The Old Neighborhood Chapter Two DOGS

In the old days back in my neighborhood of Woodsdale, all professions, were much more professional. The Doctors really cared, the lawyers were honest and respectable, and even the dogs were professional. The dogs were much more human then. Our dog Skippy was a prime example. In those days you did not train a dog to do anything. The dog decided what its job was and did it. Skippy was the neighborhood policeman. Skippy protected all the children in the neighborhood. If a tuff kid from outside our area tried to assault or threaten any neighborhood kid, Skippy quickly made it known that it wasn't going to happen. One of the best things about Skippy was you never had to feed him. He had a route, after dinner he went from door to door, and everyone saved left overs for him. Often Skippy went to Smoot's to watch TV and relax after a hard day. I always thought it was interesting to go across the street and see our dog resting in an over stuffed chair watching television. At our own home Skippy would spend a little time on each bed checking on each of us nine children. After Skippy was sure everyone was asleep and accounted for he would settle in my parents room. Skippy knew the sound of each family member coming up the steps to the second floor. If anyone came up those steps at night that did not belong all hell broke loose.

My Grandfathers dog, who I think was named Jeff, took on a different job. He must have been named after Thomas Jefferson. Jeff was the dog that accompanied the mailman for years. The Wheeling paper did more than one story on Jeff. Jeff met the bus everyday that brought Wilbur from town. Wilbur and Jeff walked together all day delivering the mail. Jeff left Wilbur at the bus and went home to my Grandfathers house which was close to ours. I don't know for sure, but I imagine Jeff had a glass of Bourbon at the end of the day with my grandfather. In the old days dogs were never a problem. The dogs roamed freely and know one cared. Unfortunately dogs have lost a lot of their humanity in recent times, but I fondly remember when dogs were more noble.