The story of the dogs I’ve loved
Every year, the pet edition of Franklin Living is our most-loved. It’s no surprise – people feel a strong affinity for their pets, be they fluffy and fuzzy or – like some of the pets featured in this year’s edition – scaly or slimy or feathery.
The 2017 pet edition is on newsstands now, and if you haven’t picked up a copy yet, I invite you to check it out. You’ll see familiar faces – human and animal alike – from across Franklin County, and I guarantee you’ll see pictures and read stories that will make you smile.
We focus on Franklin County pets, just as all our coverage is focused here in the county. Not being a Franklin native or even a current Franklin resident (shh – don’t tell people I actually live in Lawrence County), it’s not always easy to tie in my own stories and experiences in our publications. However, I just can’t let this time of year go by without sharing a little bit about the dogs I have loved throughout the years.
I so enjoy sharing the stories of all the animal-lovers in this county, and I hope you will indulge me in sharing a few stories of my own.
Rex is the first family pet I can remember. A mutt with some German Shepherd, I primarily remember Rex as a passionate fetcher. That sweet boy would fetch a tennis ball for hours. He could catch it in the air; he would chase it across the yard; there was no bush it could fall behind that he couldn’t sniff it out. Your arm would tire out long before his legs would.
Rex was an outdoor dog. Shiloh, a full-blood Chihuahua, was our first indoor dog. He was affectionate – but energetic and yappy. Still, I loved having a little friend who would curl up on the couch with me. When my family would go out of town and kennel Shiloh, he would hold it against us for days after our return. We used to get the proverbial cold shoulder.
I dealt with some intense health challenges as a 10-year-old that kept my family away from home quite a lot. Shiloh needed constant love and attention, so he left us for a new home.
Chip, the Jack Russell terrier, was our next indoor dog. I must be frank – Chip was never a loving canine. We brought him home as a puppy, but I still think that maybe in his first few weeks of life he wasn’t well-treated. He was always afraid of brooms, and he was so protective of his food dish, it was hard to even finish filling it before he would start growling.
When Rex passed away, we adopted Kyra from the animal shelter. Another German Shepherd mix. I loved that dog. She was the most sweet-tempered, happy-go-lucky girl. Just a quarter mile through the woods behind our house was a river, and Kyra was a great river-going buddy. She loved to splash through the water and was so funny doing it.
When Chip passed away, we eventually brought home another Jack Russell terrier, Dusty. Kyra has passed now, but Dusty is still around, keeping my parents company. He’s an impish little thing – his favorite pastime is escaping and running to the highway, where I just know he’ll be hit by a car someday – but he is loving and sweet. He’d love to be an indoor dog – if only my father wasn’t so protective of the hardwood floors or so set against pet hair.
At present – I don’t have a dog of my own. My husband and I both work long hours, and it doesn’t seem fair to bring home a furry friend we wouldn’t have much time for. I placate myself by loving on the dog next door, another sweet boy, whose name is Bo. He’s gotten to where he greets me at my car door every day after work, which has a wonderful way of making me feel wanted.
He’ll do for now – but I hope someday to bring another Rex, or Kyra, or Dusty into my life. It’s amazing, the fondness and kinship we feel for – and seek from – our pets. Let’s continue to cherish these beloved friends.
James is managing editor for the Franklin County Times. You can reach her at alison.james@fct.wpengine.com.
