Some Things in Life Just Aren't Fair

From: Mia Cope

I’m writing this on the four-month anniversary of my “gotcha day.” As you might recall, on the afternoon of the solar eclipse, Momma and Daddy visited me at the animal shelter. And Momma carefully explained to Daddy and the animal shelter staff that there would be no need to think things over, nor would there be a need for the shelter to arrange for the typical medical procedures that take place before adoption.¹ I was going home with them that very minute!

And, of course, I was cool with that.

I’ve had a lot of time to get to know Momma and Daddy. As I told you a few weeks ago, Momma is definitely my favorite. But Daddy and I have a very strong bond. At least when Momma is not around.

Most of my conversations with Daddy occur on our morning walks or when he goes outside with me during the day. One thing I have found appealing about Daddy is his sense of justice. He doesn’t like the fact that so many things in life aren’t fair.

TRIGGER WARNING: The following contains references to leash laws, dog poop, reckless drivers, civil unrest, and funny names humans give to things. We will tread lightly, of course, and we won’t tolerate mean trolls who try to start arguments in the comments. Daddy says we don’t really have to worry about that since almost everyone who reads this really likes me and will be kind. So, if you’re up to it, hang on!

We live in a neighborhood where a lot of people walk their dogs. I like seeing them and, in fact, I might even want to make friends with them. But I’m new here, so Daddy makes sure I’m comfortable when we come close. We often see Ms. Sherry and her two little dogs and I like them — at least from a distance. And, of course, I like to talk with my neighbors, Millie and Murphy, through the fence. I’m pretty sure that I would get along with Tramp, Dr. Charles’ adopted stray, but we understand he is a little protective of Dr. Charles. So I just wag my tail from a distance. And I got really close one time to Rosie, Jack and Jill’s beautiful dog. I think she likes me except that I bounced around a little too much. Daddy says I need to learn to dial it back some.

Anyway, I said all that to say that Daddy and I both love other dogs. But Daddy has become frustrated at times. A couple of times, a little dog has seen us walking and has fired out of her yard and into the street. Daddy pulls me to other side of the street and begins reaching for his pepper spray. Fortunately, the little dog has reluctantly heeded his owners’ call to get back in the yard.

Later, Daddy told me how much he didn’t want to have to use his pepper spray on any dog. And how much he wished that the owners would pay attention to the leash laws that clearly state that a dog has to be enclosed or on a leash.²

On those same neighborhood walks, we also know that at least one dog owner doesn’t follow the ordinance of picking up their dog’s poop. I have done a chemical analysis (the sniff test) and am about 83% confident that they all come from the same dog. Daddy thinks he knows which one.

Now a little known fact is that since my adoption day, I have never pooped outside my own backyard. It’s just so much more comforting to be at home when the moment arrives. But today, on my 4-month anniversary, I decided it was time to test Daddy’s character. So, without so much as a word of my intentions, I leapt into the yard of one our neighbors and did my business.

Daddy was so surprised! It was almost like he had forgotten what he was supposed to do. Although, he did look like he was a little proud of me. He quickly reached into his doggy resource carrier where he keeps poop bags, pepper spray, and my treats, whipped out a blue hazardous waste bag and expertly retrieved my poop. It was my turn to look a little bit proud. I’m not certain it was worth the humiliation of doing my business in public. But it was good to know that I could if I needed to.

When we go to the university campus, we have to cross a five-lane thoroughfare. Unless there are no cars coming for as far as we can see, Daddy always presses the little button that changes the light so we can cross. Daddy becomes very angry at the people who speed up when they see the red light. He told me that in Togo’s younger years, he would often shake his fist at those drivers and move his mouth like he was shouting. He doesn’t do that now. I’m only half the size of Togo and Daddy thought Togo was more of a deterrent to violence than I am during those displays of his public anger.

Picture courtesy of Ashlee Darling, one of our good neighbors who stops for dog walkers and red lights on her way to work.

When we talked about that, Daddy also told me of his disappointment with the way people treated each other. And he openly admitted that waving his arms and pretending to shout was something he was disappointed in, too. There has been a great shift in neighborliness in recent times and it’s created fear in almost everyone. Did you know that Daddy won’t even let me walk on the curb of a yard where the owners display certain political flags? He tells me that they are probably wonderful people who actually like dogs, but it’s harder to know these days.

Daddy thinks that’s unfair both to us and our neighbors. We ought to be getting to know each other. We don’t have to agree on everything. But Daddy believes that we need to rid our neighborhoods of fear and look out for each other.

Actually, I think I’ve figured out what adds to the confusion. People have an odd habit of giving strange names to things. I pointed out to Daddy that was even true of our neighborhood. It’s called “University Hills.”

Folks, I walk there. It’s flat as a pancake.

Daddy agreed it wasn’t fair. People in 4-wheel drive vehicles are constantly being disappointed when they come in search for a place they might actually need that transmission feature that they paid thousands of extra dollars for. Disappointment stacked on disappointment.

I’m thinking we just need to rename everything.

• University Flats — tell it like it is, it’s a pancake

• Everyday is Good Neighbor Day — never be a bad neighbor no matter what flag you sail under

• Save a Life Light — your neighbors are in the crosswalk

• Pick Up the Poop of Friendship ordinance — cleanliness in next to dogliness

• Leashing is an Act of Love ordinance — sometimes we all need a little restraint

I told Daddy that all of these injustices he is burdened with would just go away if we loved our neighbors. He told me that he had heard that somewhere before. And he appreciated the reminder.

Love your neighbor, leash your dog, pick up that poop, don’t run red lights, and be accurate with your words. These five, but the greatest of these is love your neighbor.

1. Fortunately for me, during my intake exam with my very own vet, Dr. Leavell, the next day, he pointed out that I had already had those medical procedures. I could have just kissed him in the moment, but everything was new and all the people were new. I wanted to give a good first impression.

2. Daddy was also quick to say that there were several well-mannered and trained dogs in our neighborhood who sit or stand quietly when we go by, never threatening even though they aren’t restrained. But since not all dogs can be trained that well . . . there is a law.