Z - Zounds! It's Zara
Well I've made it to 'Z' again and still feel astounded that I managed to find dogs to get here from 'A'.
An Alsatian pup name Alfie featured at the start of the Challenge. At the end there's another Alsatian.
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| A young Alsatian named Zara |
I used to meet Zara in the village but unfortunately she became very territorial and attacked the postmen. On her lead she was as gentle as could be, but she has had to give way to the Labrador pups that appeared under 'L'
I must pay tribute to all the dogs that I have met personally; not one objected to being photographed. I suspect however that owners in the village will be pleased that only their legs and shoes appeared in the shots.
My special thanks to my daughter's dogs - Sam, Maxie, Gem. Jack, Cody, Scout and Lily, not forgetting Gabby the Golden Labrador who has made up the latest "Gang of Four" in Michigan.
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| The Gang of Four (No. 3) - Gem, Gabby, Scout and Lily |
And by the way Gem had her 15th birthday recently.
Sam was my daughter's first dog. He appeared earlier in the Challenge with his sister Maxie.
This is the tribute to Sam written for him after he had been put to sleep in 2010.
Sam Was My Good Boy
"Sam was my first
dog. He was such a good boy.
Good? Maybe not—at
least not at his first home in Troy.
The words “come”
and “no” and the electric fence meant nothing to him.
And he was a lab,
yet he couldn’t fetch, retrieve, or even swim.
Sam was my first
dog. Okay, maybe he was “kind of” good.
Chasing deer in
their new home, he and Moo would escape through the wood
They’d
come home with deer parts, possums and the occasional mouse
And traipse their
big dirty paws throughout the whole house.
Sam was my first
dog. But he really was good.
He never fought
for food, chewed up shoes, or rolled in mud.
When the new
rescue dog, Jack, tried to eat his food and bite his nose--he didn’t mind.
When Jack was
sick, it was always Sam who would lie with him—he was SO kind.
Sam was my first
dog. And, YES, he was a good boy.
From the day we
chose each other, he brought me so much joy.
Even when he went
blind and had to live in the dark,
He still took
himself for walks and played, and, boy, did he still love to bark.
Sam was my first
dog. He was good and I love him still
He holds a place
in my heart that no one will ever fill."
10 comments:
Dogs ... God bless them all. Your poem to Sam was touching.
I like your approach to using a dog's name for the letter Z. That young Alsatian is so beautiful.
Hi Bob - great looking Zara - pity about the territorial aspects .. but dogs are lovely company ...
Your village will be pleased to see their dogs featured ... great job done and it's interesting to see your selections ..
Wonderful comforting poem for Sam - and yes I understand ... I still think very lovingly about my first and only dog .. they do become special in our lives ..
Cheers and enjoy some Yorkshire rest tomorrow ... Hilary
I'm a writer, but not into poetry...but I did read Sam. And it touched me. Has me thinking of Corky, my white GSD I lost in 2002, and Murphy, my Akita, who I lost in 2006. They do stick with you.
Awwww. Sweet tribute to Sam. And here's to finishing another challenge!
Aww, the poem made me tear up.
I've so enjoyed your dogs! One of my favorite themes of the challenge. Well done!
I know exactly how that feels. Funnily enough my first dog was Zebedee, a German Shepherd, and would have fit nicely into this category.
What happened to Zara, sounds like she needed some proper training. Her owners should have gone to the British Alsatian Association for help.
Loved your challenge series! How you managed to find so many different breeds around you still amazes me!
I loved your poem as well...reminds me of my beloved Zander.
They are all fine looking dogs. It is almost a herd but I guess we are suppose to say a pack.
What a lovely sentiment in the poem. Raising children with pets I think is so important. It teaches them so much. Thanks for coming by my blog and I have really enjoyed my lessons in dog breeds! I still can't believe you have so many different ones in one village! Congratulations to us in making it through another challenge! I'm following your blog now so I'll be in touch...
I'm not into dogs, although I like the idea. I did enjoy your series and the poem even almost brought a tear to my eye. Congratulations on introducing me to so many A - Z dogs!
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