A much happier pet newsletter!
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about traildogs, that broad array of canine hikers/amblers I’ve met on Missoula’s trails this summer. People love their dogs here and everywhere, you know? And were excited when I said I was writing something about traildogs and gleefully told me dogs’ names and let me snap their photos. So many other dogs, though, inhabit our lives, window-surf from our cars, sleep on our beds, slobber on our slippers. What of them? This is Part 3 in the own-a-dog series.
As you may know, I live in a townhouse complex of 8 units. Among us all, we have 8 cats and 8 dogs, but naturally they are not distributed two to a unit. One unit has no pets.1 One unit has five. Two units have one. This isn’t a middle school word problem, but I want to clearly identify the extent to which we are lovers of our pets over here at the Northview Townhomes. I won’t be covering the cat population in this newsletter, but you can be sure I know all their names.
Unit 1: Leroy and Leonard. This pair, hard to look away from because of their ridiculous roly-poly bodies and snuffling smushed faces, become excessively excitable when they emerge for a walk. They forget the purpose of the walk, they jump all over anyone in reach, they try to pull their mom’s arm off.
Unit 3: Oakley. She is our newest resident canine, incredibly sweet and obviously so smart. She often emerges when I’m out having my patio coffee and generally prances right by me. I love to hug/pet Oakley’s ears and neck because she reminds me of my Jinx dog. She likes to play fetch with the kids in #7 and sometimes when she’s tired from that, she’ll sit on my feet.
Unit 6: Lucy. What I know about Lucy is that she’s ferociously protective around other dogs, but she is a sweet, lovey girl to humans. Her Person can pick her up and carry her around like a baby which is hilarious given she’s quite large.
Unit 7: Piper, Bird, and The Chi. I think Piper is our grandma of the complex, but you’d never know it from her vigorous bark. I earn this bark whenever I water the hanging baskets in front of her door. Joining the barking is Bird, the tiniest chihuahua with the biggest ears and the loudest yap. Then there is The Chi. I have witnessed The Chi running with only three legs down, and performing her doggy business on front legs only. I do not understand the physics of this, I’m just reporting what I saw. The Chi also loves me and will let me pick her up and carry her about, just like the bat-hamster-dog that she appears to be.
Unit 8: Favre. I am unsure what pronouns Favre uses, but I happen to know their People are huge football fans, and now this name makes sense to you too. Favre only comes to visit on Griz game days when their People drive over from their home in Forsyth to cheer for UM. Favre is wiggly and persistent, so the photo is what it is.
That’s the pet roundup! I feel lucky to have this collection in my life. And I really wrote this newsletter for the enjoyment of our townhouse complex, but I’m glad to cleanse the palate from the previous gush of grief.
But he only lives here part-time and I’m told he has chihuahuas at his other house.
I'll take a bowl of Favre and Piper with a sprinkle of Birdie on top. They are so cute. Thanks for the happy dog tale.