The Shamus Chronicles: Penny

by Betty Poole

Taking care of other people's pets has been my lot in recent months. Today is Monday, and for the past two weeks I have been baby-sitting "Penny", my neighbour's pooch while her mistress is visiting her sisters in England. I have a dog of my own. Shamus is a laid-back middle-aged companion. We live a relaxed, unscheduled existence. We understand one another, and I am convinced that Shamus is psychic, because I only have to think about putting on my outdoor shoes and Shamus is at the door ready to go. At 3:45 on the dot he is looking meaningfully at me and at the refrigerator where his food is kept, reminding me that it is his dinner time.

However, since the introduction of Penny to our household our lives have been shattered.

Penny is not the relaxed or relaxing type. If she were human she would be classified as mentally challenged. At the same time, she seems to be aiming at the secret of perpetual motion. I cannot pet one dog at a time for fear of immediate aggressive action brought on by intense jealousy. Shamus has developed a taste for getting away from it all, and spends a lot of time sitting on the doormat on the front porch sourly surveying the front garden.

When Penny is outside she has to be watched and discouraged from running over the freshly dug and planted flower beds or aimlessly digging holes in the lawn. When corrected she rolls over on her back, rolls her eyes, and looks coy or pathetic depending on her mood of the moment. Within seconds she has resumed her interrupted activities.

Passers-by on the road, as soon as detected, are fiercely barked at from behind the safety of the fence.

Through bitter experience I have learned to anticipate Penny's habit of waiting until I am fairly decently dressed, at which time she will ensure that her paws are adequately coated with damp earth from the garden before she enthusiastically places her front feet anywhere between my waist and my knees, and draws them downward to the ground.

Penny exhibits admirable if aggravating tenacity and singleness of purpose when she wants back into the house by emitting a sharp and penetratng bark at two second intervals until the door is opened.

The neighbours, with sympathetic smiles, ask me how I am making out with two dogs to look after. They are all well acquainted with Penny. I assure them that I think I can last for another week when Penny's mistress will come home. Next Monday can't come soon enough!