Home Lifestyle RAMBLINGS: Pets are part of the family

RAMBLINGS: Pets are part of the family

It was not surprising at all to read that a recent study indicated that the death of a family dog often caused as much grief as losing a human loved one in the family.

Just a few days ago, I enjoyed seeing the multitude of dog photos posted on Facebook to commemorate National Dog Day. Maybe the day should be re-named “National Dog Love Day” judging from the many photos of obviously beloved pets.

I come from a “dog family” where there were always dogs in our home. Except for my college years, I have always shared my residence with at least one dog and at one time a cat, the only cat I have ever owned, a rescue Maine coon cat. I have been told that Maine coons often have personalities similar to dogs and I certainly noticed that with mine. My B Cat was a very social cat…loved to have company and snuggle.

My first dog was a collie that was given to my older brother before I was born. We had this beloved dog and my playmate until I was 10 years old when he slipped away to die.

I grew up in a neighborhood in Aberdeen in which, as was typical of the time, families allowed their dogs to roam freely. There were no leash laws back then and everybody knew the neighborhood dogs, usually by name.

Unfortunately, a neighbor reported that our sweet Shag had snapped at his daughter. Therefore, my dad made the decision to give Shag to a friend who lived a few miles out of the town limits in the country.

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Helen, right, her brother Tommy and Shag.

Of course, my brother and I were devastated, but just as Lassie in the movies and in the television shows came home after painful absences, our beloved Shag surprised us by making his way home. I am pretty sure I saw tears in my dad’s eyes when he told my brother and me that Shag was now home for the rest of his life. My dad started putting up a fence between our home and the home of the family that had complained about Shag the very next day.

For the last three years, I have shared my residence with Frazier, a terrier-mix rescue dog. All dogs, like people, have their unique personalities and this fur baby surely has his.

When I got Frazier from the local shelter, he had completely shut down…not eating much or barking…just listless and lethargic. But within two weeks of his rescue, he became possibly the most loving and bonded dog I have ever owned.

Helen with Frazier, her “retirement dog.”

He never wants to be very far from me and loves nothing better than a car ride. It is amazing how many words he recognizes and perhaps best of all, he does not mind sleeping in with me on mornings I am just not ready to face the world.

I have always thought Frazier had a very loving owner who either passed away or was forced to surrender him to the shelter because of some inability to keep him. So apparent he was well loved. I could not ask for a more loving and loyal dog. He is the perfect “retirement dog.”

Helen Cox is a former journalist and educator in Richmond County.



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