This isn’t a story of my dogs this time, but something far greater.
I had the fortunate opportunity to travel back to my home state of Colorado to get in a bit of hiking and camping this summer. While Maine is beautiful, it lacks the mountains which I miss so terribly, and I take every opportunity to return to my old stomping ground and tackle some Fourteeners. (Those peaks over 14,ooo ft, of which Colorado has exactly 54). Unfortunately given the short time off from work, I had to fly out to maximize time in the mountains, and given the cost of shipping a 70 pound husky, simply could not take any with me. Instead, my brother is my summit buddy and we take on the peaks together, checking them off the ‘summited’ list as we reach the top of each one. We got to three this trip: Mt. Bierstahdt, Mt. Sneffels, and Handies Peak.
And here is where the wonderful story begins, on every hike there were so many dogs! Beautiful, happy, adventurous dogs loving the trails with their people. They were friendly, well-mannered and eager to be exactly where they were. It hasn’t always been this way. I have been in the mountains all my life and 20 years ago recall seeing few if any dogs on the more remote or rigorous hikes, but this new found lifestyle of ‘take your dog everywhere’ sits very well with me.
The top dog of the dogs was a lithe and determined German Shepherd mix who, with the help of her owners, summitted Mt. Sneffels. Now this peak has some very steep sections, loose scrag, rock scrambling, and requires gumption and dexterity. And there she was, hitting the summit like it was just another walk in the park. I wish I had had the brains at the time to get her picture, but she was one bad-ass doggy!
I have a renewed vision for the aptitude and endurance of all working dogs!
On a late night, almost 4 hour airplane flight back east from Colorado I was more than happy to trade seats with a woman who was complaining about being seated next to a passenger with a dog, claiming she was allergic and basically intolerant. I piped up and offered to switch in a second, even though I had a window seat and hers was the dreaded middle seat. I spent three and a half drowsy hours seated next to the most lovable Yorkie I had ever met, and an owner who was happy to let me hold the sweet pup and swap stories of life with dogs. Of course our lifestyles are wildly different based solely on our dogs’ respective sizes and activity needs, but both dog lovers and therefore bonded at a fundamental level.
And then just yesterday I was at Lowe’s home improvement store and saw a store clerk helping an elderly gentleman who was with his Beagle, a companion dog I assumed, and another wonderfully behaved, incredibly sweet canine. Never one to miss an opportunity, I asked if I could pet her and the owner said ‘absolutely!’ so I looked another sweet animal in the eye and told her what a sweet and wonderful dog she was. Then stood up and asked the clerk, ‘would it be alright for me to bring my 70 pound ever-shedding husky with me next time I shop?’
His look of shock and obvious internal struggle on how to be firmly diplomatic yet un-prejudiced toward my companion animal was enough to make me chuckle.
‘Just kidding,’ I said, ‘I wouldn’t subject your store to that.’ Huskies really are meant for the outdoors!
Let us reach new summits of love and acceptance in our furry animals, and always look upon them as the never ending good in our lives and in the world.