Once I read the only love
that you can buy is that
of a dog
I decided on a Maltese
Poodle after much deliberation
on account of their size.
I thought this is a dog
I can tuck under my arm
and take everywhere I go
and so it was to be.
A Maltese Poodle, rather
than the elegant Afghan
or the adorable Chinese
dog
full of folds whose name
I don't recall
both of them bigger.
The other reason I
favoured
Maltese Poodles at the
time
was the drastic,
different looks during
the year:
During Winter, fluffy
with its long hair
and in Summer a more
vulnerable,
streamlined look after
grooming.
Like having two different
dogs!!
I remember out of all the
puppies at the Pet Shop
I chose Sebastian
The only one with a brown
caramel spot at the back
that I would later learnt
it is supposed to be a flaw
Perhaps he also chosed me
as he broked away from
the group
to come towards me waving
its tiny tail.
I went home that day with
a companion
someone who greeted me on
my arrivals
who was always glad to
see me:
we became family.
He enjoyed my favourites
outings
as much as I did
long strolls in the
city's parks:
we became inseparable!!
When I think back there
is much I wish I have done differently
if only I had known then
what I know now.
We were both amateurs
and had to learn as we
went along.
Nothing prepared me for
the void he left when he
moved on
fifteen years later.
It broke my hear to learn
recently that a few enterprising people
have concerns using dogs
as lethal weapons
to maim and even kill
such an abuse of their
trust on us.
It seems to me dogs must
have made a commitment long ago
to trade their
independence for our friendship
and became our partners
in the city life,
but in so doing became
much more dependant upon us, and much more vulnerable.
I saw so many, dogs
loosing their lives in Germiston
some because they have
become confidants and knew too much;
others left behind by
owners in desperation to save their own lives
whatever the reason we
have lost too many in recent years.
I remember watching them
in the news trapped in empty
abandoned houses during
the floods in New Orleans
and realized they are
victims of our tragedies
that remain unnamed and
unaccounted.
Many people care deeply
for dogs
and appreciate them
it's a pity that the few
that don't
should spoil it for the
rest of us.
Friday, August 6, 2010
