At your request , Noah, so that you may not forget the dogs.
THE DOGS : MR SPOK, RYDER AND CHASER
MR SPOK
Your grand father and I were looking for small dogs. Then one day we read in the daily newspaper about small dogs for sale. Do you imagine, it was far in the south of the island , at Riviere des Anguilles.
When we got there, we asked after the little dogs. A woman led us to an old building covered with iron sheets. Some carpenters were working in a room . Next to it , was a semi dark room,
very damp but clean, with no paint on the walls. An old rug was spread on the floor. There was an old bench against the wall. The tiny puppies were roaming. There was a dog like "Idee Fixe " who was very agressive, and he has to be held continuously in the maid's arms. Another small white dog
was always looking for attention. I realise it must be the father, The mother was tied in another room and was barking non stop.
I looked after the puppy who would show caracter and I chose Spok because he was not afraid,
he was curious and always moving, whereas the others were hiding under the bench and would not come. Then I made a move as if to attack him and he barks at me. This was my dog, as I was
told never to choose a dog that goes hiding. Spok would be a good little guardian.
I gave him the name of Spok, because of his personality and add ' Mr ' to make him more
important.
When I took him in my arms he was trembling a lot. So I spoke gently to him and
reassured him that he was loved and would be well cared for. He would be happy with me.
I patted him until he stopped trembling and gave him little kisses on his head. Spok was a clean puppy, and even now he will never roll himself in the earth like other dogs.
Mr Spok is indeed a beautiful little whitish dog, of no particular breed, with a big light
chocolate patch on his back and his head.
His ears are particular, chocolate also, hanging and very intent at every noise around him. ...
Front , back, left , right. It is a pleasure to watch them. The hair there is as long as the ear itself
and has a particular beauty.
Spok looks like a little fox with his furry tail and pink pointed nose, always chasing some animal.
The poor little lizards and the cameleons are his favourites, and you can see him jumping as high
as the wall trying to catch them, as he utters all sorts of little noises Hmm!.. Hmm!.... Even before having his lunch , he does the gesture of looking for lizards, perhaps thinking that I shall help him
to catch some.
That day, when we reached home, I noticed something strange. Spok hummed the fresh air, as
if he revived. He knew what was waiting for him., he felt himself responsible of something, just like some body who has endorsed a new cloak . He had a task to accomplish and was feeling very
important, . That is the word --- ' important '. From then on he always had this attitude. very
classy.
I placed him in a cartoon box where he could shelter. But soon he was out inspecting his new territory, learning its bounds. Two days after, Jean came home for some work, and there was little Spok barking at him, compelling him to stay at his place.
Mr Spok is a barker. (In Australia, the municipality would surely come, but here in Mauritius, almost every body has two dogs which bark even at night, at the moon, at cats, at the other dogs
or passers bye. We do not mind it. ).
Our neighbours nextdoor have a taste of it. Mr Spok thinks himself responsible of any stranger
that may climb the stairs or knock at the dooor, any one working on the other side of the wall or
any passer bye who stops a bit. So we have to put him in the back yard when we have visitors,
otherwise he will excite Ryder and Chaser
Mr Spok is no big eater like Ryder or Chaser. He eats like a cat, delicately, choosing the little peaces of meat, taking his time.
But little as he is , he knows how to make himself respected.
No dog dares to come near him. The greedy Ryder waits with patience until he has enough
to come and finish his plate.
Something which make me laugh -----. When I throw outside pieces of bread, Ryder would rush
and have two peaces nearby him. Spok eats only buttered bread, but if he has a peace of bread,
he will not touch it, but will stay in front of it. Ryder has to learn the lesson. He will stay in front
of it as long as it pleases him .
When Ryder and Chaser came, Spok was quite indifferent. But the little puppies were looking
for affection . They succeeded with their love tricks. --- smelling him, licking his ears,
kissing him near the mouth, brushing their fur against him., and rolling on the back showing
their tender belly. Soon he allowed them to bite him and the game started.
Spok likes to lie in the narrow place on the doorstep. Now Ryder wishes this place. So, he
makes all sorts of move, wags his tail, brush him with his big body, makes all sorts of noises ,
but of no avail. Mr Spok plays the dead. He won't move and Ryder learns his lesson.
His sleeping bed has suffered terrible damages from the little munching beasts. The upper layer
has gone. Yet Spok friendly still allows them to sleep each in turn.
Oh Yeh ! .. Mr Spok is the leader of the dogs.
RYDER AND CHASER
One day on facebook, Rex read that some one was willing to give little puppies found in an abandoned yard near her working place. After a phone call, she came at night fall bringing them
for a choice. I looked for the leader and noticed that Ryder was the one , he was smart
and intelligent . Chaser was my second choice for his future beauty. They also were
ordinary dogs of no breed.
The next day when I looked at them in sunlight , they were in a terrible state --- Full of scales,
their hair had fallen in places, little beasts were roaming on them and they were scratching non
stop. Your grandfather was horrified, and wished me to leave them at the MSPCA for disposal.
But I refused. They were my responsibility and I had to give them a chance. So I placed them in
a cartoon box and brought them to the vet for medication.
Three months were not enough to heal them. Twice per day , I have to put an antiseptic cream
on their bodies and give them their medicine. Special food was given to them with vitamins.
They were like babies who need special care and my day was full with them. I was eager to see
them get well, because I knew you wanted so much to play with them on your next visit to us.
Twice per week, I gave them tinned sardines for their hair and now you can see how shiny it is.
Ryder is of a beautiful black with a bit of white and fire colour. Chaser is very beautiful
with all the black miggling with the fire colour of his hair.
Ryder is the leader, all round the day he challenges Mr Spok , and sometimes I fear that
something bad occurs, because their little growls grow biger and bigger, and one may hurt the
other, but then they usually stop.
Chaser likes his peace and comfort . He will retire in shady places under my curry leaves.,
or in the thick plant near the road. Once, I called him several times, he did not come out.
I went in the street, less he might have escaped. Not after fifteen minutes did he come out as if
it was nothing the hurry. Indeed he is full of tricks. Usually he did them behind our back -
eating shoes, clothes, scratching the earth. Yet he looks the more innocent.
When you came to Mauritus they were completely healed and ready to be loved by you.
Indeed, I was very anxious when I saw Max and you , all round the day taking them, patting
them a long time. If they had diarrhea or something else ?.... But they let themselves be your
pets ., and were ok. --- And there were days of complete madness. You did not know what new games to invent . They occupied you a lot and your father and mother could breathe, they did
not have to look after your whereabouts.
You remember the kayak, and you were like Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. Our
floorbrush became the support for our doormat. You were navigators with the dogs there in
always struggling to get out. There was such a noise : Fruch ! Bang ! Flap ! ... The dogs
were not feeling at ease in this restricted place. So you were always starting again.
Now my yard was no longer what it was , with all the rocks, the pebbles , the branches
you placed here and there. I think that you wished to make the dogs acting as on tv , make
them jump or do something quite new. These games occupied you a lot. , but Francois the gardener, had an additional job to his list. However he did not complaint and understood you.
He just moved his headand smiled.
Ryder and Spok act like accomplices. They always run side by side, of the same pace, like
soldiers. Perhaps Ryder wishes to imitate Spok or prove to him that he shares all his
actions. But Ryder does not bark like Spok . He is more calm and seems to look for my
reaction.
Last time, a friend of mine came with two handy men to take away a huge bird cage.
So I chained Spok to a bench. Chaser disappeared, where ?.... Ryder accompanied me
step by step, smelling the visiters at every pace but does not try to bite them, he was not
aggressive. He dit not leave my side all the time it took, and accompanied me to the gate.
I was very impressed by his attitude.
The food of Ryder !... When he is hungry, he is the only one who expresses his feelings.
He yawns and yawns , uttering cries like ' Yown ! ' Yown ! ' ... brushes his body against the
wire. I make as if I do not understand. So He grows more impatient , he now starts to scratch
the wire , wishing to draw my attention and starts to bark and move his big bum against the
other dogs, and seems to say :
" What is the matter with you ? Are you not hungry ? Please move !. " The other dogs were
mute and just stay still..
Ryder has a very good appetite, he is greedy,. Perhaps he will be bigger. He always finishes his plate before the others , while having his eyes on the other plates. But Ryder has learned his lessons. He no longer left his plate to go to other plates, Chaser and Mr Spok wont allow him. So,
He waited impatiently for Mr Spok to go to pee. It is the sign for him, to go and finish his plate.
In the afternoon, I let them free to go in the front yard and they are so happy for their next adventure. First they go near the gate and wait for passers bye and other dogs., then look for something to play with and run after, or two dogs may chose a third one to start their little bites,
until he could no longer bear it. .
Now the dogs have become quite big, and you will not be able to lift them. They are
also always on the go to do something. I love my dogs . They are very affectionate and
are good guardians. Believe me, they will not forget you, just as you will not forget them.
I just hope that I leaves you happy , with a smile.
Grandmother Arlette.
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