The dog days of summer

The dog is in the basement and the thunder continues to roll overhead. Baby and Fitzwilliam are at large and apathetic. I must admit it is amusing to have a dog with limited talents. Okay let me give the dear old thing some credit. She is a great snake dog. She even has a special bark reserved for such intruders. Lacey is close to 15 human years old, has arthritis in her legs and is losing her sight in her right eye. She is as affectionate as a puppy and can never get enough loving. (Scratch my head please please please, ahh.) This sweet but challenged canine came to us from Kent’s Animal Hospital after we lost our blind cocker, Shadow. Lacey was abused and left for dead on the door step of the clinic. For several years we had to approach her from below her chin or using the underhand motion to pet her. Any action from above as in overhand and she shirked away. Her breed is unknown. Some say part Sheltie and part Austrian Shepherd. Her coat is soft, thick and full of Lanolin. It took her a while to accept affection and grooming. It was a trial acclimating her to being brushed. Rides in the care were met with whining and vomiting. Now we tell her to get into the car and she is ready to ride. This has been a blessing after a decade of car sickness. She seems stupid to some people, but I know she is as smart as a whip. As for predicting weather she is as good as James Spann. She does it on her own without the aid of NOAH weather radio or storm watchers. There is no need to doubt her predictions. She is dead on.
When a storm is in the area she will climb the chain link fence and start to dig herself, pardon the reference, a doggy fox hole. (She has to be on a leash or she will get disoriented. She will come in the house whining her weather alert and go to her personal place of safety. Sometimes she will go into the shower. She hates baths; it is personally degrading to her. When she goes into the shower we know we are in for a severe storm. So here’s to my canine buddy Lacey, keep up your diligent work. We are counting on you.