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Tina had worked hard
all her life. When she attended a private school her studies were never
neglected whether Latin, English or Math. After her graduation she went
immediately to work. Most of time the girl, who was now a woman, had a
life filled with dedication to duty. She was unmarried so it became her
role to stay with her elderly mother. Tina had been so dedicated to a
serious lifestyle it was quite a surprise to her family when she decided
to adopt a full grown Dalmatian called Lady.
Her attention to
detail regarding appearance was just a part of Tina's personality.
Therefore, it was quite a shock for her to be in possession of a dog who
was mostly out of control. Every morning when the woman stepped out the
front door on her way to work she was greeted with evidence of the dog's
early morning prowling. One day someone's chewed up slipper, a dog bowl or
daily newspaper could be seen on the cement slab front porch. The next day
there was a collection of new articles to greet Tina. On and on went the
dog's escapades. If she was quietly resting on the steps with an innocent
stare to greet her mistress, this was all the more of a difficult
situation for the young woman.
Tina was now
visiting on the phone with her sister.
“You know Sis, I'm
beside myself over this dog. She is just totally out of control. I know
she is picking up things from the neighbors early in the morning. One of
these days someone is going to wise up and then what?”
“Are you talking
about Lady?” Her sister wanted to know.
“Oh, I've given up
calling her Lady. She is now, Sadie. I'm telling you she is no lady.”
Tina was serious.
Tina's sister
wanted to laugh about the name change but she didn't dare. She, as the
older sister, had always been the problem solver in the family. “Why
don't you let me take her for a while?Maybe we can help.”
“Anything! I'm up
for whatever will allow me to keep her. She is a gorgeous, sweet,
dog.” Tina was relieved her sister was going to try to find a solution
for her.
So it happened,
Sadie was to live with a new family for a while. The difference was that
Tina's sister Veda was more experienced with family and pets. She didn't
even bring the dog home. Instead she took her immediately to a man in town
who was known to train animals.
“She is quite a
problem, Jim.” Veda told the man. “Sadie does not come when called. She
escapes early in the morning and takes things from the neighbors. The dog
loves to ride but won't get into the back seat. Her being so big become a
danger while she insists on riding in the front seat, not to mention the
white hair on my sister's clothing from the car seat.”
“Don't worry about
it. I guarantee, when you come back to pick her up she will be a new
dog.”
Veda called her
sister to let her know where Sadie's was staying.
“Okay.” Tina was
agreeable. “I'll have to see it to believe anything can be done with that
dog.”
Of course, the
children were always observers. They were watching everything that was
happening regarding the dog. They knew their mother always had a way with
animals so weren't too surprised when the time came for them to pick up
the dog.
Jim brought Sadie
out into his large fenced yard. She walked obediently at his side which
in itself was a shock. Before she would have been jumping all around,
running here and there, helter-skelter. The man was putting the dog
through the paces. She was so obedient it was hard to believe. There was
an old tree stump in the yard.
“Up on your stump,
Sadie. Up on your stump.” The man gave the order to the now mannerly
dog. This, of course, was in preparation for Sadie to get a command, “Up
on your back seat, Sadie.” This would solve the front seat riding thing
she wanted to do.
Without any
hesitation Sadie easily leaped up on the handy pedestal. Calmly she
remained until Jim called her down.
“There is a dog
parade next Saturday.” Jim told them. “I think Sadie is ready to take
part in something like this. It would be the ultimate test for good
behavior.”
The children were
excited at the prospect of being able to parade the beautiful Dalmatian on
the main street of Tonkawa. Of course, the gregarious Veda was open to the
suggestion.
“Mama! Mama! Please
say we may enter Sadie in the parade?
Veda, was certainly
not against the idea. She was as youthful as her kids in many ways.
“We will have a week
to practice with her. I think it will be fun.” The mother granted the
children's request. |
