Family Pets

The Rapp family dogs are a motley crew of two scruffy, white fellas and a muscular little black and white Boston Terrier. You may have seen them out for their evening walk, making their rounds to ensure maximum safety for the neighborhood. They are a sight to see, particularly when another dog walks by. Since they don’t get to sniff the stranger, they sometimes turn on each other in frustration. Marijo and her daughter Anne are the usual walkers, and after experiencing this behavior a few times, they finally devised a plan to avoid this “friendly” scuffle. If you see them walking by, and they are separated, it’s for the best. Trust me. For these three, though, that is only a tiny glimpse of who they are.

William ‘Willy’ Rapp is one special little Maltese. Willy became part of the Rapp family with a critical job, which was to be emotional support for Mary Rapp. Mary, at age eleven, had a severe asthma attack that sent her to the hospital, causing a great deal of emotional trauma. The fear of having another crippling asthma attack gripped her, and for a time, Mary’s response to the trauma was to stop talking. Soon, the idea that a puppy could be the answer to help Mary through this tough time became a reality. Willy, named after a dog Mary knew and loved when she was younger, is known officially as William. It’s an important name for an important little dog. Willy was instrumental in helping Mary get through her scary time, and, as all had hoped, she soon began to evolve into her old self again. Of the three, Willy is the bravest, and, alas, he is also the most adventurous landing him a reputation as an escape artist. Early on, fences could not hinder his adventurous spirit, and in no time, neighbors got to know this little Houdini. He has outgrown that- mostly!

Chewy Rapp joined the family next as a rescue. This Lhasa Apso mix has a fierce underbite with crooked, little, jutting teeth that give him a fascinating face nearly identical to Chewbacca from the Star Wars series. The Rapps are convinced that Chewy is an ancient alien. This could be true since no one knows his age. Whatever his origin, this little guy does some odd, inexplicable things. It is not unusual to find Chewy hiding with Murphy in the closet if the weather turns dark. They climb in a sock basket with Murphy lying on top of Chewy. Packages are a source of true aggravation for this little alien. Chewy runs through the dog door and barks uncontrollably when a package is sitting on the porch. Later, he runs in fear when the package is brought in and opened. Chewie is also a super-skilled carpenter bee catcher. With a simple chomp, he gets all the protein he needs. Chewy doesn’t do much else. Marijo Rapp compares him to a loaf of bread and explains that he does a lot of resting. I find that an appropriate way for an alien to pass the time.

The last to be added to the Rapp’s pack is a Boston Terrier named Murphy. Murphy, who goes by names such as Cookie, Bugsy, Terrance, and Terry, was a Father’s Day gift for Aaron Rapp in 2016. Aaron had always wanted a Boston Terrier, and the rest of the family decided he needed a best friend. Baby Murphy was soon found in Poplarville, MS, and would be the one for Aaron. There was no question that he was the one

because, as Marijo explains it, “He was the rock star of the litter.” It was truly the beginning of a best friendship. It didn’t take long for Murphy to assume his spot in Aaron’s heart and the hearts of all the Rapps. Murphy makes a great sidekick and routinely goes to Starbucks twice daily on the weekends with Aaron. The two are inseparable. Ever keen to the feelings of those around him, when someone is in a bad mood, Murphy takes on those same feelings and mopes around. According to Elizabeth, the youngest Rapp, “Murphy is very loyal. He will go all day without eating so that he can eat his dinner at the same time as Dad.” I would say that Murphy truly understands the responsibility of a best friend.

Dysfunctional is the word that kept coming up when the Rapps were talking about their three fury family members. Marijo explains that each dog feeds off of the behavior and anxiety of the others. Without a doubt, they are an odd pack, but each plays an important role in the Rapp family. These three know they are loved by their people, and in return, they give that love back in a big way.