I came home for Christmas
to discover that my dad has taken to sleeping with an air pistol, knife and
hockey stick next to his bed. Either the neighbourhood has seen a recent surge
in violent crime, or this is just something that happens when one gets older.
I also came home to find a broken pet. Kim the Dog had a serious stroke a couple of weeks ago. She was taken to the vet, who said she was in impressive health for a 14-year-old collie, all things considered, and gave her some tablets.
I also came home to find a broken pet. Kim the Dog had a serious stroke a couple of weeks ago. She was taken to the vet, who said she was in impressive health for a 14-year-old collie, all things considered, and gave her some tablets.
She’s been making a
fairly good recovery, although that’s not saying much since she was in pretty
rough shape before the stroke. For the last few months she’s had a hard time
walking about, and her back legs have almost given out entirely, so she has to
be lifted in and out of the back door step to do her business. She hates being
picked up for any reason, which means lots of growling.
Now, because of the
stroke, she’s also lost her sense of balance. She shuffles about with her head
cocked at an oddly endearing angle, half blind and three quarters deaf,
constantly panting as though exhausted, and is forever bumping into things and
falling over.
It’s kind of funny. Sad
too, of course. Collies are especially active dogs with limitless energy. They
live to run around chasing sheep (or sticks, or children, whatever is
available). If they can’t do that, their very existence must be a bewilderment
to themselves.
On the other hand, this
morning I saw Kim the Dog sleeping in the hallway, having a dog dream. All dog
dreams involve chasing. Her tired old legs were pumping away, she was panting as though
still a young dog running through a field somewhere.
Kim the Dog
Then I realised that dog
brains probably can’t distinguish between dreams and reality, so as far as Kim
the Dog was concerned, she actually was running through a field, just like she
used to do, chasing down a stick or frisbee. It’s quite a nice thought that
even in her old age, her dog brain still spends a lot of time experiencing life
as fit and healthy as a puppy.
Kim the Dog's brain
