A Boy without a Dog? Kathy Polich

A Boy Without a Dog?

By Kathy Polich

Dog’s have been a part of my life as far back as I can remember. One of my first memories is of my dog Digger licking my face. When I was two, I met my first best friend. Rita was a Border Collie and my most trusted sidekick until I was seventeen. Jumper was the Blue Heeler that joined our pack when I was seven. Those cow dogs served as friend, counselor, and babysitter. We hit the trail on horseback looking for cows and chasing prairie dogs. No matter how fast or far I rode my bike, they kept up! They licked my wounds when I fell down or had a broken heart. Along with my grandma, they never got mad at me. Rita was the sweetest animal I’ve ever known. Jumper, by contrast, could be the meanest. Just ask a few of the folks he tried to snack on. One time, an old rancher/preacher named Jess

Hampton stopped by to spread the word and talk cows with my dad. Jumper was underneath the porch steps relaxing in the shade. As the old cowboy hit the second step, that chubby speckled dog lived up to his name as a heeler. He stuck his head through the step, grabbed on and pulled Mr. Hampton’s well-worn boot right off! I don’t recall the exact words he used, but I do remember he was pretty animated. Jesus, hell, and damnation were the sentiments. Amen! Whenever I would leave the house to play with the neighborhood crew, my mom always shouted the same thing, “Take the dogs with you!” My parents trusted those dogs to keep tabs on me. They knew they would protect me. Those dogs always did! Rita died when I was seventeen and Jumper’s heart was broken into as many pieces as my own. The old dog’s health declined and he was gone the next year.

Out of necessity, we had to replace those dogs. Not only were they my best friends, but they worked hard! A good watchdog and herding dog is essential when you have livestock. I soon fell in love with the string of dogs that lived their lives out with my family. None of them ever lasted over fifteen years like my Rita and

Jumper. But all the succession of dogs that came next, gained huge places in my heart and my memories. After I was married and had a house of my own, it was time to get a dog.

Of course in my mind, it had to be a cow dog. They are the smartest, most dedicated breeds out there. I waited patiently until my sister called and said that the Coddington’s were going to have a litter ready just in time for Christmas. The thought of a Border Collie/Australian Shepherd puppy was so delightful! I couldn’t wait to get my hands on that little fluffy bear look-alike and to smell puppy breath!

Under the guise of a Christmas present for my husband and son, I went to pick out a puppy. My sister and I immediately fell in love with the whole lot. It was apparent that Joe and Linda Coddington loved their cow dogs. We listened as they relayed stories of their dogs working cows in the Zuni Mountains. It quickly became obvious that they were checking us out, as much as we were looking at the puppies. They weren’t going to let a member of their family go to just anyone. We passed the test and picked out our puppies. As I shared my excitement for my baby boy to meet the puppy, Mr. Coddington made a statement I’ll never forget. He said, “I believe you can raise a dog without a boy, but you can’t raise a boy without a dog!” He talked about how great it would be for me to watch those two grow up together! Christmas morning didn’t disappoint. We loved that puppy named Chance, or Anch as the baby called him. When he only lived for a short time, we headed back to the Coddington’s for a replacement puppy. That puppy grew into a great dog. Anch the Second, spent the next five years herding that boy and his baby brother around. They loved that dog! When he got hit by a car, they were devastated. The brothers invited our closest neighbors and friends to the funeral. It was winter time and we had a ton of snow. I spent six hours with a pickax and shovel making a spot for our dog in the frozen ground. The somber procession from the house down the hill to the barn was led by two little boys pulling a sled carrying their best friend! It was so cute and sad all at the same time. When the

sled got away from the boys and flew by me, one of the stiff dog legs knocked my feet out from under me. I fell down, right on top of the dog! The funeral procession tried their hardest not to laugh out loud. No one wanted to hurt the little guys’ feelings. I sucked it up and stood next to my boys as they delivered their eulogies. Everyone in the crowd went to great lengths to choke back tears and giggles. Those boys loved that dog!

About a year before we lost Anch, we added another pup to our pack. My three-year-old son Blaise came into the house carrying a tiny puppy. I looked at him, his brother and his dad and said, “I don’t know where you guys got that puppy, but take it back. I don’t need that kind of Trouble!” Needless to say ten years later, that four-pound rescue puppy has turned into a 90-pound treasure. Trouble is the complete opposite of his name. He’s the best dog! My fifteenyear-old son Rowdy has a very special connection with that dog. Every night he lays on the floor with him, scratching his belly and talking to him. I’m sure that dog knows secrets no one else does. Gunner joined us six years ago. He’s my sidekick. I started out not wanting him either. His fairy dog mother, Michelle Sanchez, talked me into taking him. Michelle works for Cedar Animal Center. She knew before we did that he would become an important part of our family.

My boys treat those dogs so well. They love and take care of them. Since they were tiny, whenever they go outside, I find myself saying, “Take the dogs with you!” Mr. Coddington hit the nail right on the head. I believe you can raise a dog without a boy, but you certainly can’t raise a boy without a dog! If you’re in a place where you can add a dog to your heart, visit the Humane Society!

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