When we lived in Eureka with my grandma, I had a mixed collie dog that I named Boots. I couldn’t take him along when we moved to California for my mom’s work, so he stayed in Utah. It only took a short time for him to get into trouble running with a pack of wild dogs that chased sheep. He was shot by the sheriff. I should have taken Boots with us but there wasn’t room in our 1940 Hudson coupe that was packed with all our earthly belongings. We planned to live with my mom’s sister and her family near Los Angeles in their backyard in a small 19 foot trailer with no bathroom or refrigerator. Sharing my aunt’s one bathroom in her small house with her family of four was like camping––just my widowed mom and me in a trailer. Our space was limited with NO room for a dog.
Soon we moved our trailer from my aunt’s backyard to a nearby trailer park. We had a fenced-in area with an attached awning over our patio. In time, I was able to get another pet when we purchased a larger 35 foot mobile home which seemed like a mansion after our small camper. We had our own small bathroom with a tub-shower, toilet and sink all about the size of my grandma’s outhouse back in Utah, except we had hot water and…room for more pets. Think small pets: gold fish, turtles, and later parakeets or love birds. They were considerably less work than a dog or a cat. But no matter how careful I was in taking care of my new pets, it seemed that one of them was always dying. That would call for an elaborate funeral as they needed to be properly buried in our yard. (I certainly hope than I don’t meet all my many childhood pets in the next life.)
California was certainly a different climate than Utah––no snow or separate seasons just sun, fog, rain or overcast weather. Then there was the beach, only a few miles away where you could play in the sand and waves to your heart’s content. In those days, no one warned you about sun tanning and skin cancer. We loved California. Many hours were spent at the beach, but we were always homesick for Utah’s sagebrush and cedar trees also I missed my dog Boots.
What a horrible ending for poor Boots! How traumatic. I had a cocker that didn't get house broken fast enough for Daddy Center and so my grandparents took her, Candy. Then we had Fifi, tiny poodle who ended up having epilepsy and had to be put down in a few months. finally we had Bonnie Lassie, a Scottie...what else...and she lived til I grew, married and had Dawn. Oh, How I loved that Scottie. Every kid oughta have a dog sooner or later. Despite the ending. The memories are what is important...oh the memories I had.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting life story you have, Lin.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up, our pet was a black and white cat named Jill. She was very sweet and occasionally we had litters of adorable kittens. The only dogs around were working dogs--for the cattle or sheep--not pets. Maybe that's why we have never had dogs. Although we seem to be about the only people in the city who don't. I really can't imagine driving with one on my lap or carrying it through Home Depot, but lots of folks do.
My dad was wonderful at bringing dogs home for the kids to love... unfortunately, he was just as good at getting rid of them when he took a disliking to them.
ReplyDeleteWe had a couple that managed to stick around a little longer than the others.
We had Shiner and Duke, and Butch and Stoinski, and Firefly, and Punchie...
Since marrying Wayne, we've almost always had a dog... and they've been a huge part of the family. But, we lost several, mostly to old age. Roscoe Squatty Meyer... old age. Kite, hit by a car, Finley CockinLocker, looong, sad story... Pepsi, old age, Jake, cancer when he was eight, and Pogo who currently fills our days with laughter and keeps our grandson from being able to visit at the Hollow. We also had two cats, Pywacket and Pytyyan... both stolen.
I grieved deeply for Jake and Pepsi. I will grieve the loss of Pogo. For the most part... it was sad, but not an overwhelming loss for me. The kids were basket cases with each death, but, there again... mostly over Jake and Pepsi.
I don't count birds and fish and such as pets... more as annoyances.
I prefer birds flying free in my yard.
Another good post, Lin. I love hearing about your early childhood. The stories have so much meat to them.
I think we had twin cowgirl outfits in our childhood!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing an interesting part of your life story! I had lots of pets growing up, too. And I remember summers spent at my grandmother's house. Always fun to look back! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely weekend!
Boot's unfortunate ending brought an audible 'ooph' from me. That was sad. We never had pets[ dogs or cats] while I was growing up. Just birds and fish, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was out on my own, I got a dog, and later cats, etc.
Now I can't imagine life without them. Maybe I will do a post about the 3 birds from my childhood.
Poor Boots! Talk about zero tolerance...
ReplyDeleteYour journey to California with your mom is a real testament to survival and family and hope. I am glad you had more pets later.
I felt sad for Boots, and for you, to have to leave him behind.
ReplyDeleteWe had cats and dogs growing up on the farm, so they were outdoor pets. We didn't know about keeping pets inside, except one little dog seemed to wrangle his way into our porch most times, just as easily as he wrangled his way into our hearts. Schnupsy was his name and we loved that little golden white dog with a bushy tale.
Your posting brings back many pet memories from my childhood too. Thanks for the prompt!
Oh..poor Boots...What an interesting story...We had pet cats mostly and they would run away or get sick. It was back before shots and trips to the vet..Or probably we didn't have money for that kind of thing...I will have to ask my father...
ReplyDeleteMichelle From Rambling Woods
That's sad about Boots!
ReplyDeleteAnd I DO hope I meet all the pets I've ever had in another life.
Oh, poor Boots, that's awful. We couldn't have pets growing up.
ReplyDelete