My Husband Wasn’t a Dog Person

My husband Ned’s parents were cat people all the way.  There was always a cat or two living in their home while he was growing up.  His parents also always put cat food outside to feed the neighborhood strays. So he was taught early on to be kind and help stray animals when given that opportunity.

One day, when Ned was 9 years old he was riding his bike down the street and a German Shepard was chasing him. Well, the dog caught up to Ned and bit him hard enough on his thigh that the bite required many stitches.

After he and his family got back from the hospital they looked for the dog and never found it, so Ned had to go back to the hospital continually for a few months to get tested for rabies.  (This was in 1973.)

That was the only interaction Ned ever had with a dog. Needless to say through his life, he had a fear of dogs.

But I was a Dog Person

I myself come from a family of dog, loving people. But I knew that Ned had a fear of dogs, so I never asked if I could have one.

In 2018, about a month before Christmas, Ned asked me if I wanted a tattoo of my choice or a dog. I didn’t even hesitate answering that!  The next morning we headed North where there was a kill shelter.  I wanted to save a dog’s life for the holiday.

I chose the red Pitbull mix that was sitting in a corner of the cage with her head down low.  When I called to her she didn’t even look up.  We sat on the floor talking to her gently for almost two hours and got no response.

Ned went and paid for her and a staff worker went into the cage with a leash.  And I kid you not, when the worker put that leash on her, she literally sprinted to me, jumped up on me and began licking my face!

Honey Knew we were Saving Her

They know.  They know that the place they are in a horrible place.  The end of the line for most of them.  I’m certain they know what they are up against while there. Never doubt what a dog can sense.  But on that particular day, Honey sensed she was being saved.

She was the perfect girl on that long ride home.  We stopped at McDonalds and got her a cheeseburger.

When we got home and got to the front door, she looked petrified.  She just would not walk over the threshold of the door.

Ned bent down, scooped her very frail, emaciated body and carried her in.  She was so scared.

I’d say it took at least a solid year for her to actually relax in the house.  It took the same amount of time to get her to understand than she was allowed on the furniture.

But it has taken six years of bribing with squeaky toys and treats before she finally walked in the kitchen.

She is the Most Loyal Dog Ever

Honey is the most loyal dog I have ever had.  She’s so sweet and loving.  There are times that she looks at me and I swear I can feel her thanking me for saving her.  She knows.  She knows.

As for Ned’s stance on having a dog?  He loves her to death.  I can see that he’s a little apprehensive with her but that’s understandable.

 

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