What a guy this mixed male Beagle was. About as bright an animal as one could experience. He was loved by his best friends: Heidi, Cleo, Lenette, Jeff, and me. In fact, how could anyone not love Brutus? So, the following story is about just a few of his remarkable abilities.
How many dogs have you met that can reason, count, do math, speak (bark) on command, and play “Capture the Flag” with staff and kids? Not to forget his ability to find water for a backpacking group needing fresh drinking water while trekking through the Warner Mountains. All true. And I’ll be writing about a few of them.
Brutus was a problem solver who often got Heidi and Cleo into troubled waters but also led his friends out of trouble. One day Lenette splurged and bought a steak for us. We were anticipating a wonderful, barbequed steak, baked potatoes, Caesar salad, and wine in our backyard underneath Ma’s tree (another story in itself).
Brutus was with Lenette the whole time she was preparing our elegant meal while I made ready the barbeque. Heidi, Cleo, and Jeff were off playing with Cleo’s kittens, a very backyard family scene. In this tranquil setting, Brutus was calculating the height of the barbeque and where the steak would be placed. This was going to be a job for Heidi.
Lenette placed the steak on the grill, and we both went inside. I to finish preparing the salad, and Lenette to prepare the balance of the Banquet. Brutus went to get Heidi, who easily grabbed the steak off the grill (something she had never done before) and dropped it onto the grass where Cleo, Brutus, and she enjoyed a fabulous steak dinner. And so it goes with animals you love. More on Brutus to follow.
We love animals—They love us lots as we them—Everything a price.
