Tank with owner Bill Mix

 

 

Tank

 

     If one thing stands out about the mother lode it’s the history. To the naked eye history is everywhere from the National Hotel in Jackson to the old Pioneer store on highway 88, to the blue highways leading to West Point. What is not obvious is the history residing in her people and her dogs. Like history dogs abound throughout the county. There are many pure breeds and mixed breeds riding in the cars all excited about traveling even a few miles. One breed that is very popular is the Labrador retriever.

     Owning a Lab, where I grew up in South Dakota, is a right of passage. Most families have at least one be it yellow or black hanging out around the house. They are so prevalent because of Pheasant and duck hunting that they are a status symbol. In the 60’s, when I was coming of age, almost every child had a lab or maybe it was the other way around in that every lab had a child. Irregardless it was always understood that dogs and children go together.

     The reason for that was Labs are friendly and intelligent child proof dogs.  Oh yes they do hunt but hunting season is only 4 months long. Thus parents had the advantage for eight months the dog would entertain their children. That was before TV sort of took precedence. But through all the changes Labs still win out as the choice for a loyal friend. The TV gets turned off at bedtime meanwhile a dog sleeps either beside the bed or on the bed with their gentle heartbeat and warmth comforting their owners. Dogs are the loyalist lifelong friend a person can have.

     One such Lab, Tank, has spent his entire life in and around Jackson. He is a companion for Bill Mix who has owned three labs before the “Tanker” came into his life as a puppy at age 6 weeks. Tank was born to a Breeder in Valley Springs 11 years go. Bill who is the owner of Campbell Service Centrt on the corner of highway 88 and 49 has always had a lab lying on the floor at the garage. 

    As soon as he brought Tank home from the breeder his next stop was at Bills job. Bill taught Tank the rules of the road such as no wandering off the property and Tank being intelligent and eager to please learned quickly. These days Tank is not as mobile as he once was at 6 weeks but at 11 years he still gets around. Tank has a round dog bed next to the workbench at the front of the car lifts. Next to that is his food and water bowl. These days Tank is content to sit and watch the world go by. He occasionally will stretch his legs by stroll out to the front of the station but quickly returns back inside. He does not want to be far from his best friend.

    Tank was not always so sedentary, like all of us seniors he had younger days. Tank who grew up near Volcano used to love chasing tennis balls. Also as a country dog he loved exploring the property where Bill lives. Even though he loves the country Tank would rather share it with the humans and animals that reside there. He always has been a lover.

    Tank quickly adapted to his split life between the country and the city. In the mornings he would wait by Bills truck ready for the trip into Jackson. Once given the word he would hop into the truck tail wagging and head for the shop. It didn’t really matter where they were going but Tank’s favorite place as long as he was with Bill was at the corner of highway 88 and 49.

   These days Bill has to lift Tank into the truck as Tank’s legs are losing their strength with the passing years. But his eagerness to head into Jackson has not diminished. He loves watching the world go by. He has the occasional repeat customers who drop by to just say hi and give him the occasional pat on the head but he is content to be with Bill wherever that may be.  

    If you have a dog and would like us to do a story on him/her, please send me an e-mail at dudseth@volcano.net