(2013) I was there to visit my grandmother, my mother’s aunt, and the rest of her family. The rest of her family also includes a puppy and Tootsie, the puppy’s mother.
Reluctant to my arrival, Tootsie gave me a scare with her loud and incessant barking. Although I am a dog lover, as proven by my five dogs at home, this stranger of a dog considered me a stranger too. I told myself that before my vacation was over I had to befriend my grandmother’s dogs, especially, Tootsie.
I left my grandmother’s a few days after since I had to visit my other relatives at their houses. A few days passed but I haven’t forgotten about the idea of befriending Tootsie.
Tootsie is a brown medium built mutt that had a very prominent growl. I even mistook her to be a male because her growls and barks sounded like that of my male dogs at home.
I went back to my grandmother’s house a day before my flight back to my hometown because her house was nearer the airport. Upon my arrival, Tootsie whom I think got accustomed to my presence and my scent did not growl nor bark at me – rather she did not growl nor bark that much anymore. I slept that night with the hope of befriending Tootsie the following morning.
That morning, mother’s day, we had bread, sunny-side up eggs and hotdogs for breakfast. What better way to befriend dogs than with treats, I thought to myself. When my cousin and her family went to church, leaving me alone at home since my grandmother went to visit her son a few days ago, I found the perfect time to do the challenge.
With hotdogs and bread in my hands, I first went to Tootsie. “Tootsie!”, I called, she responded. Afraid of what she might do, I just threw a bit of the hotdog near her. When she moved towards me, I closed the screen door and observed, she sat at the doorstep, looking at me. I smiled. I then went to the puppy. When I opened the door, he ran into hiding but I still threw bits of hotdog and he ate them all up.
To and fro, I went to Tootsie and then to her puppy. Tootsie, getting comfortable with me while the puppy walked closer to me as I threw the treats nearer. I did this until all the hotdogs were gone, so I gave them bread! I thought that they would not like the bread but they did. And then, the magic happened with Tootsie, she laid down on her side, inviting me to hold her. I slowly touched her head, she was purring like a cat, and then she scratched her tummy as if to say give me some belly rubbing.
And so that’s what I did. She liked me and even if I no longer had food with me, she still wanted me to be with her. I then went to the puppy but since he just hid again, I went back to Tootsie. She no longer growled at me when I opened the door, rather, upon seeing me, she laid down on her side and I gave her the belly rubs she so wanted.
When I left for the airport at noon, she followed me to the gate, no more growls, no more barks, just a smiling face, as if saying, “I’m looking forward to your next visit.” As I rode to the airport, I thought about how an angry creature can be so kind if you just treat it with tender, loving care (TLC). I then challenged myself that on my next visit, I will befriend Tootsie’s puppy.
I know he will be bigger by then but can never outgrow belly rubs and treats. As I was riding on the airplane, I wrote this and imagined how my five dogs at home would greet me at home. One thing is for sure, I will greet them with a dose of belly rubs, back rubs, head massages, and kisses. I have been away for three weeks and I miss them very dearly.
mspatsperous 