T. GAMBLE: These days are the real dog days

f someone asked me what the biggest change I have seen in the world from the time of my birth in 1959 until the present, I suppose there are many events that might warrant discussion. I might consider the advent of the smart phone, which now places a computer in the palm of my hand. Perhaps the advent of space travel as we near trips to outer space for the common man, or at least the very rich common man. Transformation of music from a round disk to now streaming with all its electronic inputs might even be considered. Maybe the eradication of many diseases, and advances in medicine, such as heart transplants and hip replacements should be in the running.

But, after careful thought, I believe the manner in which we treat our pets, and specifically dogs, represents the biggest change I have seen. As a young child, no self-respecting person would allow a dog to live in the house. Oh, there might be an occasional small dog that lived with a poofy widow lady, but as a whole, no dogs in the house. And absolutely no big dogs in the house. Dogs slept in the yard, period.

If it was cold, they slept under the house or maybe under the boxwoods. There was a reason God gave them fur, and by God they would just have to learn to tough it out. I don’t like that idea, but I can honestly say I never heard of a single dog freezing to death as I was growing up.

Folks also did not buy dog food. I mean not one single bag. A dog ate leftovers. If lucky, Mama would cook more cornbread than she knew everyone would eat so she could give the extra to Fido. But if the Baptist preacher came by, he’d take a to-go plate, and Fido would go hungry. If the dog was sick, well, better call the Baptist preacher for a prayer ‘cause ain’t nobody gonna take the dog to a vet. Unless it was a really good bird dog, then maybe. Otherwise, if Fido broke his leg, one of two things could happen. Either 1, he healed on his own and walked the rest of his life with a limp, or the daddy would just shoot the dog.

I’m not saying I liked the old ways. Lord knows, I have six dogs and I would have four more if I could figure out where to put ‘em. My chihuahua sleeps in the bed with me, and my German Shepard roams the hallway each night guarding whatever room has someone sleeping in it. All four bedrooms are upstairs, and she sleeps at the top step where if you want to come to the bedroom you first have to go through her. She is solid black, so there will be no early warning if someone makes such a mistake. From time to time, she gets up, goes to the doorway of each bedroom and just checks things out. I found her very useful when my teenage daughter was home. No boys trying to sneak up.

A few weeks ago, she came up beside my bed at about 1 in the morning. She kept nudging me. I kept saying, “Go on now, go back to sleep. No.” She remained persistent; nudging me, then turning toward the door with a movement of her head that said “Come on, this way.” I finally relented and got up. Maybe she needed to go to the bathroom, which would be very unusual for her during the night. But, hey, when it hits, it hits, I guess.

She rushed to the front door, anxious for me to open it. I opened it and there stood my mixed-breed bulldog. The bulldog always comes inside at the end of the night to sleep, but I had forgotten her this night. I opened the door and she bolted on in. My shepard looked up at me, turned her head swiftly to the stairs and ran back up them. I swear she had a slight grin as she took off.

I went back upstairs realizing my dog is smarter than me, and my bulldog was happy to have a friend that watched out for her.

And that, my friends is why dogs now have moved up in the world and demand Farmer’s Friend dog food, grooming, play dates and fancy sweaters for when it is cold. Cause nobody has a better friend than the friendship of a dog.