Tales from the Bark Side

Sammy found an open spot in owner’s heart and moved in to stay

By Keith Ross | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, August 4, 2007

Welcome back to the bark side of life here in Ottertail where gardens grow, the waters flow, and the critters scamper in the woods. These sultry summer days have their charm, which can be best appreciated inside an air conditioned home.

Speaking of charming, I have a tale from Sue Pardy of Fergus Falls this week. Without further ado, here's her tale.

He wasn't supposed to be mine, this little apricot-colored bundle of curly fur. Mom and I picked him out of the litter, I named him Sammy, and we brought him home to surprise my dad..

He didn't want any more dogs, but I knew that he'd fall in love with a new little poodle (dad was a pushover).

We three kids always had a dog growing up and I wanted my folks to have one now that they were empty nesters. But this particular weekend we were staying at our cabin and Sammy and I bonded. We were like Velcro and I didn't know how I was going to survive without this new little pooch.

The following Monday, I could hardly stand being without him, so I convinced my mom that I would figure out some way to keep Sam in my condo building if we could just go back and get the female for her and dad.

I went home with Sam and she took home their new little bundle, “Maggie.” I told Mom to see how long it would take before Dad even noticed — he didn't. He called the puppy Sammy all night until mom finally had to confess, “That's not Sam, that's Maggie.”

All he could say was, “She didn't!”

So Sam came to be mine. And it was the start of 16-plus years with two wild-n-crazy poodles who got together often and became known as the “Ecker Twins.” But condo living? That's where the real tale unfolds.

Condo life and a barking puppy do not mix. No matter what technique I tried, he barked continually while I was away. Not about to give Sam up for anything at this point, I decided he was worth building a new home for, and that’s what I did.

It took some time to sell my condo and get our new home built, so during that time, Sammy went to “doggie daycare” (grandma and grandpa's home where he got to play with Maggie all day while I was off at work).

Our new home was perfect (a doghouse palace, my dad would call it), wheelchair accessible for me and a huge kennel right outside the back door for Sam where he couldn't get out of my grasps.

Sammy and Maggie still got together on occasion, especially at the cabin in the summer. We didn't teach them the typical dog tricks — my mom and I taught them both to yawn upon command; I taught Sam to say “Mama,” and my dad taught them both to sneeze.

Two years ago, the tough decision was made — it was time to put a weak and weary old Sammy to rest. Maggie followed a couple months later.

Three weeks prior to saying our farewell to Sam, we brought home a new puppy. Though my husband really wanted “a break,” I knew I would need something to fill the void and get me through the transition of losing Sam. Now Racer (a Yorkiepoo) is creating his own tales of mischief and literally living up to his name.

I have no doubt that last winter my dad was greeted at the pearly gates by the frisky “Ecker Twins” — a welcoming of wagging tails, loving licks, and a shower of sneezes for their grandpa. Gesundheit Sammy and Maggie.

That was great, Sue. Folks, there's still time to get in your tale for “the best critter tale” contest. Send them to info@rosswoodkennels.com or Keith Ross, Richville, MN 56576 or phone me at 218-495-2195.

Keith Alan Ross writes from his home in New York Mills.