Going to the Dogs

By Dr. Tim Seelig–

It’s time to talk about dogs—some more. My February 27, 2020, article (https://tinyurl.com/2rmbtmrm) provided information on my dogs up to that point. Shortly after that, we added a fur baby to the family. Yes, a pandemic pet. More on that in a bit. Of my seven decades, I can count the years spent without a dog on my fingers. I don’t need my toes. Those years were college and two times living outside the country. Dogs R Us. It’s what I do. It’s definitely a lifestyle choice.

Considering my canine companions, I obviously have a type! All three were lookers, petite and blonde! They were all quiet and obedient and listened to what I say, acknowledging me as the rightful head of the household. All three had their names changed upon arrival at my house. They never talked back. Strangely, those were all things I was taught to look for in a wife.

None of my dogs have ever liked to play fetch or chew toys or engage in any puppy play at all. Perhaps they have all took one look at me and thought “couch potato” and immediately adjusted. Big dogs do hour walks. Small dogs do 10-minute walks max. The best thing about all three was they did not bark except when someone knocked on the door. They were tiny, but fierce guard dogs.

Britney found us at the SPCA in Dallas. She was a light caramel color, so she became Carmella. She was maybe a beagle chihuahua mix and weighed in at around an adorable 15 lbs. We adored her!

Rainy came from Copper’s Dream (https://www.coppersdream.org/). They travel the Bay Area rescuing dogs from other shelters. She was such a gift after losing Carmella, so we called her Grace. She is a dainty chihuahua girl, lithe and sweet and a whopping 9 lbs. Definitely an introvert.

Mashed Potato, because he was the color of mashed potatoes, was just waiting for us at Muttville. His name changed immediately to Tater Tot. Muttville’s mission is to rehome senior dogs (https://muttville.org/). Tater Tot is also a blonde chihuahua who weighs a little over 7 lbs. Don’t let his size fool you. At 13 years old, down 16 teeth, he is still in charge of our entire river walk.

Here is a little more about Tater Tot. (This list started at 25. I cut it to 10.)

He knows the tone of my voice—from baby talk to “Oh no, you di’n’t.”
He hates violins and sopranos and lets me know by singing (howling) along.
He doesn’t care what I watch on TV as long as I pet him while I watch.
He sometimes tries to help me type by gently pawing my right hand.
He loves day naps, having kept a watchful eye through the night to protect me.
He doesn’t care about politics except when I yell at people on TV wearing red caps.
He enjoys sitting in front of me as I use the restroom—guaranteed focus on him!
He likes Portland and still thinks he can catch squirrels and rabbits, but ignores the geese.
He has never said, “You’re late!” He’s just delirious I came home to him at all.
He probably knows me better than anyone and I never wonder if he loves me.

Everybody needs a Tater Tot in their life, the edible and the canine versions. I don’t know what I would do without him.

When I got to Portland, I immediately looked for a Muttville. Sadly, there is no such place here. But what they do have is the extraordinary Oregon Humane Society. It has a 46,000-square-foot state of the art shelter that can house over 300 animals at a time, and it features a brand-new veterinary clinic and a behavior center for animals that need a little extra. It has 200 full-time employees and 2,800 volunteers. Remarkably, it also has full-time veterinary social workers who care for animals and the people who own them, including everything from caring for the pets of those who are unhoused and those who are elderly. They also have a Humane Law Enforcement team onsite, responding to animal abuse all over the Northwest.

On November 19, I will have my all-day training to become a certified volunteer! I am happy with whatever title they give me: Pooper Scooper is fine. (Dr. Pooper Scooper to you!) I’ll work my way up to Dog Whisperer and just sit in a kennel to love on a dog that needs some TLC. I will say Bobby Jo is a little wary of what I might sneak home in my backpack while he’s on tour!

I am excited that part of my retirement will be spent making dogs’ lives better in whatever way I can. My dream was to have a huge property like The Asher House (https://www.theasherhouse.com/) with countless animals. That was a dream Corianna and I shared. The HOA at my condo frowned on it. My other dream was to start a Muttville Northwest. We’ll see about that one.

Most of all, we are lucky as humans to share our love with a pet of any species. There is nothing like the unconditional love of a fur baby—or one with no fur (my granddaughter Clara had a bearded dragon named Princess Shimmer that tested my theory of cuddly pets!). We know adopting an older pet limits the years we will have with him, but it just makes us love him harder and deeper—if that is possible!

Dr. Tim Seelig is the Conductor Laureate of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. http://www.timseelig.com/