A hard bark life - By Ben Aaronson Thursday, December 28, 2006 - Updated: 05:00 AM EST
At 12 going on 13, Holling Holdner is beginning to show his age. Much of his once dark hair has faded to gray. Eating has become a chore as he is missing several front teeth and part of his tongue. And with his hearing all but gone and his eyesight going, he must rely on his keen sense of smell to get around. While 12 may seem young by human standards, for most dogs it is the start of the “golden years.”
I recently contacted our local newspaper to see if there might be room for a human (dog) interest story in the weekly publication. I did it for two reasons. If you read the accounts of H's life for the past few years (
Life According to Holling and
Mo Chuisle Molly ) you have an idea of what H went through before the dedicated and compassionate folks at
German Shepherd Rescue New England took him under their wing(s).
It appears that H had been left to his own devices for a long time and had miraculously survived the perils of the streets. I am amazed by the gentleness and devotion of this special guy. There's no doubt that despite his trials and tribulations, he still has a lot of heart.
One thing that has troubled me for a long time is the number of challenges that we face when trying to take a peaceful walk. Dogs need to go for their daily walks with their pack. It's part of normal canine behavior. Although H and I are only a pack of two, he looks forward to our daily strolls. We do the best that we can by crossing streets and going behind bushes when I see other dogs approaching, but sometimes the dogs - in packs, come rushing at us from unexpected places.
It's gotten to the point that when H sees a strange shape that rushes at him, he becomes stressed out. Since his eyesight is considerably diminished, he's not always able to determine whether these shapes are other dogs or not. We've been working on desensitizing him, but it seems that every time we make some progress, there is a setback which is prompted by a rush from some canines looking for playmates.
So, dear reader, do know that H and I really do love dogs! We're just not in a position to play with you. If you see us in the field (conservation area) or walking down the street, please extend the "paw of empathy" and put your dog on a leash. Our friends who have smaller dogs tell us that they would appreciate the same consideration. Thanks so much.
Please take a minute and surf on out to read about the work that GSRNE does on behalf of those who can't fend for themselves. While you're there, take a look at the pictures of all the beautiful pets that have found homes this year. Please consider providing foster care for those who are waiting for their forever homes.
Sharon
