Saturday Stories - Family Pets 07-16-16

Diane’s family always had pets; an array of cats and a few dogs, bunnies, and Pedro the rooster.  Bingo was actually her sister Marie’s dog – a black cocker spaniel that their dad added to the family before Diane was born.  He lived a long, indulged life.  When Diane was in about the 8^th grade she brought home a lost puppy who lived in a “Fluffo” box for a period of time and acquired the name of Buffo.  He was a Heinz variety sort of dog, all legs and long tail and floppy ears.  Diane’s mother would open the door to the upstairs and say, “Buff, go get Diane.” and Buff would fly up the stairs and leap onto the bed, licking and sniffing and bouncing until Diane was out of bed – grumbling all the way. Buff was a complete clown who took a secret delight in wiping everything off the coffee table with his long, heavy tail.   When Diane graduated from high school and moved to California, Buff stayed at home.  He was joined by Mr. Pennypacker, a part Chihuahua mutt who turned up on the porch one icy winter night, whimpering and asking to be let inside.  He stayed for the rest of the winter and then went his way. But in the fall he came back and stayed another winter and then left and came back another winter.  So, he acquired his name after the traveling salesman who had several families in different towns.   Finally Penny just stayed all the time and was Diane’s mother’s defender in all things.  Once Diane raised her hand in demonstrating something to her mother and Penny about took her hand off.  He thought the hand was raised to strike.

And then there were the cats.  Diane’s stepfather was fond of cats and very good with them.  When the beloved Baby was caught by a dog who ripped her stomach open and was rushed to the vet, the stepdad took care of her with such loving care that she survived and lived to a good old age.  Bunny was a white kitten that Diane brought home, so adorable with pure white fur and a pink nose and paws.  But she was a bit of an idiot and was always crawling into places she shouldn’t and getting stuck.  They would hear her crying and finally locate her and dig her out.  Down the furnace vent one time she was almost a goner. 

All these loving animals who shared the life of the family are gone now, along with mother and stepfather.  But sweet memories remain

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KoKo Ota at six months  August 2014