Dogs day

February 1, 2013

As I lie in the hot fine sand and generations of fleas skitter across my back, around my abdomen and along my spine I hear the clink of chain against chain and the human appears around the corner to shout my name. “Pipo! Are you ready to go to the beach?” she asked in a excited squeaky voice that humans use to encourage and engage children and pets. I jump nearly slipping sideways over the lump of wood that lines the extensive sand box I have claimed since the little human left with his large plastic toys and car shapes that were rigid to lay on.

The clip is attached to my loose leather collar, much looser since we started heading to the beach and schlepping around the neighborhood daily. Urinating on the enemy’s scent every few paces to prove that I have been here last and dominate the territory, we weave our way down the hot bricked path, between fences that house little deranged scrappers, medium-sized scruffy mind-your-own-business yappers and the big, oh soooo large and ferocious beasts that yammer in envy that I am out and they are sequestered. I don’t have time to challenge them because the human is on a determined mission to get to the water. We approach the hot molding sand just beyond the sidewalk that leads up to the narrow dense path then climbs up atop the Dunes and salty breeze from the sea. The human stops to pause and stoops to slip off the loud slapping things and we continue on. Other humans advance towards us and will certainly pose a challenge for me since I don’t like the clanking of the flat objects they carry. The strong smelling bigger forms are especially disconcerting. The human attending to me stops at the wide openings prior to a tapered path to allow the humans to pass around us. I feel more at ease and secure.

This sunny time is very uncomfortable so I halt and plop down in the dark places to feel cooler. The walk home seemed very long and I stopped many times, weaving back and forth in front of the human who grasped the clanking chain and forced me to one side or the other of her. The human had high energy as home got closer and rattled “Pipo, let’s get you plenty of fresh water when we get home, ignore those jealous ankle-biters and save your energy.” The border banged shut and two of my bowls were filled to the brim with cool water, such a relief to lie on the tile in the cool with a breeze blowing over me. I can hardly feel those crawling things along my face and ears! Nap time!

The human claps at the gate and Chika and I barge forward to see what is going to happen. This human always has something to inhale for each of us but makes me wait until Christened Chika eats first. I have been penalized and reprimanded severely when I  growl and snap when something I like to eat is in the vicinity. I cannot help myself, I have to protect my share and get anxious and whiny when intimidated. The other human comes to make the long escape hatch widen but I cannot get out, they are too quick.

Ah, smelly treats waved in front of my long snout. I grab and swallow what I can before someone else moves in. Large tub and white wrap appears that means getting wet, bottle represents heavy wet sensation running along my spine and rubbed into my body, black thing reminds me of having my feet tight and sharp snaps at the ends make me jump in surprise every time. The past trauma of stabbing pain and an alarm cry and pinch soothes me and the human relaxes. Not sure what this human is going to do but I hang my head in anticipation.

I shake in expectancy while hiding under the little space making myself unseen. Yelp, squirm, throw myself upwards when the wetness hits and that doesn’t stop the human so I relax and eventually stop shaking. The draping over my body feels good and the rubbings are nice, more soft food that I gulp while shaking again. Ears and teeth are wiped and surprise me. It doesn’t hurt but is unfamiliar. I shriek and squeal, wiggle my way out, out, out and am released, free! Race around like a young dog. Lots of rubbing then the escape opens wide again and the human is gone. Curl around to doze.