Aging My Way
I came across a story recently claiming pizza crusts were why you should have a dog. The thought made me laugh – and then I began to think about other reasons to have a four-legged, wagging-tail pet.
Fool-proof exercise: My current canine companion is Scamp, whom I rescued from a shelter when he was about six months old – and quickly discovered he wasn’t house trained. The task of training him not to pee or poop in the house took three miserable weeks of walking him, almost every hour, from a third-floor walkup. I may have trained him too well, however. He now demands to go outside of the fenced yard of my current abode to do his bathroom business. The silver lining is that by being forced to walk him, I always get at least some daily exercise as recommended by my cardiologist.
Less food waste: I never bought into the idea of feeding my dogs only regular dog food. Food is food. And while I’ve been careful not to feed my dogs items that are bad for them, their regular dog food is often mixed with leftovers.
As an alarm system: No stranger can be outside the perimeter of my fence without Scamp alerting me, night or day. He’s not a barker, but he gives a quick woof and stands at attention staring outside until any intruder either walks on by or enters the gate and announces themselves. My former dogs were even more protective.
Companionship: Most important of all. Mine has been a one-human home for over half my 85 years, during which time Scamp has been my fourth canine companion since 1983. Owning a faithful pet, as all mine have been, makes it very hard to be lonely.
Scamp, and the memories of past canine companions, do bring a smile on my face. Besides, what else could I have done with that mountain of pizza crusts they’ve eaten.
Pat Bean is a retired award-winning journalist who lives in Tucson with her canine companion, Scamp. She is an avid reader, an enthusiastic birder, staff writer for the Story Circle Network Journal, the author of Travels with Maggie available on Amazon (Free on Kindle Unlimited). She is always searching for life’s silver lining, and these days aging her way – and that’s usually not gracefully.
Pat Bean's blog 
We love our fur baby Miss Tegger
So true. I don’t have a dog, but my sister and a good friend who both live alone wouldn’t be without them, especially keeping the bed warm on winter nights.
I should have mentioned the bed warmer aspect. This is so true of my Scamp.
Pat, we have 2 dogs, one dachshund and one dachshund-ish. Another reason to have them is for their ability to know what we are feeling and reciprocate with love. When my husband was very sick, they lay with him while he recovered, never wanting anything except to be near him. Humans don’t give these creatures the credit they deserve.
When I came home from the hospital after my heart attack, Scamp wouldn’t leave my side. I agree. This is certainly another reason to own a dog. Thanks for commenting Lucy.
Hey Sis, I like thrr anine stories. Have a great week, Love Robert
I have to say that I hate it when dogs bark at me just for walking by.
Scamp doesn’t bark, just alerts. But one of my other dogs was a good barker. Thanks for commenting Andrew.