Murder! Murder! Morte! Morte!

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Switzerland is famous for its incredible awe-inspiring beauty, and rightly so.  When I viewed my first mountain with its cap of white snow, I almost reached out to see if it was a painting or real. 

The people of Switzerland are polite and well-educated, and the unemployment rate is near to nothing.  And most have a dog or two, which are also polite and well-trained.  The canine walk on leash, silent, and discreet in relieving needs, which the owner promptly removes with a Swiss provided bag and disposal sites along the sidewalks.

Scrumpy and Porter (these are types of English beers)

My daughter Mary and husband Richard have two dogs, Porter and Scrumpy.  Porter has a stoic dignity about him; he will keep feet warm, let my grandson climb over him, and considers himself to be superior to his fellow dog, Scrumpy.

Benjamin (almost 2?) hanging out with Scrumpy

Scrumpy is a fun-loving and likable mutt, with mixed terrier tendencies and low on the intelligence scale.  If there is to be something destroyed in the house, Scrumpy is guilty while Porter shakes his head. Scrumpy..Scrumpy.

Porter, the ever-patient-Porter

The Swiss also have professional dog-sitters: people who are prepared with all the needs a dog might have.  Mary and Richard have left Porter and Scrumpy with a lovely lady on many trips, where dogs are happy.

This last two week holiday had an unusual twist in the regular day's activities.  Life for Porter and Scrumpy had been proceeding just fine, until this one afternoon.

How to Care for Your Tortoise

The lady had two sizable pet tortoises which also occupied the dog yard, and enjoyed a platonic, complacent relationship with all the other dogs. And Porter and Scrumpy had stayed there several times.

So it was a big surprise to all when Scrumpy raced toward one, and scooped him up.  He shook Bernard side to side to side.  Then Scrumpy threw him in the air, where Bernard turned end on end, landing with a thump on his back.

Scrumpy moved in for the kill—he somehow knew what to do.  With his front paws, Scrumpy disemboweled Bernard.

Porter had been laying under the shade of a tree, observing his impulsive friend do all this, gave one bark, which said it all:  Damn it, Scrumpy, you idiot!  Scrumpy happily jogged over to Porter, a jaunty wag of his tail singing his victory.

The owner lady came screaming and cursing.  How it all ended, I don’t know. Mary and Richard are rather silent on this, while Benjamin still loves to chase Scrumpy around the house.

But I do know this: Scrumpy and Porter will no longer be welcome at her house.

This is a re-post from 2015 or 2014. Benjamin is now 6 and has a brother James, aged 2.  Scrumpy is less spry, not as feisty. Porter is as Porter has always been.

With Christmas coming, I will be putting up some old posts.  New ones will appear in the New Year.

Murderer! Murderer! ...Mörder! Mörder!

Source

Switzerland is famous for its incredible awe-inspiring beauty.  When I viewed my first mountain with its cap of white snow, I almost reached out to see if it was a painting or real. 

The people of Switzerland are polite and well-educated, and the unemployment rate is near to nothing.  And most have a dog or two, which are also polite and well-trained.  The canine walk on leash, silent, and discreet in relieving needs, which the owner promptly removes with a Swiss provided bag and disposal sites along the sidewalks.

Scrumpy and Porter (these are types of English beers)

My daughter Mary and husband Richard have two dogs, Porter and Scrumpy.  Porter has a stoic dignity about him; he will keep feet warm, let my grandson climb over him, and considers himself to be superior to his fellow dog, Scrumpy.

Scrumpy and Benjamin's diapered bottom

Benjamin (1 year?) hanging out with Scrumpy

Scrumpy is a fun-loving and likable mutt, with mixed terrier tendencies and low on the intelligence scale.  If there is to be something destroyed in the house, Scrumpy is guilty while Porter shakes his head. Scrumpy..Scrumpy.

Porter, the ever-patient-Porter

The Swiss also have professional dog-sitters: people who are prepared with all the needs a dog might have.  Mary and Richard have left Porter and Scrumpy with a lovely lady on many trips, where dogs are happy.

This last two week holiday had an unusual twist in the regular day's activities.  Life for Porter and Scrumpy had been proceeding just fine, until this one afternoon.

Well, then.

How to Care for Your Tortoise

The lady had two sizable pet tortoises who also occupied the dog yard, and enjoyed a platonic, complacent relationship with all the other dogs. And Porter and Scrumpy had stayed there several times.

So it was a big surprise to all when Scrumpy raced toward the medium-sized tortoise (let’s just call him Bernard), opened his terrier-sized maw, and scooped him up.  He shook Bernard side to side to side.  Then Scrumpy threw him in the air, where Bernard turned end on end, landing with a thump on his back.

Scrumpy moved in for the kill—he somehow knew what to do.  With his front paws, Scrumpy disemboweled Bernard.

Porter had been laying under the shade of a tree, observing his impulsive friend do all this, gave one bark, which said it all:  Damn it, Scrumpy, you idiot!  Scrumpy happily jogged over to Porter, a jaunty wag of his tail singing his victory.

The owner lady came screaming and cursing.  How it all ended, I don’t know. Mary and Richard are rather silent on this, while Benjamin still loves to chase Scrumpy around the house.

But I do know this: Scrumpy and Porter will no longer be welcome at her house.

This is a re-post from 2015. Benjamin is now 6 and has a brother James, aged 2.  Scrumpy is less spry, not as feisty. Porter is as Porter has always been.

With Christmas coming, I will be putting up some old posts.  New ones will appear in the New Year.

C-D Post: Devotion = Canines, part 2

What could possibly change that fact? 

There were shifts in their reality.  The Alpha female disappeared for days.  The Alpha male was distracted, forgot to feed them once.  Two elderly Alphas arrived to care for them. 

Porter watched the movements carefully, gauging the changes, wondering.  Scrumpy urinated nervously in the corner. 

And then, when both had reached a state of highest anxiety, the Alpha female returned.  But she was not alone.  She carried a small round thing that made noise.  It was not food or water, clearly.  But what was it? 

A new pack member had arrived, making Porter and Scrumpy uneasy.  The Alpha male and his mate were especially impressed with this upstart.  A mere pup would not have been permitted otherwise.

The Alpha male carried the new pack member around, singing to it in sweet tones.  The female fed this new member from her breasts.  Porter realized that this was their pup, whom they called ‘Benjamin’ or ‘Little Man’ or ‘Sweet Baby’.

Still there was something about this pup that spoke to their natures.  

Porter, the ever diligent and faithful, recognized his purpose was to be a source of strength and protection.  

Scrumpy, with his sense of play and affection, understood his role would be to love and worship.

Knowing one’s roles in the pack is everything.  The pup would someday be aware of his own place in the McKinley pack.

C-D Post: Canine=Devotion, part 1

Life within the pack was good.  More than that, it was great.  And Porter with his pal Scrumpy knew that fact.

Food appeared from a magic bag and was poured into plastic bowls.  Water emerged from a shiny tube, and filled the metal bowls.  Not only that, their den was warm when the snow fell, and comfortable when the trees became green again. 

Food, water, warmth, a place to sleep, and all that a pack dog could hope for was provided by the Alpha male and his mate.

Porter could lie in the window upon a black leather sitting down thing and watch the birds soar over the river and trees.  Dozing, he would dream of chasing cats and rolling in mud. 

Scrumpy mainly enjoyed the food and the chew toys.  Porter told him what to do, so he did not have to think about anything.

Their greatest joys were walking with their Alpha companions. 

Racing ahead of the Alphas, barking at birds, and then urinating upon the spots marked by other packs were the highlights of the day.  The Alphas permitted them these joys, and they fully understood that. 

How could life be any better?  What could possibly change that fact?

This continues tomorrow, as Canines=Dogs moves forward to answer the above questions.