Garbage almost seemed to wink!

Dear Kim:

I know you think people pay too much attention to animals, often at the expense of their human relations. But when you spend a lot of time with animals, it can become a profound connection.

(Kim: I'm as guilt as the next animal lover. We have two dogs, a bird, and a pond full of Koi.)

In an area like Venice, there are a lot of dogs and it is a pretty common sight to see people driving with their dogs in the car or having a meeting at an outside cafe while their dog snuggled at their feet.

Today I wondered if this prevalence might partly be because driving to connect with friends is so laborious, people develop their more intimate relationships with animals.

I had a sad experience today with Angela, the dog for whom I am caring while I am in Venice.

I have been trying to take her with me as many places as possible. I enjoy her company and this constancy was the stated preference of Rod, her owner for whom I am house sitting while he is in Indonesia.

But I can't take her everywhere. Including the salon where I got my hair cut today. So I left her in the house and was gone for several hours. As I left the house, I eyed a paper bag of garbage that almost seemed to wink at me.

It crossed my mind that I should empty the garbage or maybe transfer it to a larger plastic bag. But I didn't have an appropriate size and was running late so I let it go.

When I returned home several hours later, Angela was thrilled to see me, tail wagging, eyes flashing.

And there was garbage strewn all over the floor.

She raced over to me, lay on her back in a position of complete vulnerability, indicating that she wanted me to rub her belly. She hasn't done that all week.

As the week has gone on, she has gotten more comfortable and intimate with me. Asking me to pet her in that way was a major development in our relationship.

But I was so distressed by the strewn garbage that instead of petting her, I said I was disappointed and started cleaning up the mess.

Now, I am disappointed in myself.

What was so pressing about cleaning up that I couldn't stop to pay some attention to her? And how could I possibly be upset with her for tearing open the garbage? She is a dog. She is programmed to hunt for food.

(Kim: Is a feminist as understanding about a guy being programmed to think about women in a certain way?)

When I started the vacuum cleaner, she got very upset. Understandably. It was loud and ugly. I should have sent her outside while I cleaned.

(Kim: One of our dogs loves the vacuum cleaner and comes to Linda to get vacuumed.)

After I cleaned and had made some dinner, I called her over to try to mend the widening fence. She turned her back on me.

Her feelings were hurt and she had crawled into her kennel to tend to herself.

I don't blame her. I wish I had a kennel I might crawl into myself tonight.

Later,

Joan

Saturday, Feb 18, 2006

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