Henry walking with Peter (great Dane and Wendy)

 Vegas

Wendy

 

Peter, Wendy and Vegas, 

     The human mind is complex, One trait of the human mind is that it is self-trained to see certain things visually. The people who create movies are aware of that . An example is in the movie I just watched. In the movie is a train engine from the 1860’s. The producers place a black steam engine on the screen and it is visualized moving complete with steam coming out the stack. Upon opening the shot however  the train is moving via a truck pushing it. In the human mind however if it looks like a train sounds like a train it must be a train when fact it’s mostly made of cardboard.

    This brings me to Peter, Vegas and Wendy and their owners Henry and Cindy Silva of Pioneer. I was driving up highway 88 and alongside the highway was a man (Henry) walking a Great Dane, a Chihuahua and a Saint Bernard, all on leashes. Two things seemed wrong with this picture the first, the Great Dane is the size of a small horse, the St Bernard about the size of a small bear and the Chihuahua can fit in one’s hand. The second is that they were all walking at a gentle pace in stride none pulling at their leash.(For most dog owners we know that walking a dog is the equivalent of holding onto a moving car). Note if I tried walking my three dogs on a leash at the same time I would end up looking like I had a net around my body wrapped as tight as those Christmas trees on top of peoples cars.

   Yet there along the side of highway 88 were Pete, Vegas and a St. Bernard (Basha) all walking very perfect on their leashes. Vegas the Chihuahua was keeping in stride with Peter. To my mind that doesn’t make sense that could happen so I had to get their story.

   I drove up to the Silva’s house and was greeted by Peter staring in the window of my SUV while standing on all 4’s, Vegas running around the car and Wendy waiting in the garage. Since I last saw them the St Bernard has passed away. A third dog Wendy is a Pomeranian mix.

   Peter stands over 3 feet at the shoulders perhaps 4 feet to the top of his head. Vegas is  the size of a small shoe while Wendy is about 15 lbs. I asked Henry how he trained them to walk so obediently and he indicated that they taught themselves.

   Peter during the interview rested his head on my shoulders standing on all 4’s. Vegas was in Henrys hand and Wendy jumped up on my legs to get petted. All three dogs are very affectionate.

   Peter came to the Silvas as a purchase. They had a Geat Dane previously and when that one passed away 7 years ago the replacement was Peter. Wendy came to the Silva’s via a truck driver at the STP in pioneer where Cindy was working. The driver stated he could no longer care for Wendy and asked Cindy if she knew of a good home and Wendy was at the Silva’s home that evening . Vegas (named after the city) was a transplant from child to parent. Vegas grew up at the Silva’s children’s home but via circumstances ended up in Pioneer.

   These days Peter is reaching old age at 7 and is taking medicine for his legs, so the walks aren’t as frequent but they still are happening. Peter is content now to rest in the house and to be petted and loved. Vegas is not sure of Peter but the two dogs have agreed to a truce with both getting a happy home. Wendy  wants to be loved by everyone.  So the family is tight nit and proves that despite huge differences everyone can get along. All it takes is love, a good bowl of food and a daily walk.