Part 4: Little Friends
Charles little dog Sambra has become a regular fixture at The Ranch, and it seems the only time she is not velcro'd to her Best Bud, or tearing around the place chasing the local rabbits, is when Charles lets me take her around on errands.
Watching Sambra chase a rabbit is hysterical... "Thumper" probably outwieghs her by a good pound, but you couldn't tell by the way she puts the bunnies on the run...
...the little S*** is the "Snapping Jaws of H***" itself so far as the wabbits are concerned...
Between Charles and me, Sambra is already a seasoned Truck Dog... rides like a veteran and behaves herself beautifully once you explain firmly that she is not welcome to sit on top of your head while underway.
My old Ford has a nice console between the seats and a towel is pretty much all it took to make it a perfect Command Post for Herself where she can keep an eye on things... of course, as soon as we get rolling, she is snoozing, saving up her energy for all those things needed to be Barked Out at our destination...
...I'm glad she trusts me...
Walking the little dog on the leash is another thing entirely... a work-in-progress for sure... I never imagined that Chihuahua's could command the most basic forces of nature, and instantly increase the local gravitational force to make a 7 pound dog weigh in at about a ton and a half when it suits her....
It'll take time... we get a few steps further every time before the brakes go on but patient is the Big Dog... we'll get there...
Taking Herself on errands is a gas... her brindle coat and sweet nature attract a lot of attention from the dog lovers and she is finding meeting new people (and their pets) less and less frightening as time goes by...
She's got a regular fan club down at the local "Tractor Supply" store.... they still talk about my description of her as "The love-child of a pit-bull and a hyena..."
You gotta take your fun where you can, right?
Sambra is even getting used to the local Vector Control supervisor... "Inky".... my In-Laws cat.
I was as shocked that Inky tolerated any dog in such close proximity and equally amazed when Sambra did not come unglued at the sight of the cat.
I petted each one in turn and let the other smell the scents on my hand.... they were both as calm as could be... as good a first meeting as you could imagine which is all the more surprising since Inky is as wild as the wind... born under the house, lives rough in the field, gets his main source of protein hunting the rats and mice infesting an abandoned house nearby.... he tolerates being caught and taken to the Vet once or twice a year, but outside of that, the only thing he wants is some ear scratches and a little kibble now and then...
Very much "The Cat Who Walked By Himself"...
Anyway, for you animal-lovers out there, here's a pic of Sambra and me, and a dogs-eye view of the tete-a-tete with Inky.
So with that to end the tale...It's time to head back to Texas in a few days and see what else I can get accomplished.
Peace out, Gentle Readers
T
