Two Reasons to Have a Dog
Have you ever tried to convince a mate to adopt a dog? Here’s a true story of a reluctant purchase and how the pup saved the day.
Puppet is a bichon/schnauzer who brightens up the lives of my good friends Robyn and Steve with her clever tricks. But her best performance, by far, occurred last week.
Robyn reports that Puppet …occasionally wants to go out at night. If she’s serious, she’ll seriously let us know. Last night she needed out, so I let her out, then back to bed.” Then Puppet wakened them again.
“I ignored her,” admits Robyn, “believing she was just restless (sometimes she has a treat like a bone that she wants to get back to). Anyway, she must have gotten serious (I was back asleep), because Steven got up and let her out and found a pot on the stove really smoking! Wow, an excellent reason to have a dog IN the house.”
Besides entertainment value, dogs are potential live-savers. Other dogs, besides Puppet, have performed the fire alarm feat. Just google “dogs waking their owners from fire” and you’ve a long series of global stories like these:
Dog saves deaf owner’s life after waking her up to smoke alarm
Dog wakes sleeping owners just before family home burns to the ground
Dog saves owner’s life by waking him during house fire
Blind, Deaf 3-Legged Dog Saves Family
In addition to entertainment value, dogs can be live-savers. Other canines, besides Puppet, have performed the fire alarm feat. Just google “dogs waking their owners from fire,” and you find a series of global stories like below:
In the case of Puppet, getting her was initially Robyn’s idea. She and Steven had lost their dog a few weeks earlier in a freak accident with a truck. And Steven now wished to remain dogless. Robyn prevailed with a drive to a breeder ‘just to look’ at the new puppies. Auto issues threatened to end the expedition, but a garage on route sorted the auto-steering. Finally, at the breeders, one pup gazed straight into Steven’s eyes, melting his resistance. Puppet had a home. Today, their hearts melt with gratitude for this stunning little dog who’s both entertainer and hero of the day.
If you want to meet Puppet in person, join in a make-your-own knife class with Steven Martin at Barrytown Knifemaking. Accommodation is also available (links on the above website) for a cottage near the beach, as well as a house set in New Zealand Native bush. I’ve personally stayed in both their accommodations and highly recommend the experience.