So, today was 'be good to my dog' day.
She is now closer to 15 years old than 10 and she is showing her age. I have a wonderful wheeled carrier for her and when we go more than a block, I take it with me. When she appears tired - or the sidewalk is too hot for any dog's paws - I pop her in and wheel her. She likes to ride with her little head sticking out. It's a bumpy ride on the sidewalks and streets and sometimes my elbows throb later from all that vibration, so I suppose she must feel that in her bones too. Yet, when I move the carrier towards the door, she sees that and she readies herself to go. More fun than sleeping the day away, I suppose. And she does love to shop - especially the dog food and treat stores.
I pack a bottle of water and a small water bowl. I pack some treats. A thin blanket and a small fat cushion for the bottom of the carrier. Sometimes food. Or a sweater for her.
We left a store and went to sit on a metal bench that was in the shade but on cement before we headed to the cool shade of the grassy park. I took her out of the carrier and pulled out the water bowl. I filled it with some water from the bottle.
Then, before she could even take a sip, came a bug - running right towards the bowl! The bug must have been desperate for water. It must have smelled water. Heard the pour. Perhaps it was ready to die of thirst. It was some sort of beetle, about the size of a big watermelon seed and striated brown.
I quickly moved the carrier, the dog, and the water bowl out of the way. But I poured some water onto the cement.
The bug stopped right at the edge of this pool of water. And it stayed there at the edge and it drank.
C 2022 Christine Trzyna
