20160523 (doggie)

As a dog owner and victim and investigator of dog attacks I never forget that every one of our lovely poochies have the same DNA as wolves.

Ten years ago when I bought

This house Loki and I went 

For walks and rarely encountered

Another dog and walker. We 

Might on occasion come 

Upon a walker with several 

In tow but even that was 

Unusual. However, in the 

Last year since the Guernsey

Took on at least forty-five 

Residents it's customary to 

Spot one or two dog-human

Couples before I leave my

Front porch steps. Dog-walking

Courtesy requires that the 

New pair avoid the path of

The two already on the street.

So, if you’re going to cross

To their side, let them pass

First then set out. This is all 

Done to prevent a large dog

From charging your miniature

Or vice versa should your mutt

Be the bad boy of the sidewalks.

Actually letting dogs meet

(Sniff butts) under tight leashes

And wary attention is still one

Of the best ways to socialize

Them, if a little precarious at

Times. It’s best if the walkers

Signal the suitability of

Any meeting by first stating,

“He’s ok,” and receiving a

Standard reply, “Mine too.”

Depending on the degree of

Familiarity between the 

Mutts you might elect to

Forego protocols and just

Let them do what dogs do.

Keep an eye on them 

Nonetheless. Sudden moves

On either’s part can be

Mistaken for aggression and

Fido may have an expensive

Trip to a vet, or worse on

Weekends, an emergency vet.

This might be the one day

Ol’ Trusty decides he’s done 

With the peaceable approach

And gives you the surprise

(And personal injury suit) of

Your life. When I worked with

The postal service, I investigated

Injuries to our carriers by 

Animals—not just dogs or cats--

Bees in a mailbox could ruin

A man’s day. The culture has

Long since forgotten Mr. Beasley, 

Blondie and Dagwood’s unlucky

Mailman constantly under siege

By neighborhood dogs. There

Was nothing funny about the 

Real thing though. Very small 

Dogs are able to put a very

Big hole in a carrier’s ankle

I learned. Likewise middling

Dogs, secured in a house,

Could easily rip through a

Screen door and come after

Our guy without so much as

A warning bark. Some areas

Of the city were plagued with

Wandering packs of dogs. The

Carriers’ advice was to place 

His leather satchel between

Himself and the attacking

Animal—good trick now that

Leather satchels are canvas. 

But how about bees who fly

Into the carrier’s truck window

The moment he pulls down the

Door on a rural box? And the 

Required leash? Loki and I were

Attacked by a loose pit bull and

Boxer which resulted in one

Of those late night trips to the

Emergency vet to patch up

The bite on Loki’s tiny behind

For which he wore the notorious

Yoke of shame. Trust me.

 I know whereof I speak.

c. J.S.Manista, 2016