Penny – My First Dog
Penny was just a bundle of fluff with ears long enough to touch the ground and a short stubby tail. She didn’t chase balls, but did knarl up my homework a few times. Penny was my first dog and I got her as a present from a very doting Aunt, much to my mother’s dismay. I really didn’t think my mom had a point, I mean, how could something so cute and fun do anything wrong. However, at the early age off ten, I was introduced – rather abruptly I might add – to a broom, mop, and dustpan.
But dampen my spirits and excitement it did not. Penny and I became close buddies. When I left for school in the morning, she was always already up, wagging her stumpy tail for all she was worth. We had our little private exchange to wish each other well for the day to come.
I see it now very interesting that my first dog was such an influence, even at an early age. While some of my fellow fourth graders would draw airplanes in class when Sister wasn’t looking, I’d draw scenes with Penny in them. And of course, I was sure that my little Cocker Spaniel was the very best breed, and could do everything better than Lassie.
After school, Penny and I would play in our yard until the call to dinner came the third and final time. As a kid, you could always pick up when and where the line was that you didn’t cross, and the tone on the third call was that line.
Penny was not a sports dog, she really didn’t have the build for it. Her short legs were adequate and got her where she wanted to go, but she surly didn’t break any speed records. And her ears, can you imagine walking around with ear muffs that almost drag the floor? She did have a keen eye, and I relied on her heavily when we were in the far corner of our wooded yard on the trail of El Toro and his band of rangy outlaws. With Penny at my side, and my trusty Roy Rogers Six Gun, we saved the town at least three maybe four times a week. El Toro never did learn not to cross into our jurisdiction, but every time he did, we’d fight him out of town.
As time went on, even mom warmed up to Penny. It was hard not to, I fully believe that the greatest defense mechanisms that God created in dogs is their big eyes. They convey understanding of your most difficult situations, they forgive the harshest words, and they say love better than any valentine.
Looking back, my wonderful Aunt that surprised me with this bundle of joy, love and fun had real foresight. Without her, I may have never become a “dog person”, or at least until much later in life. My mom and dad did not come from”dog homes” nor did they profess to particularly care for the little four legged friends. I am sure that it is all in the big plan, but once you have a dog, it is likely you will continue down that path. Penny gave way to a whole line of dogs in my life, from a pure sit-on-the-Budweiser-fire truck-seat Dalmatian to a 115 pound Golden Retriever who could not get it through his head that he was not a lap dog.
Today my four legged buddy is a Golden Chow mix that came to me by way of the Golden Retriever Rescue League. Her name is Jasmine, and as I muse over our relationship, it is not unlike that very first wonderful pooch named Penny. Jazzy and I don’t go out in our yard to ensure the town’s safty from El Toro, but we do keep an eye on all the mail and package delivery trucks. I have heard that the mafia is using these to break into houses throughout our neighborhood. But don’t you worry; Jazzy and I are on the lookout.
