The dog struggles to get comfortable. Sometimes his head's hanging off the bed. So I provide a pillow and stroke his ears and cheeks to say, 'Rest. All's safe. All's peaceful. There's nothing to fear.'
Often, the young cat chooses to stay with the dog when Buji and I go to bed. Sometimes they lie together but usually Wuji is on the cat tree above his head. In the afternoon they play together in slow-motion. At times, Buji winds around the dog's legs, they sniff noses and stand together, sharing space and time.
The last two days have been dog-filled. On a walk with Leanne and Eddie (super-fit Vyzla with almond shaped slanting eyes and a fondness for fox shit), a cockerpoo tried to adopt me. He had run away from home and was cavorting around the village. I found him adorable. He seemed to find me highly suitable. Sadly, his owners took him back. He didn't seem too keen to go. They called him Theo, I'd have called him Griffin.
Today, I met the man who has smooth collies. Their 11 year old girl was put down last year. She had been struggling at the start of lockdown. She was a sable and white. Now, they have Sapphire, a sweetheart of a tricolour.
There were two Great Danes, Binky and Phyllis. Phyllis liked me, Binky did not. I find this with some dogs. They dislike me. On the other hand, other dogs who seldom speak to people do grace me with their affection. I like to think the dogs feel free to be honest with me. Maybe I do not smell fully human.
And then I spoke to the lady who I think I gave a name to but have since forgotten. Vivian? But now I think she's Alison. Anyway, her Charlie a Cavalier King Charles, was 13 when he was put down with jaw cancer. It progressed to his tongue. She so loved her Charlie and can't yet conceive of having another dog.
I do not think that dogs are lesser than wolves. I think that dogs are part of us and we are part of them. I think we are so entangled that the relationships between us are one type of trans-species togetherness. There are other types. What the crows and I share. What the garden birds and I share. What the cats and I share. And more granulated. Buji and I. Wuji and Jabi. CD and Jabi. CD and me.
I do not know if these relationships are reciprocal or mutual. But I resist dynamics of power. They are negotiated. And these furry and feathered others have their terms, which I cannot, in all conscience, ignore.
Comments