I live across the street from Collett Park. It is not a dog park…like those you find in some cities dedicated to dogs, where they can meet other dogs, romp and play, and have a good time.
In my two years of being able to watch the Park, I have noticed many good dogs. These dogs are on a leash and it’s amazing how well behaved they are. In this length of time, I have never known them to attack one another. They just seem to get along, and for those of us walking the Park without a dog, we almost never get bothered by our canine friends.
There are a couple of golden labradors that are walked almost every day by a woman whose name is Judy, and it’s a great story. She acquired the dogs when they were puppies knowing that when they reached a certain age and/or old enough to be trained, she would have to give them up because these dogs were going to help those who cannot help themselves. So, Judy’s dogs, Ryder and Lazlo, went off to be trained. In spite of the fact these are intelligent, loving dogs, they failed in their training. And Judy had the opportunity to take the dogs back, which she did. They lope along quietly, seemingly quite happy just to be in the park with the lady who loves them.
I met a lovely Poodle-Lab mix with reddish, curly hair, a right beautiful dog whose name is Charlie. When I said to the lady walking Charlie, “Well, he’s a really pretty dog,” she said, “Charlie is not a he, Charlie is a she!” I asked why a masculine name for a female dog and she replied, “I don’t know, I’m just walking her.”
Another female dog is Gypsy Rose, whose owner lives in New Goshen. But Gypsy Rose gets to walk around Collett Park every so often. The lady told me she misses me on the radio, but she enjoys reading my work in this newspaper. Obviously a lady of good intelligence and great taste! Gypsy Rose, a mixed breed, looks like shepherd and collie and is just a sweetheart.
Now I’ve met many dogs, more than I have mentioned here, but I didn’t write their names down and I certainly don’t want to have the pooches angry at the Tribune-Star for getting their names wrong. I have a small, digital recorder and I’m going to have to use it on my walks so it can help my not-too-accurate memory.
I did see a dog try to carry off a limb that had fallen, much to the consternation of the lady who was walking the dog. All is not perfect, but it is amazing how good it really is.
Ronn Mott, a longtime radio personality in Terre Haute, writes commentaries for the Tribune-Star. His pieces are published online Tuesday and Thursday on Tribstar.com, and in the print and online editions on Saturday.
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RONN MOTT: Dogs I have met
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