A Story: Playful Dogs and Kids Meet and Help Bring Neighbors Together
Last year I became a first-time dog owner of two terrier pups that were abandoned on the narrow hillside road outside my Los Angeles home. Since then, I learned the meaning of the old adage, “One person’s garbage is a another person’s treasure!” Some people might say these treasured pups are spoiled, but I know they are happy and are here because they have a lot of love to give!
Our first summer together was spent frolicking around our hillside home and “socializing” in the local dog parks. My dogs loved being outside, around people and other dogs! Everyone was amazed by their skills and talents; running, jumping, chasing, and wrestling. True boy terrier play! They were unstoppable play fiends!
Soon, my dominant white male started escaping from our fenced yard so that he could play more! On one such occasion, I feverishly searched the neighborhood, carrying his leash, some treats, and calling out over and over again, “Char-Lee! CHAR-LEE!” I finally found CharLee, a block away at a house down the hill where a family with two young kids and their (female) dog lived. CharLee was outside playing under a giant tree with a little girl and the dog. He looked up at me, smiled, wagged his tail, but did not run to me. The little girl grinned coyly and said, “I asked him if he wanted to come play with us . . . and he did”!
I brought CharLee back home where he reunited with his friend and foe, Halpert (yes, Halpert, named after Jim Halpert, a character on the hit show The Office). Not appeased, CharLee disappeared out the doggie door into the back yard. I followed him out just in time to see him squeeze through a small hole under the fence and run off again down the street! He went straight back to the little girl’s house, who exclaimed, “CharLee! You missed me!” This time she made me promise that she could come over to visit the dogs tomorrow before she let me take CharLee home that night!
Ensuring that I keep good on that promise, the little girl showed up the next day with her mom, brother, and dog! The mother, Erin, introduced herself and her daughter, Paloma (Pah-low-mah), seven, son, Braulio (Brah-lee-oh), ten, and dog, Blanca, also ten. With a smile, mom laughed and asked, “I understand you have dogs here?” I laughed too and stated, “I sure do! I think one of them is in love with your daughter!”
Erin replied, “I think my daughter is in love with your dog!”
Soon the Dog Days of Summer, 2010 were underway! Each new day was filled with dog walks and scooters, games and bubbles, stories, and lots of laughter! I had not expected dog ownership to be so fun and rewarding, let alone introduce me to neighbors I had, but had never known for almost ten years! Erin and the kids soon lovingly nicknamed my dogs, “The Muchachos” and were asking if the dogs could sleepover! Even though I had never heard of this, I just had to let them! It was just too cute and funny!
“The Muchachos” came and went, never split on their loyalty, affection, or pure love of attention! They were, like the kids, genuine and open with their love. How lucky I am, I thought, to have animals like this! Ones that can recognize themselves in others and bring people together like this! Could this be yet another one of their talents? Are my dogs gifted? I often wondered as I thought back through my childhood and recalled that some of my greatest memories involved my small-town Pennsylvania neighbors and the animals that I cared for!
No longer a child and no longer in an idyllic small town, I realized that my commitment to care for my dogs meant more than just walks, dog food, belly rubs, and vet bills. Our dogs are loyal to us because we are responsible for meeting their basic “animal” needs, but it was because I let my animals be themselves that they were able to show me something very important to both human nature and canine culture . . . the need for social belonging and being part of the pack!
