Roxie

I am a dog person, I like cats, if they are likable cats, but those are few and far between.

Growing up on a cattle ranch, with my nearest friend several miles away, I spent most of my free time outside with our dogs. I have a sister, but she is an older sister and you know what a pain they can be when you are young, or middle aged, or old. Older sister are given a very rigid job description, that role is best described as 'fun suppression officer', but I digress.

I would spend hours down at the creek with my dogs after school or in the summer months. Chasing frogs, building dams to form small ponds where we would sit in the cool water on a hot day, it really was a great way to grow up. Our family had quite a few dogs growing up, I remember my first dog Rowdie, he was a black and brown dog of questionable lineage but possessed a great heart. Then there was my Mom's black poodle Cindy, who was my hunting companion. She would follow me through the hills and streams as I would chase the coveys of quail across our ranch. We always had cowdogs around the ranch too, blue heelers, McNabs and later we had a few Kelpies who would help us get the cattle out of the brush or bring back a steer who would try to sneak away from the herd.

I finally bought my very own dog after high school. He was a yellow Labrador Retriever named Buddy. He was the best dog I have ever owned. He rode in the front seat of my pickup everywhere I went. The girls working the drive up window would always make sure Buddy received his free hamburger patty, and he would lightly step over me to reach out and get his treat. We were a team. After Buddy, I have always had a lab to keep me company, until this past year. Jake the wonder dog died two years ago, and I didn't want to rush into getting another dog. I would wait for the right time and the right dog would find me.

Enter Roxie.

Last week as I was getting ready for my small group meeting, my wife wanted to show me something on the computer, I didn't want to be late for my group but I waited for my laptop to start up and she showed me a listing for a 18 month old female lab who needed a good home. Her name was Roxie and I emailed her owner to ask if she was still available, he said there were two other people who were coming to look at her and I told him that I didn't want to cut in line and I would wait. If things didn't work out with the other people, I would like to see her.

My wife tried to surprise me by bringing her home last Saturday, but I called and found out that Roxie was in the car and on the way home. Roxie is a very nice dog, she is kind and she was quiet and polite the first day she came home.

Now that she has been here a few days and discovered that she is at home, she has found two new gears, super fast, and warp speed. She blazes around the yard in a blur of black hair followed by another black streak that belongs to my wife's Border Collie, Elle. The two have so much energy that my wife takes out the four wheeler and does a few laps around the ranch just to tire them out so you can actually see them with the naked eye.

I have shortened Roxie's name a little to Rox, as in 'dumb as a box of rocks'. Now don't go all squishy on me, I still love her, but I swear she is developmentally disabled. She attacks every sprinkler she sees, she attacks the water as it comes out of the hose and she will follow the stream of water as it hits the ground. This can be a very entertaining game for me at least, sure its a bit cruel to make fun of a dog chasing water around the yard, but the Labradors with Disabilities Act has yet to be passed and I don't think I am in eminent danger of litigation or incarceration.



So we have Rox, and she has us. I truly do think she will be a wonderful dog.

No word on free burgers at the drive up yet. We will keep you posted.