Chasing Hounds

My website URL is: silverwalkhounds.net. It is the site of Silverwalk Beagle & Hound Sanctuary, the reason I am driven to write this blog. The hounds and homes are the reasons I appreciate you reading it.

No one can dispute the beauty and perfectness of the past Tuesday - it was an unparalled day in the history of autumn and southeast Missouri - a stunner. As were the cyclists who came down the hill above my home and dog sanctuary as they navigated three dogs romping amongst them. Wait, THREE? Yes, I let myself get lost in the beauty of the day and the sleepiness in my head from working the night before. I had hand walked Lady Bird already, with Spanky and Shiloh as escorts off leash. Cleaned the house, the breezeway and then opened the back door to go out to do poop scooping. Suddenly, I stood straight up, looked at my creek (well, it is really a ditch but I fancy it a creek), realizing I had not secured Lady Bird. This is when I zoomed through the house, out the front door and saw the cyclists and dogs doing their dance. Sorry, guys, but you are in the county and believe me, I appreciated the skill with which you maneuvered yourselves through the barking dog bodies. I yelled "NO!" and "Stop!" They actually let the cyclists on their way. What is it with dogs and wheels anyway? Does anyone know?

The only way to even try to catch Lady Bird these days is with the car. As I am not a sprint nor marathon runner, I am unable to give her the real exercise she needs each day. So, when this happens, I despair but not greatly as I know, as long as she stays safe, she will get the exercise she needs: by racing my car. Enzo, the canine narrator of the wonderful book "The Art of Racing in the Rain," dreams of race car driving with his owner. Lady Bird uses my car as a tool with which to exercise her muscle and brain, "thumbing" her nose at me down the road. I initially was driving about 25 mph, the speed limit on our road (remember that, all those who use County Road 657/Old Rt. V). She was ahead of my car. I did try to stop and coax her into the car; Spanky had come in right away - she never passes up a car ride. Spanky sits upright in the passenger seat, setting off the seat belt alarm (she is no longer starving) and watches the world go by. Lady Bird kept on truckin' - she has a deep long efficient stride - her total enjoyment of simply running is obvious! Shiloh was out running with us as well but he does not need or use the car - he is enjoying the comaraderie.

We headed away from home toward Juden Creek, onto the Mississippi outlook below Cape Rock and ended at the fountain recently featured as a photo in the SE Missourian by the Water Treatment Plant. I lost LB there. She zoomed and dodged my malfashioned lasso. *sigh* God speed - you will come home as will Shiloh. He did....

She did - full of small burrs but NO TICKS. Thank you, God. She was tired, her ear was bleeding. Here is the sweet part. I took her into the bathroom and put her in the tub. This dog of fear and grace, beauty and strength, stood quietly in the tub as I rinsed and lathered her. When I started to massage her to loosen up the dirt, sweat and grime, she tucked her head against my chest and simply relaxed. Moments like these of utter trust move me to tears. Lady Bird relinquished herself - dog of God, indeed.