The Quiet Dogs
By Gina Asbridge
My older sister was killed in a
car accident in November 1995. For most of her life she had
raised show dogs (collies and Shetland Sheepdogs) and had several
when she died. Susan had been a loner and most of her dogs were
not very socialized and did not like other people. They were also
barkers. They barked at horses, people, cars, birds, rabbits,
trees, leaves and sometimes would just stand there and bark for
barking's sake. I didn't matter wether Susan was home or not,
they made noise.
When we got back from the hospital
the morning Susan was killed they were silent. They remained
silent for two weeks. They would come out and say hello when I
fed them and that was about it. After two weeks they started
barking again. Not gradually getting used to me and the new
situation, but rather like a switch had been flipped and they
were ok. They became friendly to everyone, and, well, barked. I
was still greatly depressed so it wasn't in response to my mood.
Rather, since the dogs were all normal again I started feeling
better. I feel that somehow Susan had told the dogs that
everything was going to be all right and they were mine now.
Sometimes I still feel Susan is
close by. I do a lot of driving and I could swear that she is
right in the passenger seat. Most of her dogs were fairly old and
some are with her now as they should be. I know that she is still
looking out for me.