DOG Meet Dog

After being all shook up, Elvis was on a mission

- Geraldine Ryan

Elvis was a fighter. Not in that way, of course. He wasn't that sort of dog. In fact, whenever he came across a fellow hound while out walking, he'd do his utmost to avoid drawing attention to himself. None of that macho growling or barking stuff. Just eyes front and march on, while keeping as close as possible to his Person.

It usually worked. Though there had been one or two close scrapes. He wouldn't be able to call himself a proud golden retriever, otherwise. Which was what he was, apparently, according to those exchanges between humans at the end of their leads that he'd overhear when taking his particular human out for exercise.

'Yours must be a golden retriever'

'Correct!'

Obviously there were variations, but that was the gist. If he was lucky, that would be the end of the conversation. But more often than not, other dog-related topics would ensue. It struck Elvis that humans felt little obligation to be discreet when it came to divulging a dog's habits, be they gastronomic, peptic or sleep-related. When it came to discussing their own bodily functions, however, they remained oddly coy.

Strange lot, humans. Inhibited, wary, suspicious on the one hand. Impulsive, naive and easily taken in on the other. Especially when it came to falling in love with the wrong person. And this was where Elvis's fighting spirit was about to reveal itself. Right now he had a mission in life. His human. Dan. Or Daniel, as 'she' used to call him. Before she decided she no longer wanted to be around.

One day, she was there. Next, she was gone and all her things with her. Cat, she was called. Short for Catherine. Seriously? Who would have invited a Cat to share a space with a dog in the first place?

Only a senseless human, who put great legs and the ability to laugh at his lame jokes first.

He loved Dan.