My neighbors went on vacation this week and asked whether I'd like to watch their dog.
The answer, initially, was no way, but I didn't tell them that. I'm not much of a dog person, and this particular dog has a bad reputation. But I did agree to at least meet the canine and let his owner walk me through the basics of vacation care.
The dog loves me.
I don't know why, but he has taken to me like a mockingbird takes to a new birdcall. And their yard, just three doors up the hill from mine, is like a different environment altogether. As the dog sniffs around his yard and does his thing, I get to watch a different set of birdfeeders, observe a different view of the horizon, and listen, listen, listen.
Yesterday, there was a rufus-sided towhee whistling in the trees. Today, I could see elk on the next hill over. Even the wind sounds a little different from that part of the hill.
Tomorrow is my last day of watching the dog, mainly because I myself am going out of town for a few days (if you're lucky, you might get an update about it on my travel blog). But I think that I might still venture up to my neighbor's yard occasionally this summer when I am in town. It's funny how a slight change of angle can give you a whole new perspective on a familiar place.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Animals always know when there is a non-animal person around especially dogs and cats. Ever notice how the cats will invariably find the one person who's allergic? I'm glad you've crossed the line and come to know a dog's world even if you're not a dog-person.
ReplyDeleteI always knew you were a closet dog-person.
ReplyDelete;-)
As I walked up and down the hill to take care of the dog last week, I thought about this. I'm the person who says, "I hate dogs," but who actually rather likes every dog I actually know. I think it comes down to fear of unfamiliar dogs. I've had too many close encounters with big, strong, barking canines that I don't know.
ReplyDelete