Chipper was the first that I remember. We had just moved from town to "the country" and Daddy consented to allow us to have a dog. He was a cute little terrier-type thing of unknown parentage, and we adored him. My brother and I had a playmate with whom we could romp and run through the woods at the back of our house. But alas, one day he escaped our attention, wandered into the highway in front of our house and was hit by a car.We were devastated. When Daddy got home from work, he found all three of us (Mom, my brother, and me) bawling like calves abandoned by their mamas. Daddy wasn't really attached to the dog and he thought we were silly; it was not silly to us. We were broken hearted! It was not long after that when an older lady in the neighborhood gave us another dog. She assured my brother that he was an excellent rabbit-dog. My brother liked to go rabbit-chasing, so that was all he needed to hear. The animal (I don't even remember his name, so that tells how important he was to me) was white with black spots and the lady told us he was a "damnation" dog. She thought she was telling us he was a dalmation. It wasn't too long until we all agreed with her; he had to go!
After Don and I were married 54 years ago, we started our own collection of dogs that has continued until today. The first was Thunder. He was an Alsation shepherd, given to us by some friends, and was already an adult when we acquired him. He died of heart worms. The next was a puppy named Kaiser. He was a beautiful animal, another Alsation. But he was killed while he was still a puppy, by a neighbor driving too fast on our farm road. We were heartbroken.
Next came a succession of shepherds. Joey was the first. He hated delivery men in big trucks. He once chased the gas delivery man up on the top of his vehicle! Then, Duke came along. He was a wonderful watch dog. When Don had to go on active duty with the National Guard, he stayed in the house with me; I always felt safe. Juneau lived with us next. She was an Alaskan malamute; a beautiful animal, loving and strong, and kind. She was mother to many beautiful puppies in her lifetime.
Then, Donna decided that she wanted a dog. So, Sam was her basset hound. She didn't give him the attention he needed and we finally had to give him away.
The Labradors were the next in line. Noel was the first. She was a Christmas present to Don, a chocolate lab whom he loved. She was presented with a big red bow, and for all of her life, she could do no harm. Of course, she chewed a hole in the bathroom wall, chewed the facings off the windows in the sewing room, and was just generally bad. But Don loved her! She was lying under one of the pecan trees and was struck by lightning.
The first of two Shermans followed Noel. They were both black labs. Don was working at the restaurant when Sherman One came to him highly agitated, barking to the top of his lungs, and would not give up until Don went to see what the problem was. When Don responded, our house was on fire. Sherman prevented it's being a total loss. Sherman Two was Don's favorite of all his dogs. He was a loyal companion until he died of old age.
Now we have Liza Jane - so named because her black and white coat reminded us of Liza Jane Doolittle in My Fair Lady. She is a rescue dog; part wire-haired terrier and part Boston terrier. She was rescued from an abandoned house in cold driving rain without shelter and food. She adores us and we are overly fond of her. I could write a book about her. She's getting old, and I want her to live forever.
The last one is Puddles. She's a little solid black cocker spaniel with a priceless personality, adorable and kind. We found her in a ditch on the side of the road and she just hung around until we couldn't turn her away.
Not a single purebred in the bunch, but we loved them all. Dogs have a way of grabbing on to your heart and holding on! They become a part of you and you never forget them.
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