Altered Horizons 37

 

Altered Horizons 37 Robin Botie of Ithaca, New York, photoshops a landscape fabricated from the back of a dog as she ponders the death of pets inherited by bereaved parents.

 

At Barton Valley Farm, dogs followed the photography students as we traipsed through the fields. I was trying to focus on the horses but this dog kept creeping into my view. I don’t know what kind of dog it was but it was very friendly and had great hair.

My own dog, Suki, is so old that the county clerk phoned me this year before mailing out the annual dog license renewal, “Is Suki still with us?”

Surprised by the call, I told her the dog I inherited from my daughter eleven years ago was indeed still here.

“Well, bless her little heart,” the clerk replied. And I do. Every day. Because I’ve seen, from others whose inherited dogs die, that when this dog goes it could be like losing my daughter all over again.

 

Altered Horizons 37

 

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2 thoughts on “Altered Horizons 37

  1. Elaine Mansfield

    Bless her heart. Bless your heart. Bless Willow’s heart (she’ll be 13 this coming summer). I’m drawn to the heart sweetness of a well loved dog. Be safe and warm during the coming storm which Suki may not appreciate. My dogs have long legs to get through the drifts.

    Reply
    1. Robin Botie Post author

      Bless your heart as well, Elaine. Yes, those well-loved dogs. Very sad as they age and get tumors and lose their hearing and endurance on the trails. I guess we all feel for that but somehow when it happens to our beloved dogs who have no idea of what’s going on or why, it’s especially poignant. As for the snow – Suki may not care for the cold wetness of the weather but she loves eating snow. Snow cookies, I call it. Kinda like her original Mom and her inherited Mom, this old Suki girl loves anything she can eat. And these winter storms keep me in the house, close to her. Hugs to Willow and to you.

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