The Price of Love - April 11
by Cynthia Smith
My house is filled with evidence that dogs have been a big part of my life. And it dawned on me recently, that through the years, I have accepted some pretty unacceptable behavior from my four-legged friends. Behavior, I would never accept from a human family member. In the late 70’s, I had a Basset Hound named Fonzi who ate all the “hidden” Easter candy and opened all the presents under the tree at Christmas. I was furious at the time but, looking back, it was pretty funny.
Gnawing on Table Legs
I have a wonderful six-foot wooden Indian in my dining room whose feet were gnawed by English Bulldog sisters in the 80’s. I am sure it was their way of getting back at me for dressing them up in costumes every holiday.
Eating the Goldfish
In the 90’s, my son fell in love with a golden retriever who turned out to be the best dog a little boy could ask for. But Wishbone wasn’t perfect. As a puppy, he cut his tongue in half on a glass pot full of macaroni and cheese, he had knocked off the stove.
By the time the crisis was over, he had eaten all the macaroni off the floor and blood was everywhere. A few weeks later he developed a taste for sushi and ate my son’s goldfish right out of the tank. I thought Wishbone’s head was wet because he drank from the toilet. My son was so distraught he had to spend time with the school Chaplain. The Chaplain looked sympathetic as my son sat there holding a stuffed animal, balling his eyes out and talking about how Sparky the fish was his best friend. I, on the other hand, was sitting in the corner trying desperately not to laugh.
Blinds as Chew Toys?
Now in the 2000’s I am cleaning up remnants from window blinds that were used as chew toys for two very gregarious golden retrievers. As I was sweeping up the debris, I noticed that one of the legs on the rocker my mother bought during the Kennedy administration looked like it had been a satisfying meal for woodchucks. I’ve been wondering why I find this behavior amusing. If my son ate the blinds or peeled wallpaper off the wall, I would make him empty his piggy bank to pay for the repairs. If he ate his goldfish I would have taken him to see a therapist. But with animals, these antics become family lore. I am ashamed that I don’t demand the same standards of behavior from my dogs that I expect from my friends and family. My son hates this double standard and thinks I should sell the dog’s favorite treats on EBAY to pay for the damage, and ground them from going to the park. The truth is every pet comes with a price. For me, it’s been worth it to have animals in my life that have given me great memories, more than a few laughs, and unconditional love.
Cynthia Smith is now President of Wayside Waifs, the largest no-kill Animal Adoption Center in Kansas City, MO. Smith has had many animals over the years. She recently wrote the book Dogs Get Cancer Too. She is a first time author, but a seasoned journalist. She is a two-time Emmy winner and a former news anchor for WDAF-TV in Kansas City. She also served as President and CEO of Sunflower House, a Child Abuse Prevention Center. She can be reached at Wayside Waifs at (816) 761-8151 or visit www.waysidewaifs.org.
