DEKKER RESPONDS TO HOLIDAY BLUES
Why would anyone listen to a dog? This is a question only cat owners or bird fanciers ask. A dog may not speak English, but any dog handler will tell you exactly what they are asking for when their tail begins to dance. During quiet days at home Dekker, a trained Service Dog, has taken up writing to help people with his wisdom and anticipates hearing how he might help you.
If you missed last month’s post, Dekker, answered a number of questions from a quartet of cats. Today he reflects on some common anxieties that people are struggling with. If you would like some of Dekker’s advice, leave your question in the comments below.
Dear Dekker,
It makes me sad that our large extended family
will not be gathering for holiday celebrations this year.
I wish I knew some ways to make things special anyway.
Thank you, Alice
Woof, Alice. I sleep under the table for all meals, including holiday feasts. I get to listen to a lot of conversations. What I hear the most is stories and comments about the food. Mostly about the food! Woof!
And it really makes my day when someone drops a piece of turkey my way. Perhaps you could drop a piece of turkey or pie at someone’s house.
If they live alone, you might tuck a note with a link for a zoom call. Then you could share a story or two also.
Don’t forget my friends at the animal shelter. They like to celebrate too. Woof Woof.
Dear Dekker,
Your wise thoughts are marvelous. My Annabelle often is
frustrated with my need to give her a hug. As long
as I offer kibble and quiet time near the open,
screened window, she deals. Thank you for being
there to offer a paw of friendship.
–Carolyn
Woof! Carolyn, Annabelle may belong to the Order of Feline Saints. Not many are chosen for this sacred calling. Her desire to sit quietly by the window reveals her contemplative side.
Any good saint is also concerned about feeding the hungry, and it may be that the window is the best outlook for mice. I am so sorry this is hard for you, woof woof.
I notice she also brings out your kibble-kindness. Typical for a saint. Don’t you agree? Perhaps there is (or should be) a St. Annabelle Day. I’ve been begging for a Dekker Day, but I am no saint. However, I do receive hugs.
Dear Dekker,
There is a lot of sadness in our home this year
because I lost my job and the cat died.
Do dogs ever get sad? How can I be happy?
I feel like running away but there is no place to go.
— Anton
Woof, Anton, Woof Woof. Well, doesn’t that stink! I have noticed that humans don’t like stinky things. I, on the other paw, check everything out very closely. Even tasting it.
My human gets all excited when I do that, but she doesn’t always understand how much I can learn by not running away from stinky things.
Don’t run away from sadness. Get real close to see what it looks like, where it comes from, and what it is made of. Stinky things teach us so much. Don’t concentrate so much on being ‘happy’.
Stay with the ‘stinky’ until it dries up and goes away. It will, soon enough.
And get a kitten who wants to cuddle! Woof Woof
Dear Dekker,
How does it feel to always be looking up for contact?
–Thank you, Bonnie
Woof, Bonnie,
It’s funny you should ask this question because I wonder how it feels to always have to look down for contact. We each believe the world looks (and smells) the best from our angle. I have seen a lot of people looking up chimneys in late December. I have no explanation for that odd activity. I guess, from our own angle, what we see is normal.
Dear Dekker,
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. You really understand a lot about our lives and yours. We think humans don’t always give us enough credit for what we do know but express in a different way. Could they be less intuitive than they think they are? Or maybe they don’t act on it. Although we were domesticated way later than you dogs, we all have developed a special relationship with our humans that is meaningful to us both.
Meow, purr, meow, purr….The Fab Four Felines
(Read Dekker’s Advice to Cats )
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