Dash the Dog
My son flew 5.351 miles back from California on his US college Spring Break to meet his father James's new puppy called Dash.
We had a family dog, a Border terrier named Joey who lived a good life with us until two years ago, when he died aged 13. Joey was intelligent, and diplomatic. His loyalty was so great that when he shot off after a city fox on a late night peeing walk, he screeched reluctantly to a halt when I shrieked after him. He trotted back towards me with no resentment in his demeanour, only acceptance. If this is what pleased me, this was the overriding motivation for his existence. Oh Joey. James said life without Joey was like an empty church.
Dash has a lot to live up to but he has already inspired deep feeling. Boring on about the love of dogs is a cliche, but cliches exist because they are true. I once made a jumper with 'Love is the Dog' embroidered on it. Love between people is fraught with conditions. To pour out loving feelings and feel them reciprocated with no words - with that look that only dogs are able to give. It softens you. That is always a good thing.
