Baxter

                                                                  Baxter Posing

                                                     Baxter greeting customers

Baxter

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself”-Josh Billings.

     This brings me to Baxter, an off white, eight year old half pug, half bull dog that loves his companion Tom Cahoon. Tom acquired Baxter via an advertisement on Craig’s List about eight years ago.  

    Baxter resides in Pioneer and greets customers entering Pioneer Hardware.  Baxter spends two days a week on his white rug beside the counter with Tom. Baxter enjoys greeting customers with one of his toys just in case they want to engage in a little play. But if that doesn’t happen, Baxter is always ready to point out where the dog treats are.

    While Baxter enjoys spending time at the hardware store, he also loves to travel.     Baxter has been coast to coast several times on excursions with Tom. Baxter can go hours without a break while Tom has a range of 3 hours. Sniffing around at each rest stop offers a variety of scents for a dog.   Baxter is built low to the ground so he is close to the action. For Tom a rest stop takes about three minutes.   For Baxter it’s a new sensory experience and takes about 30 minutes being very careful not to miss a scent.

    Baxter’s memory is better than most. Tom stopped overnight in Evanston, Wyoming at a Best Western Motel.  The next day they pulled up stakes and continued the 2000 mile journey.  On the return trip Evanston was a place for a break.  Tom decided to pull over at the same Best Western where they stayed a few days earlier. After Baxter had finished his investigation, he led Tom to the room they stayed in just days before.

     During winter, Baxter enjoys playing fetch with snowballs. Tom throws a snowball into a snow bank and Baxter is off to retrieve it. Baxter digs through the fluffy powder until he finds the hardened snow and rushes back to Tom.   By then Tom has made a second snowball and throws it. Baxter drops the ball just retrieved and heads off again for the fun of digging out the next snowball.

     When visiting the Pioneer Hardware store be sure to take time to say “hi” to Baxter. He’ll be glad to greet you and show you the treat jar. In return he’ll offer to play tug of war with his favorite toy.

Cleo

                                                 Cleo with her Pooh Bear and David

                                                                       Cleo

                                                  Cleo Hanging out on the Sofa

                                                                       Cleos Home

Cleo

     Dogs are creatures of emotion. They can be a person’s best friend, opening up their hearts to people that even mistreat them. This brings me to Cleo, a Doberman, approximately 6 years old, residing in Pioneer.

     I first met Cleo at the Deer Ridge Inn and knew she was a dog with a story. She had just hopped into the driver’s seat of a vehicle and sat poised to drive away. It was a picture moment. Her guardian, David Clifford explained to me that she had been used as a breed dog at a puppy mill. They had come upon her via a relative who knew that Cleo was up for adoption by a rescue organization in the Bay area.

    Watson Clifford and David Clifford came to mind as possible guardians because they had two Dobermans previously, one of which recently passed away.  The Cliffords, like most dog owners recognized the emptiness created in the house and in their hearts after a dog’s passing.   The Rescue group was contacted, but before they place a dog with a guardian, they do a complete home inspection to make sure the match of guardian to dog be a good fit. In Cleo’s case it was a perfect fit.

    Cleo is a dog whose stature carries respect. Her coat is so black that it glistens in the sunlight. Her body would be compared to an athlete that works out every day. It was easy to see why a puppy mill would pick her as the female dog to breed. She was perfect in size and stature. Puppy mills are abusive in many ways but none worse than the dogs not receiving the love and attention they require.

  As I entered the room Cleo knew that she was going to be the subject of the conversation. Her first action after I sat down at the table was to come lay her head in my lap to say “Hi”.  She sensed I was safe.  Abused dogs are very aware of their surroundings and any person nearby.  Once she had accepted me into her house she went back and lay on her couch.

  Dogs who are abused find safe spots in their environment and for Cleo; hers is a faded blue worn couch. She laid there with her Pooh Bear, keeping her dark brown eyes on us as we sat at the table.  David explained to me that this had become her couch immediately upon her arrival. At one point they thought because it was so worn they might replace it but Cleo would have none of it. As they moved the couch towards the door she sat on it and refused to budge. So it stayed. To her it meant safety.

    The Pooh Bear had been confiscated from under the Christmas tree one year. The bear was meant to be a gift for a granddaughter but Cleo laid eyes on it, grabbed it from under the tree and took it back to her couch.  The bear is another item that to her means safety.  She, unlike most dogs does not play with the bear but cuddles with it. Cleo treats her bear as a good friend. I sensed she feels no harm will come to her with her friend beside her.

   These days Cleo lives a life of luxury. She still carries some of her baggage from being mistreated at the puppy mill. She has a phobia of one set of stairs in the house refusing to go up them.   She does use other stairs in the house. She also refuses to be around spraying garden hoses. At the sight of a spraying hose, she runs back into the house to the safety of her couch and her friend Pooh Bear.

  Cleo is very attached to David and Watson. As I got ready to leave, David tried to get her to go outdoors for a picture. She went outside for a second then ran back onto her couch.  She has a very good home and was making sure that she was going to remain there. Abused dogs, once they find a safe place do not want to leave it and her safe place is on her couch with her Pooh bear and guardians nearby. 

Charlie

                                                                Charlie with toy

                                                      Charlie looking for treat

                                                                Charlie with toy

                                                                     Charlie on front deck

Charlie

     Handicapped, the very word conjures up images of physical limitations. Not so anymore, as there are many having handicaps accomplishing feats that others only dream of.  This brings us to a dog named Charlie who is said to be handicapped, but is he?

     Charlie is a golden lab who resides in Sutter Creek. As I drove up to the house on the side of the hill Charlie came running down to greet me. I didn’t notice a thing out of the ordinary about Charlie. He is a very happy, friendly dog.   After being greeted by Charlie it was obvious to me that this is a dog loved and certainly well cared for by his owners Gail Schifsky and Alan Vosburgh.  It seemed as if instinctively Charlie knew he was going to be the topic of our conversation.

    So what is different about Charlie? He looks like a lab, walks like a lab and does everything a Lab does so what makes him special? Well Charlie is Handicapped. That is to say he has only three legs. His right rear leg is missing. Gail and Alan told me that Charlie came to them by way of adoption via Jackson Creek Veterinary Clinic. The whole staff wanted to get Charlie adopted.

   In March 2005 five month old Charlie had jumped/fallen out of a moving pickup and had broken his leg in so many spots that it was unable to be put back together. That also meant he could not be fitted for a prosthesis either. So the only option was to amputate the leg.  If that meant he was going to have limitations no one told Charlie.

    Gail happened to take her cat to the Vet one day and the staff knew that Charlie needed a good home.   The staff also knew that Gail and Alan had owned a Lab previously and Charlie would make an ideal pet for them.  Gail immediately said yes but had to get approval from Alan so she drove back to Sutter Creek and brought Alan up to the clinic to meet Charlie.  It was love at first sight.  Charlie had warmed Gail and Alan’s hearts to the point where he had a home for life.

    Charlie quickly adjusted to life at Gail and Alan’s. The fact that most of their yard is on a hill meant nothing to Charlie. Once home he ran around the yard chasing a Frisbee and his Kong. He loves to play. One thing Dr. Bob explained to the couple is most of the weight a dog carries is on their front legs which allowed Charlie to adjust easily to running on three legs.

    Charlie and the local deer have made a pact that he won’t chase them and they don’t eat his food. In fact the only animals that Charlie chases are cats running from him. If a cat stands his ground, Charlie just goes up and noses it to say “hi” then returns to what he was doing.

   In 2012 with Charlie turning seven he has slowed down a bit but loves to lay in the yard soaking up the rays and in the house next to a warm fire. The day I was there he never stopped smiling and was really happy to be near us as we talked. Gail explained that Charlie thinks he’s more human than dog. He loves to be around people and it showed the day I was there. He was never more than a few feet from us as we chatted on the deck.

    Charlie is somewhat of a legend these days around Sutter Creek.  Mention a three legged dog and they all know you are talking about Charlie who lives up on the hill.  In fact Alan believes more people in Sutter Creek know Charlie by name than himself. If Charlie’s handicapped it’s only by people’s thoughts not his physical disability.

The West Point Cruiser

                                               Buddy aka The West Point Cruiser

                                                  Bob: Buddys closest Friend

The West Point Cruiser

            In California often the best treasures/outposts lie on blue highways. Blue highways are the roads less traveled. In Calaveras County one such outpost is West Point. This past November as I dove up to Bob Brown’s House to do this interview the wind was blowing hard through the almost empty streets in the center of town. West Point is one of those places that people move to and never want to leave. Memories are made on the mostly vacant streets. As I drove into town I felt one of those memories running alongside my car, I sensed Buddy aka the West Point Cruiser running alongside the car. His ghost was welcoming me to his home town.

            He came by the nickname of the West Point Cruiser via Bob.  This story begins the day when Buddy’s owners were moving from West Point. Buddy (part pit bulldog, age four) who loved West Point didn’t want to move so he grabbed all his toys picked what he figured was the best place in town to live and came to rest on Bob’s porch. Bob’s house on Pine Street was a great place to reside for a dog. From there it was just a short distance to Main Street, the school and for that matter everywhere else in town. And like everything else in Buddy’s life when he wanted something he took it.  

            Bob thought it was ok for buddy to stay with him. Bob’s idea was that Buddy would be an outside dog but Buddy didn’t like that idea so after he eventually chewed through three screen doors in attempts to break into the house until his domain came to be in the warmth of Bob’s home. To complete each day he would come in and want to be petted before bedtime. He wouldn’t give up until he got his way. At times when Bob wasn’t available then Buddy would find Bobs wife for one final pat on the head before sleep (which included heavy snoring)..

            Buddy who loved attention spent his days going up to the West Point elementary school where he had many friends. The students and Faculty adored buddy. Buddy also would make the rounds of the merchants on Main Street. He knew that he was welcome everywhere and would count on getting a tasty treat or two for his efforts. 

            All the residents were fond of Buddy but there were a few people who wanted him behind bars (or at least a chain link fence). He without a license came to be Calaveras county’s animal control most wanted dog. The white truck with words Animal Control on the side would be cruising  one street and when the man (Mike) wearing the green suit spotted buddy the chase would be on with Buddy trying to make it to Bob’s screened in porch before the net came down on him.  Buddy may have had short legs but he could run. Mike never did catch him. To avoid the inevitable phone call telling him his dog was at the pound Bob decided to buy Buddy a license making him street legal.

Still there was the matter of roaming. Buddy was known to have jumped in a neighbor’s pickup through an open window and made himself a bed by digging a hole in the upholstery in the front seat. Buddy also managed to get to John’s female dog making the dog’s owner unhappy. Buddy however could care less, he just continued his trek down to Glenda’s hardware store where he knew a cool cement floor awaited him to rest on. He would lie there for hours watching the world go by.

Finally Bob put up a fence to contain Buddy but escape artist that he was he would dig under the wire mesh until he was free. Once free he would waddle down to the bar where the owner and patrons would give him beef sticks then he would head to Bobs work place.  Buddy often was not content with just what people gave him if he saw something good to eat he would go to great measures to get it. He once stole a whole BBQ chicken off Joe’s (a neighbor) hot grill. He also helped himself one blustery day to Paulette’s (a neighbor down the street) Christmas cookies. Buddy would often be found in a neighbor’s house lying next to the fridge waiting to be fed. While peoples initial reaction would be anger their hearts would quickly warm to Buddy.

Buddy liked the big bruiser reputation but underneath that brindle coat lie the heart of a big gentle dog. One day on a visit Bob’s granddaughter managed to paint his toenails red. The two were the best of friends.

So Buddy came to be known and loved by all whose lives he touched. Buddy passed away a few years back. The whole town mourned, even animal control keeps a picture of him. To this day when Bob talks about Buddy, tears still come to his eyes for buddy truly personified the meaning of the phrase that a “Dog is man’s best friend”

Sierra

                                                               Sierra and Roger

                                                               Sierra Posing

                                                                  Sierra on alert

                                                                   Sierra looking cute

                                                            Sierra Sunning herself

In my last column I referred to the concept of Separation Anxiety. That is an expression used to describe dogs that need to be with owners all the time. Loneliness is a frightening thing for people but can be terrifying for dogs. This brings me to the story of Sierra, a part lab mix, who hangs out during the day at ATI auto parts store in Pine Grove.

                Roger Fugere, an employee of the store shares his life with Sierra. He adopted Sierra from the animal shelter in Martell 2 years ago.  Roger had lost his previous dog of 14 years in a tragic accident on the American River in 2009 and was devastated.  One day Roger was drowning his sorrow eating pie at Humble pies restaurant in Volcano missing the love of his dog . It was then he came across an ad in the local paper of a dog available for adoption at the animal shelter. Sierra was featured and something about her story and picture touched his heart. He drove down to the shelter where staff introduced him and Sierra to see if it was a match. It took around 40 minutes for Sierra to warm up to Roger. That day she entered Roger’s heart filling the hole left by the loss of his previous dog. Roger brought Sierra home to Volcano where she slept with him that night.

The next day Sierra went with Roger, who volunteers with the Volcano theater group, to work on the lighting for a production.   Roger and Sierra were bonding.

 The first morning Roger prepared to go to his regular job, he tethered Sierra to a clothesline where she would be safe until he returned. Sierra however had other plans.   She had a new friend in life and was not willing to stay home alone while her new friend was at work.

                Sierra managed to free herself from her tether (Separation Anxiety) and once free was searching Volcano to find Roger. A friend of Rogers spotted Sierra running loose and brought her to the auto parts store where Roger works.  To ease the separation anxiety Roger decided that he would take Sierra to work with him. Thus began the journey that brought Sierra where every day she can be found sunning herself inside the doors at ATI auto parts. Presently she greets all customers who enter through the doors. In return for the loving greeting she asks only for a pat on the head as a thank you.  She does however receive treats from regulars like the UPS delivery person.

 As Roger learned later, the separation anxiety had not started with him. Her previous family, who Roger met at the theater, mentioned that Sierra once climbed a tree to be with them.  She somehow managed to get to the highest limb in the tree just to be with her family.

                Today a person would never know that when Roger took Sierra home she had aggression problems with other dogs. Roger stated that a dog training specialist from West Point worked with Sierra until she became passive. 

                Dogs are creatures of routine. Disrupt this routine and dogs become anxious. Each day Sierra looks forward to going to work with Roger. Each morning she watches Roger closely to see if he is putting on his work clothes. Once she realizes that the day is a workday she eagerly waits for Roger to finish getting ready off to work they go. On days Roger doesn’t go to work she gets depressed but quickly recovers when she realizes that she will still get to spend the day with Roger.

                Anyone seeking to add a little love in their day needs only to drop by ATI auto parts and Sierra will make sure you are greeted with a warm welcome.   After all the Beatles in the 60’s sung the words “Love is all you need” and Sierra is determined to make sure that happens in everyone’s life she touches.

Jeffrey, Wilson and Owen Pioneer Ca

                                                                          Owen

                                                              Owen and Wilson

                                                                         Wilson

                                                               Jeff and Owen

                                                                     Wilson hiding

Jeff Posing

   "America is a nation of dog lovers. People relate to their animals almost more than they relate to other human beings”-Nick Park

     Let me introduce myself “I am the man who accompanies his dogs (there are three) through their life’s journey.”  I am also a writer sitting here in the Mother Lode thinking why not tell the stories about these four legged inhabitants referred to as dogs of the foothill and mountain communities.

    As anyone who has ever traveled on the highways and the byways of America knows, dogs are everywhere. They can be seen in front yards chasing Frisbees to the front seats of cars looking very regal. It has been said they are man’s best friend but as the years progress and society changes so has dogs role in our lives. In 2011 dogs are treated more as family than pets

   My wife and I take our dogs to dog parks which although primarily for the dogs benefit it is a great place to meet people who share one thing in common with us, they love dogs.

  What’s not to love about dogs? In my case, morning begins with  our dog Owen (a fifty pound ball of brown fur being part German Shepard and part Labrador) greeting me as if I was the most important person in the world.  And, maybe I am in his world, I feed, walk and love him.  Owen’s first task every morning is trying to chase off the deer.   They ignore him with a glance that says “Get a life, I’m bigger and faster than you”.  After tiring of that he works his way down to squirrels hanging out in the yard.  Owen barks and whines delighting in the fact his voice has made the squirrels run up into the trees where they chatter at him. Each day always ends up with him snuggling at my side, eyes closed preparing for the next days’ beginning.

   Mom’s Jeff (a “Walker Hound” we obtained from the animal shelter) is a dog who is entirely Mom’s. I am here only to feed him and protect him from the occasional threat that the wrinkling of a paper bag brings. Jeff, when he came to us from the shelter in Jackson, had been badly abused by a man. He has been a part of our family for four years and still doesn’t trust me because I am a man. He lives for my wife. When we first brought him home he ran into the woods. I panicked but Shirley came to the rescue and four years later he still will not leave her side. Over the years he has gained some trust in me but when the chips are down it’s Mom that counts.

    Our oldest dog Wilson (a mixture of so many breeds I can’t count) is the family dog. He loves Shirley and me equally. We obtained him via a rescue organization. We were his last chance. He was not a pretty dog but his heart was big. He was a lover. We had just finished grieving for our dog Mikie when Wilson entered our lives. It was just before our wedding ten years ago. We obtained Wilson in mid- December as a companion to our other dog “Menace” who was grieving for Mikie’s loss, and from my experience dogs do grieve.

    Wilson was delivered to our house on a cold rainy December day in 2001. Two weeks later we left on our honeymoon leaving our dogs in the care of a pet sitter.  Suddenly the words “Separation Anxiety” entered into my vocabulary. Upon our return home we found everything breakable/chewable sitting on a ledge out of Wilson’s reach. All the items in the house that weren’t rescued (our pet sitter’s words) were in shatters. In our bedroom there were so many feathers flying in the air from the pillows Wilson had shredded, it looked like it was snowing.  Ever since that day he has always been at our side. He loves us both equally.

  Still this column is not going to be about me and my dogs but the dogs of the Mother lode. Each dog is unique complete with personality and quirks. My goal is to expose their stories to the people living in this area through this column. I hope you enjoy the stories that are going to follow.   Each story is as different and as unique as each dog owner is. It has been said that a dog resembles its owner and I hope by telling these stories we are not only revealing stories about the dogs residing in the local hills and forests we refer to as the Mother lode, but the people who walk these paths as well.

   The next column will feature a dog named Sierra who is parented by Roger.  She is the greeter at an  auto parts store in Pine Grove.

 If you have a dog with a story to share contact me at danny74713@gmail.com and we will arrange a date for an interview and in the coming weeks their tail (pun intended) may be featured in this column.