Charlie Sue Updates for Her Fans

 

Readers ask about Charlie Sue, who adopted me at the headquarters of Walmart and Tyson Chicken. She is a Patterdale Terrier with a mix of Chihuahua, lots of fun and excitement. She loves the outdoors, running and digging, and loves to adopt members of her fanclub.

She prefers to stay outside during the day, which is not enough. She loves to go out to run at the end of the cul-de-sac, a large expanse of grass with bushes and trees, plus access to more canine friends. Everyone has a dog.

Charlie races and digs all day, and she loves big circular runs in grass,  where she comes back to me as if on an attack, grinning. 

Porchie and Dustmop are members of Charlie's fan club.

The owner of Doggie Daycare (next door) is impressed with Charlie's willingness to walk with me, no leash. Sometimes I hold the leash in my hand for when we walk over to Bible John's home. John and Pat love to see her. Once Charlie knows a family, she wants to go over and get some love. One couple said, "So this is the next dog, from Sassy Sue to Charlie Sue." Sassy is fondly remembered for her long walks and affection. (Sassie refused to give Pat a kiss because that made Bible John and me laugh each time.) Sassy got so many chicken treats that the crows and starlings gathered on a large tree, overlooking two yards, to pick up the bones. 

Sassy always protected her Lincoln Town Car from strangers. An officer who stopped me asked if he could pet Sassy. I was a wee bit lost. He offered to drive me to the nearest gas station. Sassy adopted people quickly and listened to my suggestions.

Sassy's three-legged jumps stunned kids and adults who admired her.

Cul De Sac Birthday Dog - Charlie Sue

 

Charlie Sue and I are fixed on one or two walks a day. I can shake her leash from the back door and have her running. We came back from our walk to find a birthday party for an extended family - all generations.

A grandmother and her grandchildren came up to us. Grandmother said, "Thank you for the roses! My son brings them to me." We talked a little so I could figure out which were her sons and who lived on the quiet street. Charlie Sue loves everyone, so we moved closer to BBQ party. The children were a lot of fun. I pointed out the green, fancy clothing on one little boy, and his friend asked for color comparisons. Another boy was worried about Charlie biting. I said, "Oh no. She's a kisser!" They raised the volume and Charlie set about licking anyone she could. Lots of laughter.

I have been trying to draw our little street together through flowers.  At the Department of Motor Vehicles, the clerk said a few years ago. "You live next to my grandmother. You're the one with the roses!" I could not deny it. Roses are as rare as Arkansas football victories. Some people drive around the short street to get information on the kinds and the fragrance (overwhelming).

This is a bit touching - the couple I often saw in the early days of Sassy Sue were outside on Scott and asking about Charlie Sue. The husband said when he heard her name, "A smaller Sassy Sue." Bible John (on Joye Street) always brings up his fun with Sassy Sue and the chicken bones she loved. He tossed chicken scraps for the crows, who were very appreciative and gathered big, crowds - a murder of crows. Sassy never had problems with chicken bones and no one was going to stop her. 

Walking is under-rated - great exercise, good for Vitamin D (or D3 for the persnickety). I found the dreadmill at Planet Fitness boring, except when it threw me to the concrete floor. It was a minor fall, a major lift. I think walking is far more enjoyable and diverse for the muscles and tendons. Sassy Sue and I walked so much that one store clerk said to Christina, "I know your husband and dog. They walk by my house often. And you are on Letha?"

 Porchie expects his beautiful hair to be finger-combed.

 This was Christina's first walk after surgery. Sassy lives in the hearts of many people.

Sassy moved into the photo because everyone was laughing.

More Fun Than One Rescue Dog - Two Rescue Dogs - Or More!

 

We were lucky to have a professional photographer at the dog park one day, and Sassy Sue adored a crowd.

Treasure (Treshy) was a medical mess, but we took her on and had a riot of fun with her, Sassy, and Precious II . I think Norma A. Boeckler took this photo.

Ranger Bob recently spotted an abandoned dog at the cemetery and took her in, naming her Lady. She had serious ear infection problems, but that was cured with antibiotics. Lady's antics at the Ichabode were hilarious, because she loved her superhero Bob and found so many ways to  have fun and be funny.



More than one person said to me, "Rescue dogs are special, because they always have that unique attitude from being given a forever home."

Friends asked me when I would fill the void left by Sassy Sue, who died from kidney failure. Looking quickly changed to visiting Lowell Animal Shelter to have a walk with Charli, a female Patterdale Terrier.

"When can I take her home?" They said, "Now is fine." They were wonderful with Charli, who wanted to stay there.



Charli's ambiguous name repeated the question asked about Sassy - boy or girl? I added Sue. Everyone is noticing that Charlie Sue is almost identical to Lady, except she is much smaller. 

The two of them got along at once, and they love tearing around the backyard. Christina asked me to create a green fence in the middle of the backyard, because we were looking right into the backyard of neighbors. A variety of dogs saw a rival dog facing them and barked their terrible threats whenever possible.

I followed the idea of stretching logs across the center of the backyard, letting the birds plant seeds for a green fence. I added elderberries earlier, and soon some large hostas and lambs ears.

I never saw the backyard as a race track, but Lady and Charli Sue did. First they were running up and down the fence with Porchi (aka Snowflake, a Great Pyrenees). Charli Sue demands running because Patterdales were bred for catching moles and rabbits. Charli Sue turned a bit of tag into a madcap race, around the oval formed by the green fence. Nothing is funnier than a small dog identical to a larger dog, racing full speed. To add to the fun, Charli took short-cuts through the green island and practiced zig-zag and spin around running, grinning all the time.

Do Cats and Dogs Have a Sense of Humor?

 

Sassy grinned up at me, as if to say, "No! I will not sit next to Ronald McDonald on that bench. Never!"

Sassy Sue, the Three-legged Wonder Dog, pretends to ignore me at times. She has seeing and hearing problems, but it is more than that. 

Recently I was moving from the computer desk to the bed, a short distance. I began slipping down, not able to move back to the chair or all the way to the bed. Sassy was lying on her side, her eyes half open, watching me slide to the floor. She had a half-smile on her face but showed no movement or alarm. She seemed to be thinking, "Serves him right."

The solemn doctor said Bethany would not be able to use her eyes normally, but she had perfect vision (Cleveland Clinic) and followed everyone around the room with her eyes. Bethany had an angry fit in my arms, so I asked her, "Is this how you get your way around here?" She relaxed and laughed, conceding my observation was correct.

Today Sassy stretched out near me on the bed. She does not want me to touch her paws, so I stayed close without touching them. I closed my eyes and felt her paw slip under my hand. I looked over - she was grinning at me. That reminded me of tricks played by Bethany and Erin. They did not speak words, but they also knew how to provoke smiles and laughter.

Cats and dogs are four-legged psychologists, carefully listening to our symptoms and supplying remedies. They are very much like children, young and supposedly limited in knowledge, but very insightful and delighted by their own observations or questions.

Nurses were pleased to hear that Erin's middle name was Joy, because that was their private nickname for the ever-smiling and laughing girl. She was such a prankster that she would start laughing before the nurses finished their story about Erin's latest burst of joy. That often came from a spill or a loud, angry naughty word - from a nurse dropping a quart of yogurt or a huge three-ring notebook of patient records.

Sassy is the mouthiest dog ever, and she is eager to order me around. However, she stays just outside the chapel and listens quietly to the entire worship service. Sometimes one short bark will let everyone know she is attendance. What more can anyone expect from using a spare room in a rented house?

 Norma A. Boeckler took the picture and designed the graphic - from the dog park in the Bella Vista area, Arkansas.

Tanned, Rested, and Ready for Walmart

 

Sassy tells me when she wants to go outside. She knows when it is going to rain, hours early, so she sits on the porch, ears down (determination signal).

Yesterday she barked non-stop until I went from the kitchen to the bedroom. She wanted her special blanket on top of the bed, not on the floor where she left it. She has to make her nest, with her paws, several times a day. I have said more than once, "Is your nest soft enough after 10 years?"

She grins when she is back up on her bed (which I lease at reasonable prices). "Tanned, rested, and ready..." is how many Nixon PR started. 

 Sassy was caught in mid-bark, telling everyone how excited she was, providing security for the Moline MHS 66 luncheon. 

Sassy Rescues Alaska Again, And We Do a Milk/Bank Run

I was walking Sassy a bit late this morning when a big black dog met me in the middle of the road (no traffic) and began hugging me. "Alaska! Are you out again? Let's go home."

Alaska, full of energy and love, loped in circles around me and came back to hug me some more.

"Come on Sass, Alaska has to go home. Alaska, I will be your advocate, your protector." Sassy was audibly annoyed and barked some displeasure.

We were close to the house, so I rang the bell, and out came one of the staff. He said, "Oh yeah, he took off running this morning."  Alaska went inside. They love Sassy, and I love Alaska and Atlas.

Once we got to the turn-around, Pat and John needed a lift to the bank and auto repair. We went back and got the Voyager and took them both places. I wanted some Walmart vegetables, so I got them the milk they needed.

The errand worked out well, and we came back. Sassy got lots of attention in the car, from petting where she lies down, between the front seats. When we drove onto some new streets for car repair estimates, Sassy spoke up with her special "I don't know where you are going" cracked bark. It is pitiful and sad -- and very handy for getting attention.

Sassy Says Hello

 

Sassy and I often walk to Pat and John's on Joye Street. Sometimes Sassy has not wanted to walk that far, but she did this afternoon. She really wants an afternoon walk, because it is her best chance to catch Ranger Bob read to go to work or ready come over and give her snacks, calling her "Chow Hound" and "Spoiled Rotten." She grins for every faux-tirade.

Almost at Pat and John's, Sassy saw two women emerging from the corner house. She begin smiling and walking toward them, unbidden. I asked, "Do you want to meet them?" Sassy smiled harder and trotted toward them. They fussed over her and petted her. I said, "She's gentle." One said, "I have a German Shepherd. I know." They really made her day, and Sassy moved to the next yard to harvest food.

Pat's son Sam has brought chunks of chicken for her, so Sassy considers him #1 forever.

Advance Staff Training by Sassy Sue

 

Sassy began having trouble jumping onto the bed because of her cataracts and age. She needed the light on and she enjoyed being encouraged. At first she barked against the tickle, when I tried to get her going by touching her. But she decided she liked the tickle jump, especially after she trained me to give her a heavy dose of affection before the jump.

Sassy's signal for affection is to sit down, look up, and smile, as if to say, "I am ready for petting and gushing praise." She has blocked teens from walking down the sidewalk, grinning and facing them, her rear leg down, expecting praise and petting.

I was getting tired of helping her jump up on the bed numerous times, so we took off the legs of the bed, giving her an easy step up. The dog ramp was anathema to her, and she did half-hearted half-jumps to show me how much she would avoid the ramp.

After a little encouragement, Sassy learned it was easy to hop up into her bed, as long as I stayed in my place.

Success? Almost.

She missed the commotion and drama of the tickle jump, so I do an imitation of the drum roll, raise my voice, and cheer when she makes the jump. Praise and pet time is first, so I did that this morning.

The funniest part of my advanced training was seeing her walk up to the bed a few days ago, form the friendly triangle with her bottom on the floor, and grin up at me. "You know I love praise and petting." She runs back to gain speed, though no necessary, listens for the dramatic sound effects, then climaxes the jump with five or six loud barks.

"You did it, Sassy!" Bark! Bark!

"You made the tickle jump!" Bark! Bark! Bark!

 "OK! I will let you drive my Town Car."
The ears back show her great happiness.

How Our Pets Train Us for the Games They Love

Our Lutheran Librarian, Alec Satin, sent me the link to this wonderful book, My Dogs in the Northland, by Egerton R. Young. He took on missionary work in the frozen north, had little in the way of income, and ended up famous for his stories. 

Alec's theory is that pets teach us the games they want to play, allowing us to think we trained them.

Young wrote fascinating descriptions of his special dogs. Jack was a character that could to the butcher shop and bring home the meat in a basket, after taking along the list and the money to pay for them. Another dog became the doctor for the other dogs and treated their wounds and sores. 

Young's wife had her own dogsled, which she used to visit the native Indians in that part of Canada. The cold, snow, ice, and blizzards - carefully described - would make anyone marvel at the sacrifice and endurance of people and animals in the far North.

As everyone knows, Sassy is all personality. She enjoys pranking me, and I see the delight in her eyes when she has turned the tables on me again. Ranger Bob is her enabler but she does well on her own.

She makes a game out of jumping up on her bed (which she lets us use). She can effortlessly flow up to her spot. But if I am around, she needs to stop and whimper and ask for help. She got to the point one night where she took 15 attempts to get up on the bed but never jumped. I was getting peeved, so I saw down instead and petted her face.

Sassy grinned, because that is what she wanted. In fact, she glowed and smiled with affection. When she thinks I am short-changing her, she gives me the arrogant German Shepherd look, which makes me laugh and makes her scowl even more. But this was her affectionate puppy look. I got up and took my place at the computer. She sat down on the rug again with her head resting on the bed - she wanted more. I got up and petted her face and whispered about her great qualities. She had the biggest grin - or was she laughing inside and trying not to show it? I sat down at the computer again, because she did not want to jump up. She sat down a third time, looked over at me, and smiled. Eventually she made the jump, but she had me trained to spot her trick and pet her face, and tug on her ears.

Now Sassy knows she can get loveys from not jumping up on the bed, but sitting down with her head on the bed - aimed at me, "Time for pets!"

Some other great animal books are The Dog Who Wouldn't Be by Farley Mowat (another Canadian. I memorized the book, reading it first in elementary school.

And - All Creatures Great and Small, James Herriot, English vet, plus many other stories.

===

I Prescribe a Sassy-Walk

Harvard Medical School wrote me yesterday. They stated that the number one habit for good health is walking twice a day.

That is how we got Sassy. I wanted a dog who wanted to walk, and she definitely wanted to walk in Phoenix. We had to start in darkness during the Inferno season, so that got her used to early morning walks.

 She taught herself how to catch the ball and bring it to my hands, at the Phoenix park.

In Arkansas, an afternoon walk is no problem in the summer. In the morning, if it is near 7 AM, and I am blogging, she starts her hurt and lonely whimper. The same thing happens at 4 PM. I get hurt looks, low growls, whimpers, fussing, all the hints that make me stop and take her outside.

Sassy anticipated the Harvard prescription by a decade.

For those who fear Wuhan Flu, aka Corona, aka Covid, several positive antidotes are easily available:

1. Daily walks already provide Vitamin D, a shortage found in a large number of Wuhan patients. 
2. Zinc has long been known to help prevent virus infections. That is always mentioned in sensible articles about Wu Flu.
3. It only makes sense to take daily vitamins like Centrum Silver, where the major vitamins and other ingredients are found to be helpful and not always found in daily diets.
4. Boost is a product highly recommended by doctors - milk based and loaded with vitamins, plenty of D, zinc, and other micro-nutrients. The oncologists were delighted that Christina followed their advice and drank Boost regularly.

It would be ideal for people to eat fresh vegetables or fresh frozen vegetables. For a time we were playing a game of "What's so special about..." I would look up the key ingredients in vegetables and fruits as a reason to benefit from them. 

Fast food and restaurant food neglect a lot of really special, traditional foods with many virtues. Brussels Sprouts? The cabbage family? Cauliflower? They are also quite satisfying.

One church member press-ganged me into eating nuts as a regular part of the diet. Walnuts are at the top of the list and almonds are good too. Walnuts are now a treat and a habit. My last blood test showed perfect cholesterol levels for the first time - a side-effect of walnuts. 

All medical exams start with Smoke? Drink? The life and health insurance people really focus on both. Eliminating tobacco and rope products (hemp, pot) is a major step that many do not take. Alcohol is not a sin, but there is a problem when people feel a need for it, which sometimes moves gradually into can't live without it on a daily basis. 

 Sassy needs a spoon of Frosty Paws to fall asleep peacefully. The nightly game of soliciting FP is a riot. She stares hard out the bedroom door to show me where to find it. Or she barks loudly for it. Or she taps me with her paw and grins.  I switched her to French Vanilla, because everyone loves French Vanilla.

Sassy and I - The Sharp Tip of the Spear - 6 AM at Walmart

Walmart opens an hour early here, for those of a certain age. I was awake at 5 and decided to make the run. Sassy wanted to go along, so she jumped in the back of our modified Abrams tank, which looks just like a 2002 Voyager.

I was the first to enter at 6 AM, so I saw the largest WM at its best, after the night crew had all night for stocking, without customers to slow them down. Others followed me in, probably to buy what was least available, paper products, eggs, and a few other items.

The produce area looked great. I bought some sweet potatoes for Christina and tangerines for me. I looked for a few other things and went to the two paper aisles. I know how much we took from the back room on normal days, trying to snug everything into place, when I worked at a Neighborhood Market. The toilet paper aisle had about 20 packages (one per customer, please). Paper towels were similar, the aisle mostly empty, with a few packages of one or two rolls each.

 Sassy's favorite part of the evening is the delivery of one teaspoon of "Frosty Paws", but she gets real ice cream.

That is quite a sight, almost empty aisles at 6 AM - at the largest WM in the state. Beer, soft drinks, and snacks were packed full.

Sassy waited in the car, but reminded me with some sharp yips that we needed to stop at McDonalds. She enjoyed a bacon, egg, cheese and an ice cream cone. A young lady - who loves dogs and our dog too - talked to Sassy about her breakfast. Sassy is not sure I will order the complete meal her way, so she interrupts with loud barks. She sees the cashiers at the main point of contact, so she has plenty to say when we drive up to pay.

Sassy's Charm Tour - Greeting Neighbors and Strangers

Sassy had a special day in greeting friends and adding more to her list. She found two new ladies and requested some petting by sitting in front of them, blocking forward movement, and smiling in anticipation.

I always stay back and say, "Sassy wants to be friends." She got the petting and compliments she wanted.

We stopped outside one veteran's home and discussed medical costs. Sassy spotted Pat next door and headed over. We were invited in to see John, who was having troubles with his blood sugar. Pat ordered Sassy over to her. "Give me some love, Sassy." So Sassy walked over and kissed Pat's hand. After some affection, John said, "Where's my girlfriend?" and gave Sassy a thorough pat-down.

Sassy Sings Happy Birthday to Veteran John

When we drive by Pat and John's, we are expected to wave at them. Yesterday we had Sassy in the back seat, saw Pat's son - a veteran - and stopped to say hello. When we were done, John's car stopped and came forward. I said, "John, you had a recent birthday." He confessed that he did.

I began singing "Happy Birthday to John" and he motioned for me to stop. So I sang even louder out our car window. Sassy chimed in with her hilarious singing-howling-barking. We were all laughing at the end, John especially. He and Pat come out in the cold to say hello to her and get some kisses from her.

Later we were at the oncology group for some bloodwork and a pint of IV and potassium. A volunteer named George came by to ease the tedium of dripping saline. He delivered some drinks, too. We had a great conversation about all kinds of subjects, from Dr. Pepper to his combination of disorders and medical history. I said later to him, downstairs, "You were really an angel." It reminded me of what Ranger Bob said his favorite verse in the Bible was -

Hebrews 13:2 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

When he learned another vet, not John, had car troubles, Ranger Bob was over there in a second to repair the car and check out potential problems lurking under the hood. He only needs to hear "vet" and he is there, but he helps wherever he can. Every so often he orders another Chilton repair manual for the volunteer repairs he is doing.

"Professor, I do not need a computer to do my work."

"Bob, that is because you borrow mine all the time. I should charge you for bandwidth." He laughed.

I showed him the magic of the used book market, where almost-new books can be obtained for a dollar. We buy car parts from Rock Auto and discuss military history. "Here's a great book on Soviet ships. Only $600, almost new."

 Today is my name-day in Greek Orthodoxy. 

Sassy's Charming Presence - Cyber-Pet and Neighborhood Pet

 Sassy is completely in love with the four Esses, each daughter's name beginning with S. Each one has fussed over Sassy, and she loves it. Scared of her? - they own pit bulls.

I promised two readers they would hear from their CyberPet again soon: Sassy the Wonder Dog. Recently, Sassy saw her friends getting out of the van. She ran over and sat down in front of the youngest, grinning. That means, "You will pet me and talk to me." Sophie obliged, as the brother and sister did when walking to school. Sassy simply blocked the sidewalk by sitting in front of them, knowing they would stop and pet her.

Three legs? She was the star of the dog park. The other dogs were jealous of the magic orange ball that made everyone applaud her.

Yesterday, we passed Pat and John's home on our walk. John called from his door, "Sassy...." His wife came to share the love, too. Sassy is expected to kiss their hands each time, and she does.

On the way back we saw the morning coffee couple. She is known for putting her car in park, jumping out to see Sassy. We see them every morning in warm weather. Next the painter stopped his car on the street and talked to us. One day, his children and nephew brought us five paint cans (five gallon, empty and clean) for gardening.

If Ranger Bob is around, there is a big round of yelping, barking, and moaning. She adores him and his brother Mike. Bob calls her ChowHound, and adds, "I love that dawg. I am not a dawg person but I love that dawg. Whenever you get tired of her..." We gave him a large print of her smiling face. He loves it.

When Bob knocks on the door, he asks, "Got any of that good coffee left?" I make a pot of pour-over coffee while we talk about battleships, fixing cars, and dealing with taxes. I work on his taxes and get beautiful used books about the Navy for $1 used. One was in demand so it was more, so that was his chosen Christmas present. Paperwork flummoxes him the way car repairs stymie me, so we specialize. Sassy begins by barking and carrying on with him, demanding treats, and finally lying down to listen to him talk. If we watch car repair videos in our spare room, she lies down to listen.

 Sassy wore the Maroons' M for the river walk, which added up to two people and a dog. Our reunions are less organized than a London soccer riot.

We have taken Sassy to several Moline reunions. We are the luckiest people in the world to have her, but people thank us for rescuing her. She has routines and games that manage us, whether we think about it or not. Yesterday, she put her paw in the air, pretending to claw the table. Of course, she fixed her eyes on me. She looks like a student in the classroom when she does that, except she often adds her devilish smile. She knows I will laugh and respond. Then she grins at my reaction.

 When MHS 66 ladies and Christina had lunch at a Moline reunion, Sassy and I provided a security perimeter. Notice how she is barking her happiness. If she could not bark her joyfulness, she would explode.

Sassy generates happiness wherever she goes - post office, meat market, walks, trips. If I happen to pass through McDonalds without her, they ask about Sassy, who gets a little ice cream each time.

The Frosty Paws routine each night is elaborate:

1. Restless murmuring, sometimes hurt looks.
2. "Is Sassy looking for something?"
3. "Maybe, Frosty Paws?"
4. Her responses vary from slapping the blanket with a grin to sorrowful barks about being forgotten.
5. "Love first, then Frosty Paws."
6. She stays in place.
7. "Come on up here. Do I have to YANK you?"
8. She feigns terror and clutches the mattress.
9. I reach out and tug her a bit. Eyes widen.
10. Then I clap. "Move. Move. Or no treat."
11. She gets up and moves two inches, collapsing down.
12. "Are you kidding me? Move up!"
13. She moves up just enough to be petted, grinning.
14. After hearing how much everyone loves her, she gets one teaspoon of vanilla ice cream.

 The drive through tellers loved her so much, they gave her extra treats for barking loudly into the mike. That woke up everyone inside. The branch moved away - too much overhead?

Someone Suggested This Title - Bark's Church Dogmatics

Knowing how much I loathe Barth's Dogmatics, someone suggested another title to feature.

Sassy Sue Sits for a Formal Portrait at J. C. Penney's. Her Staff Gets Bonus Photos

Sassy Sue is half German Shepherd, half Cattle Dog - intelligent, gentle. loving, and an expert in managing her staff.

Sassy has always been a bit shy around the camera, but we wanted a special portrait of her. Penney's did a great job last year, so we took her to the same studio. As always, awkward poses led to good results, and the photographer was very good.

Sassy was in a goofy mood and wanted tummy rubs to go along with her poses. She barked going in and barked even more while waiting for the selection of poses. She was clearly done with her job for the morning. Everyone loved her as they walked by the tiny office, and some wanted to pet her before and after. Sassy promotes a lot of affection. Ranger Bob insisted on a formal photo and wanted a print. He loves the photos, which were downloaded about an hour after we were done.

One studio posed Chris with plastic flowers, so I brought fresh roses from our garden.

The photographer had us sitting on the floor with Sassy, on our stomachs with her, and trying to make her a lap dog. We had a great time and got some extra photos. Our 49th anniversary is in November.