Carmelle’s Counterpoint

How I Unwittingly Gained a Big Sister

Get your handkerchiefs out and cue the violins….

You think it’s a walk in the park losing the humans you owned for five years? I am not sure what I did to be sentenced to the Big House, but it wasn’t pretty that month I was incarcerated in that noisy slammer. There was a lot of endless howling night and day. The wardens only let me out of my cell occasionally and you wouldn’t believe some of the ruff riff raff in the exercise yard. It’s true what they say about prison chow…nothing to write home about. But then, I didn’t have one of those anymore, anyway. ( See…I knew you would need a hankie.) I was about as low as a Basset Hound’s belly until that nice lady from the Baja Rescue Group put up the bail to spring me. I wasn’t so sure what would come next. She took me to her house along with some other fellow inmates and let me stay with what seemed to be her personal pack. I slept a little better. The next thing I know I am in a big Park with my chain gang and the lady’s friends are talking up my redeeming characteristics to humans passing by. A gentlewoman came by, admired the brown spot on my head and took me for a walk. Afterwards I napped and before you you know it, I was on the road again in her car. She really seemed to like me and I got the sense we weren’t headed back to the Halfway House. Instead she deposited me at what appeared to be her den where I met the measured curious but disapproving glare of a big black Senior Top Dog. I have literally worked like a dog to mind my P’s and Q’s and exhibit my most polite behavior to ingratiate this squatter and used my Cocker good looks and charm to my advantage with the Mistress. Eight months later I am still here so I finally believe my probation is really over. Mistress promised me that I will never ever have to leave. Given the great chow, choice of soft sleeping spots, trips to the park to see new friends, and Pepper’s thawing to me, I am thrilled with my turn of fortune and my nub of a tail is in constant wag-motion. I feel safe and wanted again. Pepper is actually rather nice, once you get to know her and I appreciate her sharing her good fortune with me. She has even taught me the security detail of the place and on occasion has defended me from park bullies. I never knew how terrific it would feel to have a Big Sister watch your tail. I even have a VIP VP career now with Puppy Paws Productions. I report to Pepper who has been teaching me the ropes. I am so proud of my Big Sister and though she is very selective about her inner circle, I suspect as Sally Field said…”she likes me, she really likes me!”