Shaggy dog story ... love in bloom

... recalcitrant pooch gets the word

My friend Margie loved animals. She was the proud owner of a beautiful Alaskan Husky male dog named Alky. A woman contacted Margie for the purpose of mating her female with Alky and offered Margie the pick of the litter. There was a problem with the romantic arrangement between the dogs , however. Alky was seriously afraid of riding in a car. Margie said he probably had been frightened as a pup by a visit to a vet. Nevertheless, the male animal had to be taken to the female. I guess it doesn't work vice versa. This meeting must be accomplished for at least three days. Knowing it would not be easy, Margie agreed.

On the appointed first day of this affair, Margie struggled, pushed, pulled. cajoled with cookies, and finally got her boys to help get Alky into the car. The women visited, the dogs visited, and after a struggle to get Alky back into the car, Margie and Alky returned home.

Next day the entire process had to be repeated. Alky was somewhat less difficult to get into the car. So off they went to do their thing and home again to return the next day.

One the third day Margie couldn't find Alky anywhere and thinking he was hiding she was becoming worried and decided to search the neighborhood. When she approached her car, there was Alky, big as life, sitting in the front seat waiting for her.

Originally published September 2003