and could have been put down if nobody wanted her. Jack was taken away from a not so good place and ended up in his dream home. Think about it. Doesn’t that make us all lucky dogs?

Any one of us house dogs could have handled today’s bark, but since I’ve got the most to be thankful for we decided I should do it.

If you’ve been reading our barks, you know I was taken from my owner after somebody complained me, my pal Butch, and a bunch of little dogs were being neglected.

I had no idea what it meant to be neglected. I’d always lived that way. Oh I knew I had fleas, my eyes were gooey and I was pretty skinny, but at least I had a place to live. I’d say I was ignored more than neglected.

Then one day the animal control officer came and arrested me and Butch. We were put into a dog cage. Nobody read us our rights.

I don’t know what hapened to the little yappers in the house. Butch and me were put in jail. First we were together in the same cell, then one day Butch disappeared.

I spent five long months in the joint. I didn’t have an attorney or anybody to speak for me. I never got a chance to tell my story. Nobody asked me what I wanted. The jailers were really nice to me. I guess they decided I was a pretty good mutt because one day without any explanation I got sprung. Old Dog Haven volunteers drove me way far north to where I met my new pack.

Sorry for all the details about my past life, but if you don’t know my history you won’t understand what Thanksgiving means to me. This is my first Thanksgiving at Asherpark. My fleas are gone, I’ve gained some weight, my fur is thick and shiny, and my eyes are bright.

I can see because Old Dog Haven pays for my eye drops. Every day I get a drop in each eye. Otherwise I will go blind. I don’t like the drops but I sit real still. I do admit I clench my eyes tight shut, but my people know just how to spread my eyelids enough to get the drop inside. Then they kiss me and make over me and tell me how wonderful I am. Sometimes when I’m still blinking they’ll slip a treat in my mouth.

Last night it was plenty cold. I took my nightly walk down the driveway. I could hear outside dogs barking. I could smell the coyotes. I looked back at my home. The lights were on and it was warm inside. Tess ran by and bumped me. That’s the signal to head back to the house. We always get a treat before bedtime and Tess likes us to hurry back so she doesn’t have to wait for hers.

When we were all in, Mom turned out the lights. I followed her to the bedroom and curled up in a ball in my favorite bed. She kissed my crooked old snout and told me she loved me. Dad told me how special I am, that I’m a permanent member of the pack and I will always have a home.

That’s the beauty of it. I have a forever home at Asherpark with Ash and Tess. My people love me and take care of me. Generous donors sponsor me through Old Dog Haven. I even have a secret admirer who writes me notes and sends me treats. My heart is bursting with joy and gratitude. I am so very very thankful.