The Bone of Contention

My partner went grocery shopping the other day and picked me up a few things I needed as well. Among my goodies was this big fat steak with a bone - a bone perfect for my 14-year-old dog - as was her intention. So, I cut away the meat, air fried the bone, let it cool then put it out for him. He was in ecstasy! Wasn’t long before he had it stuffed under the tv table though, scrambling madly to get at it. So, remembering how utterly possessive he is with his food, I crouched beside him for a few moments, just petting his head to calm the snarling but he then growled fiercely and tried to bite me. Recalling what a dog trainer told me decades ago, I tapped my index finger on his nose and went to drag out the bone… but he got downright nasty, really biting me on my hand! This loving pup is a rescue dog with only a few remaining teeth (from abuse) so no damage done. Screw that I thought though, and I just let him pace (and pace and pace) trying to figure out this bone-extraction thing on his own. Afterall, I’m only human. This lasted for about an hour until I felt sorry enough for him to get the broom to dig out his prize. He was now back in Doggie Nirvana, and all was well in the world. Well, not really…

I went to bed and he dragged that bone to the foot of his bed in my bedroom, hung his head and shoulders over it, gripping the bone in his jaw, then releasing it onto the hardwood floor, making all kinds of noise… for three tortuous hours! I was then wide awake by midnight to begin what became a very long day. He slept ’til noon and loved on his bone the remainder of the day.

It definitely is a dog’s life!

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
~Anatole France

© Rick Beneteau

Update: On August 7, 2021, we laid our little man to rest. Jonus was a brave soldier fighting the good fight his last few weeks. He brought immeasurable joy to all who were blessed to have encountered his beautiful soul.

Rick Beneteau is co-founder of The Movement of Change.