The adjective wild has a consistent meaning. These are the animals that roam their habitat and tolerate humans, maybe. Push them too far, and they react to attack. People at times think they have made friends with, say a bear or one of the larger cats. Then the story in the paper tells of being turned on and maimed or killed.
A special word has been coined for those animals that over the years since creation have changed to share domicile and life with humans. We say they are domesticated. That denotes a step beyond a horse that comes to his owner, or a parakeet who sings in a cage, or even the goldfish that children win at field days. Cats almost meet the criteria. The truth is felines always keep the option of time they spend with you as their choice.
The shining example of domesticity is the dog. From mutts of unknown breed to carefully groomed purebreds they bond with a human. They require the same care that children do, and for that they are part of the family. I have noted this loyalty mostly as an outsider. The visceral feeling remains none the less. I knew my first dog only in stories. My daddy had a squirrel dog for hunting in the Catahoula swamps, and no dog was as smart as he. We did have a white bitch named Snow White. She had a litter of seven who were named collectively The Seven Dwarfs. We moved to Hammond when I was four, and they were all given away “Dogs don’t belong in the city.” was the edict.
We never had a dog in our household. Two/thirds of our children now have canines, and those have made me a dog person. Each of the animals has had personality and purpose. I have learned to appreciate the bouncy bossiness of a Jack Russell and the energy needed to walk a Weimaraner. One German shepherd decided I was the oldest and most needy of a group, and she spent my whole visit being between me and harm.
Today, will you remember Caramel, affectionally known as Cara. She was one of two dogs who came with a son’s marriage, a lovely, gracious Golden Retriever. She was chosen as a puppy by an almost teenager and was trained to hunt pheasants. She chased rabbits in muddy fields and barked at bears in the driveway. Age, 14 1/2 years for her, creeps on us all. Movement slowed, and she gave up eating. Her family took her one more time to a pond for a last swim. This morning the vet came to ease her way to another existence. Scattered over
distance and compass points, family offered the love and sympathy we give for any loss. In her memory, find a furry ear to scratch.
And God said “Let the earth bring forth living creatures.”….And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1: 24,25
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