By Mike Phillips
Contributing sportswriter
I’m taking a little trip off the beaten path this week to talk about our furry, four-legged friends. It doesn’t matter if they are dogs, cats or any other animal. I love them all and they seem to take well to me.
A friend of mine lost her pet dog last week after eight years of friendship. I knew my friend’s heart was broke. I offered to get another dog for her, but she said she didn’t want another one because it’s too hard to take when they pass away. I understand exactly what she means because pets become more than just pets, they become a part of your family.
Where I live, I am not allowed to have indoor pets, but about three years ago, I was blessed when a small, white and black cat showed up on the front porch of our apartment house. I went around to the front porch one day to check my mail and I felt something rubbing up against my leg. I looked down and there was this pretty, black and white cat.
I sat down in my front neighbor’s plastic chair. And here came the cat, thumpety, thumpety, thumpety and she took flight and landed on my lap and laid down.
I had found a friend.
For the first three or four months, TK stayed on the front porch and the young couple living there fed ad took care of her. But I went around there two or three times a day to play with her and she would jump up and get her petting and go to sleep.
I soon noticed TK wasn’t being fed. I went out and got her a food and water dish and have taken care of her ever since. It’s expensive to feed animal, but she is worth it. What I have failed to tell you yet is that up to five other cats have shown up after TK. Of course, I feed and water them too.
It’s fun to look out the back window in the mornings after I have fed them and see two or three cats lined up side-by-side eating. I have had to break up a fight or two, but for the most part, the cats get along well and I think they look after each other.
When I feed them in the mornings, there are always at least two of the cats lying next to each other on the top step of my back steps. When I open the door, they let me know they are hungry.
They are outdoor cats and still have their claws. But every once in a while, one of my buddies will run onto the back porch and head straight for their food bag. These cats eat a lot, but I am glad they have chosen me to take care of them.
I’m friends with all the dogs and cats in the neighborhood. There is a black, male chow that lives right around the corner from me at 13th and Lamine.
When Chopper first came to his family about seven years ago, I was going up 13th next to his yard. He came running up from his house with his tail wagging. Knowing how temperamental a Chow can be, I was tentative about petting him. But the look in his eyes and the tail wagging, I thought I was okay. I bent down and started petting him. Chopper seemed to love it. The owners came out of the house and told me to stop because Chopper would bite.
I told them I didn’t think Chopper would bite anyone. Chopper jumped up and wanted more petting. I stood there for 15 to 20 minutes and gave him all the petting he wanted while the owners stood there in disbelief.
When I got ready to leave, I offered my services if Chopper needed anything
“We can’t believe what we just saw,” the owner said to me. “Chopper has never let anyone pet in his life. You are the first.”
I looked over at Chopper and told him I would be back. His tail was still going 90 mile an hour.
Now, I can’t get past his yard without stopping to pet him.
There is a dog and cat that live at 10th and Lamine. Not sure what kind of dog it is. He looks like a lab only he has speckles of brown in his coat. The cat is a gray Persian.
I can’t get past there without giving them some love and attention.
That’s all pets ask for: food, water, shelter and love. What you get back is 10 times more than you give them.
