Tigger's Dogs

This is a true story about the dogs in his life as told by 

James Matthew Hudson (TIGGER)

With the support of his father:

James Peter Hudson

Me and Dad with buddy

INTRODUCTION

      MY NAME IS JAMES MATTHEW HUDSON AND I WAS BORN ON THE 10TH OF DECEMBER IN 1980 IN A SMALL TOWN, SERIA, IN THE COUNTRY OF BRUNEI, ON THE ISLAND OF BORNEO. MY DAD, JAMES SR., WAS AN OILFIELD ENGINEER AND BRUNEI WAS OUR HOME FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MONTHS. BECAUSE MY DAD'S NAME WAS JAMES ALSO, MY FOLKS CALLED ME BY MY SECOND NAME, MATTHEW, OR "MATT" FOR SHORT.

      WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG I LOVED THE SONGS OF WINNIE THE POOH AND ESPECIALLY THE ONE BY TIGGER ABOUT HIMSELF. YOU KNOW THE ONE; IT GOES;

      "THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT TIGGERS IS TIGGERS ARE WONDERFUL THINGS!"

      WELL I WOULD LAUGH REAL HARD WHEN SOMEONE WOULD SING THIS TO ME AND BOUNCE ME ON THEIR KNEE. THIS ALSO MADE MY DAD HAPPY AND HE STARTED CALLING ME "TIGGER". TODAY HE STILL CALLS ME EITHER TIGGER OR JUNIOR.

      AT LESS THAN A YEAR OLD I WAS FOUND TO HAVE SUFFERED BRAIN DAMAGE AT BIRTH AND HAD DEVELOPED WHAT THEY CALL CEREBRAL PALSY. THOUGH I CAN SPEAK, READ, AND DO MANY THINGS WITH MY HANDS I CANNOT WALK AS YET. I THINK THAT HAVING TO SPEND MY TIME IN A WHEELCHAIR HAS HELPED ME UNDERSTAND AND LOVE DOGS MORE. 

      THANK YOU JESUS FOR ALL THOSE DOGS THAT I GOT TO KNOW AND HAVE MADE ME SO HAPPY.

THE STORY OF TRIXIE

MANY, MANY YEARS AGO,WHEN MY DAD WAS JUST A 5 YEAR OLD BOY, HE HAD A PURE-BRED BLACK SCOTTISH TERRIER NAMED TRIXIE. 

TRIXIE HAD THE FIRST SET OF PUPPIES THAT MY DAD CAN REMEMBER SEEING. TRIXIE WAS STAYING WITH MY DAD AT HIS COUSIN’S PLACE, DURING THE HOLIDAYS ON THE FARM WHEN SHE GOT RUN OVER BY A PICK-UP TRUCK WHILE TRYING TO CROSS THE ROAD. 

THE STORY OF SKIPPER

SKIPPER WAS KIND OF A LAB/POINTER CROSS PUPPY THAT MY DAD AND MY UNCLES GOT WHEN HE WAS A VERY YOUNG BOY.

SKIPPER LOVED TO PLAY WITH THE BOYS AND WOULD RUN WITH THEM AND CHASE THE BALL FOR HOURS.

SKIPPER ALSO LOVED CHICKENS, AS IN THE NEIGHBOR’S CHICKENS, FOR SUPPER.

ONE DAY THE NEIGHBOR CAUGHT HIM IN THE CHICKEN COOP, AND THEN THE CHICKENS HAD SKIPPER SOUP FOR SUPPER.

THE STORY OF WAFFLES

WHEN MY DAD WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD HE GOT THE BEST DOG HE EVER HAD.

A FARMER GAVE HIM AND MY UNCLE DAVID A PURE BRED BEAGLE WHOM THEY CALLED WAFFLES.

WAFFLES WAS AS SMART AS A WHIP AND COULD DO ALL KINDS OF TRICKS. HE COULD EVEN PULL THE TOBOGGEN IN WINTER WITH TWO KIDS ON IT.

EVERYBODY LOVED WAFFLES! EVERYONE, THAT IS, EXCEPT MR. BERGEN THEIR NEIGHBOR. HE SAID THAT WAFFLES HAD CHASED HIM HOME FROM CHURCH. GRANDMA TOLD DAD THAT HE HAD TO GET RID OF WAFFLES SO MY DAD TOOK HIM OUT AND SHOT HIM, AND BURIED HIM. THOUGH IT MADE MY DAD VERY SAD HE DID IT FOR MY GRANDMA’S SAKE.

THE STORY OF IRISH

IRISH WAS A PURE BRED GOLDEN RETEIVER THAT WAS GIVEN TO MY PARENTS A LITTLE WHILE AFTER THEY GOT MARRIED.

HE WAS A BEAUTIFUL SHOW DOG WHO ALSO HAD SOME HUNTING EXPERIENCE.

ONE DAY MY DEAD AND UNCLES WERE OUT SHOOTING PIGEONS WITH IRISH AND HE RAN AWAY FROM THEM. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE ORIGINAL OWNERS CALLED AND SAID HE HAD FOUND HIS WAY BACK TO HIS FIRST HOME FIFTY MILES AWAY.

THE STORY OF MAX

      BEFORE I WAS BORN MY BROTHER AND MY PARENTS MOVED TO BRUNIE ON THE ISLAND OF BORNEO. MY MOTHER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE IF JOSHUA HAD A PUPPY.

THEY WENT OUT AND FOUND A CUTE LITTLE CROSS PUPPY WHICH JOSHUA NAMED “MAX”. JOSHUA LOVED MAX VERY MUCH. HE ALMOST LOVED HIM TO DEATH.

      HE LOVED TO PLAY WITH HIM BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE MAX GENTLY. ONCE HE ALMOST STRANGLED MAX WHILE HE WAS TRYING TO SHOW HIS FRIENDS HIS PET. MY PARENTS WERE AFRAID THAT HE WOULD HARM MAX AND SO THEY WAITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND MAX A NEW HOME. JOSHUA FOUND A NEW LITTLE GIRL FRIEND AND FORGOT ALL ABOUT MAX. MY PARENTS FOUND ANOTHER HOME FOR HIM. 

THE STORY OF BALOU

       WE HAD JUST MOVED TO HOUSTON, TEXAS FROM BANGKOK, THAILAND AND DAD THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE IF JOSHUA AND I HAD A DOG. WE WENT TO A KENNEL AND AS SOON AS WE SAW THE MINI BEAGLES BOTH JOSHUA AND I KNEW WE HAD TO HAVE ONE OF THOSE PUPS. WE CHOSE THE ONE WE THOUGHT WAS BEST AND NAMED HIM BALOU.

BALOU LOVED TO DIG IN THE BACK YARD, AND IF HE HAD BEEN WITH US LONG ENOUGH HE WOULD PROBABLY HAVE DUG A HOLE ALL THE WAY TO  CHINA. HE ALSO LOVED TO CHASE THE NEIGHBOR’S CAT. HE ALSO LOVED TO CHASE RABBITS IN THE WOODS NEAR THE HOUSE. WHEN HE WAS CHASING THEM HE WOULD HOWL; “OW, OW”, LIKE SOMEONE WAS KICKING HIM ALL THE WAY. MY DAD WOULD LAUGH AND MAKE FUN OF HIM.

       ONE DAY HE CHASED A RABBIT INTO THE NEXT COUNTY AND DIDN’T COME BACK. SOME PEOPLE PHONED AND SAID THEY HAD HIM AND THAT THEIR CHILDREN LIKED HIM. DAD SAID IF THEY LIKED BALOU THAT MUCH THEY COULD BUY HIM. THEY DID.

THE STORY OF SPIKE

      WHEN WE MOVED TO AIRDRIE, ALBERTA, CANADA FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS, JOSHUA AND I WANTED ANOTHER DOG. MY PARENTS TOOK US TO THE SPCA (SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS) IN CALGARY AND WE ADOPTED A BROWN COCKER SPANIEL CROSS NAMED SPIKE. 

      I LIKED TO TAKE SPIKE FOR WALKS. HE KNEW HOW TO HEEL AND LISTEN TO COMMANDS. HE ALSO KNEW HOW TO WALK NEXT TO MY WHEELCHAIR. SPIKE DID NOT BARK.

      SPIKE DID NOT KNOW ANY TRICKS WHEN WE GOT HIM. HE LIKED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM AND ON THE NEIGHBORS LAWN. THIS CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND MY DAD HAD TO GO TO COURT AND PAY A FINE. THAT WAS THE END OF SPIKE. HE WENT BACK TO THE SPCA.

THE STORY OF BANDIT

      ABOUT A YEAR LATER WE MOVED TO SUNDANCE IN SOUTH CALGARY. I WANTED A PUP TO WALK WITH ME AND TO PLAY WITH ON THE SCHOOL YARD.

MY PARENTS LOOKED FOR A DOG IN THE NEWSPAPER AND FOUND A PLACE THAT WAS SELLING BLUE HEELERS. WE WENT THERE AND BOUGHT A PUPPY THAT JOSHUA AND I CHOSE. WE CALLED HER BANDIT BECAUSE SHE HAD A MASK AROUND HER EYES.

      BANDIT LIKED TO HOWL AND SO WE HAD TO USE LEMON JUICE TO GET HER TO STOP THAT. SHE LEARNED TRICKS LIKE SHAKE-A-PAW, SIT, AND LIE DOWN. SHE ALSO LEARNED TO WALK BESIDE MY CHAIR.

      SHE WAS VERY PROTECTIVE OF ME. WHEN SOME NEIGHBOR BOYS TRIED TO TIP MY CHAIR BANDIT BIT ONE OF THEM. HIS FATHER WAS VERY UPSET. HE DIDN’T CARE IF HIS SON HURT ME BUT HE DIDN’T WANT THE DOG TO PROTECT ME.

MY PARENTS DECIDED TO GIVE BANDIT TO SOME PEOPLE THAT HAD AN ACERAGE OUTSIDE OF CALGARY. JOSHUA AND I DIDN’T LIKE THIS BUT WE KNEW THAT WE HAD TO TRY TO LIVE WITH THE NEIGHBORS. SO BANDIT WENT TO HER NEW HOME WITH THE MOTHER, FATHER AND A LITTLE GIRL.

THE STORY OF MOUSE

      WHEN MY MOM WAS WORKING AT THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL SHE MET MR. BEARD, WHO HAD A DOG THAT HE COULDN’T KEEP. SHE TALKED IT OVER WITH DAD, JOSHUA, AND ME, AND WE DECIDED THAT WE WOULD LIKE THE DOG.

THIS DOG WAS A SMALL, WHITE, TOY 

POODLE, NAMED “MOUSE”. MOUSE CAME WITH HIS VERY OWN HOUSE. IT WAS A TRAVEL HOUSE FOR DOGS. WHEN MOUSE WAS BAD I WOULD SAY, “MOUSE, GO TO YOUR HOUSE.” AND HE WOULD GO THERE AND LAY INSIDE, WITH ONLY HIS HEAD SHOWING, UNTIL WE TOLD HIM HE COULD COME OUT.

MOUSE LOVED TO BARK, BUT ONCE HE GOT STARTED HE COULDN’T STOP. HE KNEW HE WASN’T SUPPOSED TO BARK SO HE WOULD HIDE, BUT WE WOULD STILL HEAR HIM GOING “R-R-R-ARP, R-R-R-ARP” FOR A LONG TIME AFTERWARD.

MOUSE COULD DO TRICKS LIKE ROLL OVER, LIE DOWN, SHAKE-A-PAW, SIT, AND FETCH. I WOULD THROW A BALL FOR HIM AND HE WOULD BRING IT RIGHT BACK TO ME IN MY CHAIR. OFTEN HE WOULD EVEN PUT HIS FRONT PAWS ON MY LEG AND PUT THE BALL IN MY LAP.

MOUSE HAD A BAD HIP AND WOULD LIMP WHEN IT HURT HIM. WHEN HE RAN HE WOULD GIVE A LITTLE HOP AND A YELP EVERY FEW STEPS. IT WOULD MAKE ME LAUGH BUT IT WOULD ALSO MAKE ME SAD TO KNOW THAT IT HURT HIM.

WE TRIED TO CUT MOUSE’S HAIR BUT IT WAS SO CURLY AND KNOTTED THAT WE FINALLY TOOK HIM TO THE PET SHOP AND THEY CUT HIS HAIR. HE DID NOT LIKE TO GET A HAIRCUT IN WINTER BECAUSE THEN HE FELT THE COLD MORE.

MOUSE LIVED WITH US FOR MORE THAN FOUR YEARS. ONE DAY MR. BEARD CAME AND TOOK MOUSE BACK. I NEVER SAW MOUSE AGAIN.

THE STORY OF ROLY

IT HAD BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE MOUSE HAD BEEN RETURNED TO HIS PREVIOUS OWNER AND I WAS GETTING VERY HOMESICK FOR ANOTHER PUP. THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE MOVING WHO HAD THREE SHELTIES FOR SALE. I ASKED MY DAD ABOUT IT AND HE SAID YES I COULD GET ONE AS LONG AS MY MOM AGREED. WE DROVE DOWN TO GET HER IN HIS CAR.

THERE WERE 2 OTHER BROWN AND WHITE SHELTIES THERE, BUT I CHOOSE THE BLACK AND WHITE ONE, ROLY, SO MY DAD AND I BOUGHT HER.

I STILL MISS HER AND I STILL REMEMBER HOW, WHEN SHE WAS LET LOOSE AT HER OLD PLACE, SHE CAME RIGHT TO ME AND JUMPED RIGHT UP ON MY LAP. IT WAS JUST LIKE THAT WAS WHERE SHE HAD ALWAYS BELONGED.

ROLY WAS A SMART PUP WHO COULD DO TRICKS LIKE: STAYING, ROLL OVER, AND SHAKE-A-PAW. SHE LOVED TO PLAY WITH ME BY THE RIVER. SHE WOULD RUN AND BARK AND FETCH BALLS I THREW. SHE STAYED WITH MY DAD AND I WENT TO SEE HER ON WEEKENDS.

WHEN MY DAD MARRIED CRISALIDA THEY TOOK ROLY TO LIVE WITH THEM IN VISTA HEIGHTS. WHILE THEY WERE MOVING THEY PUT ROLY IN THE BACKYARD AND SHE GOT OUT OF THE FENCE AND RAN AWAY. I HAVE NOT SEEN ROLY SINCE EVEN THOUGH WE LOOKED EVERY-WHERE AND EVEN ADVERTISED IN THE PAPER.

I THINK SHE WAS IN HEAT AND THAT’S WHY SHE RAN AWAY.

THE STORY OF POOCH

      THE FIRST DOG THAT WE GOT IN GUATEMALA WAS A COCKER SPANIEL CROSS NAMED “POOCH”. POOCH IS REDDISH-BROWN IN COLOR AND IS A FAIRLY SMALL DOG. SHE WEIGHS ABOUT 20 POUNDS AND SHE IS ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD.

WE GOT HER WHEN SHE WAS ONLY FOUR WEEKS OLD AND SHE WAS STILL TOO YOUNG TO EAT VERY MANY SOLID FOODS. 

      

      BUT WHEN POOCH HAD BEEN WITH US FOR ONLY FIVE WEEKS SHE TRIED TO STEAL MY DAD’S HAMBURGER, AND GOT A SPANKING FOR IT.

POOCH ON MY LAP IN OCTOBER 2012

      POOCH BECAME A VERY FUSSY EATER. SHE WOULD NOT EAT DRY DOG FOOD. WE HAD TO MAKE HER MEAT SAUCES TO SOAK HER FOOD IN BEFORE SHE WOULD EAT IT.

      SHE ONLY LIKED MEAT DOG TREATS THE NATURAL FLAVOR ONES THAT I WOULD MAKE FOR HER. THESE WERE HER FOVORITE TREATS.

      POOCH ALWAYS PRAYED FOR HER FOOD. SHE WOULD LAY FLAT WITH HER CHIN ON THE GROUND UNTIL YOU SAID, “THANK YOU JESUS FOR THIS FOOD. THANK YOU JESUS.” POOCH AND YAYA WERE THE ONLY DOGS I KNOW THAT PRAYED FOR THEIR FOOD.

      POOCH KNEW LOTS OF OTHER TRICKS LIKE; SHAKE-A-PAW, STAY WITH A TREAT ON HER NOSE, “GO TO YOUR HOUSE”, FETCH, AND TO LEAVE THE HOUSE WHEN PEOPLE ARE EATING. 

      POOCH WAS A VERY SMART DOG AND SOMEDAY I WANTED HER TO COME AND LIVE WITH ME. 

      WHEN MY DAD AND CRISALIDA MOVED BACK TO CANADA THEY BROUGHT POOCH WITH THEM. THIS MADE ME VERY HAPPY AND I WAS ABLE TO SEE HER A NUMBER OF TIMES.

      MY DAD WOULD BRING POOCH OVER TO MY PLACE TO HELP OUT WITH TEACHING BUDDY HOW TO JUMP. POOCH WAS AN EXCELLENT JUMPER AND COULD SNATCH TORTILLAS OFF OF THE CLOTHESLINE ABOUT FIVE FEET FROM THE GROUND. POOCH WAS ONLY ABOUT EIGHTEEN INCHES TALL.

IN DECEMBER OF 2012, JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS, POOCH BECAME VERY SICK, AND SHE HAD TO BE PUT DOWN. WE WERE ALL VERY SAD TO SEE HER GO BUT WE ALSO DID NOT WANT TO SEE HER SUFFER.

THE STORY OF PONGO

PONGO LIVED IN GUATEMALA WITH MY DAD, CRISALIDA AND LESLIE. HE WAS A DALMATION PUPPY WITH MORE BLACK SPOTS THAN WAS USUAL.

WE GOT PONGO WHEN HE WAS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD, FROM VIVI, A FAMILY FRIEND. VIVI OWNED PONGO’S BROTHER, WHO WAS NAMED "HANDSOME". PONGO WAS A BIG PUPPY AND LOVED TO EAT. WHEN HE WAS DONE HIS FOOD, HE WOULD TRY TO STEAL POOCH’S, TOO.

WHEN HE WAS 5 MONTHS OLD HE WAS AS BIG AS A FULL GROWN LAB. HE WOULD JUMP UP ON PEOPLE TO TRY TO PLAY WITH THEM, BUT WAS SO BIG HE WOULD ALMOST KNOCK THEM OVER. THIS MADE A LOT OF THE PEOPLE AFRAID TO COME INTO OUR YARD. THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT HE ONLY WANTED TO PLAY WITH THEM.

      

PONGO LIKED TO CHEW EVERYTHING AND EVEN TRIED TO EAT HIS OWN DOGHOUSE.

      FINALLY, DAD SOLD HIM TO OSCAR, WHO HAD A BIG YARD IN CHIMALTENANGO, A CITY ABOUT THIRTY MILES GUATEMALA CITY.

THE STORY OF YAYA

      YAYA IS A CHOW CHOW THAT MY SISTER LESLIE GOT FROM ONE OF HER SCHOOL TEACHERS. SHE WAS ABOUT THREE MONTHS OLD WHEN WE GOT HER.

      SHE IS TAWNY IN COLOR AND LOOKS LIKE A SMALL LION. LESLIE CALLS HER “BABY BEAR” BUT CRISALIDA JUST HAS TO YELL ANYTHING AT ALL AND YAYA RUNS TO HER HOUSE TO HIDE.

YAYA LEARNS THINGS FROM POOCH, SO SHE PRAYS AND STAYS LIKE POOCH.

      SHE LOVES TO PLAY IN THE WATER SPRINKLER BUT SHE HATES TO GET A BATH. BECAUSE OF ALL HER HAIR SHE TAKES A LOT TO BATH.

      YAYA CANNOT SEE VERY WELL. SO SHE DOESN’T BARK AT THE CATS. SHE CAN’T SEE THEM. SHE BARKS BECAUSE POOCH IS BARKING. THEN SHEE RUNS AROUND IN CIRCLES BECAUSE SHE DOESN’T KNOW WHERE THE CATS ARE.

      YAYA ALSO THINKS THAT SHE HAS TO HELP DISCIPLINE POOCH. IF POOCH GETS YELLED AT, YAYA WILL GIVE HER A GOOD NIP TO HELP.

YAYA ALSO LIKES TO EAT. SHE IS ALWAYS GETTING SPANKINGS FOR STEALING POOCH’S FOOD.

THE STORY OF MUZYNEK

DAD LIVED IN BOWNESS AND HIS LANDLADY VIRONICA GOT A DOG TO KEEP AWAY THE DEVILS AND CALLED IT MUZYNEK POLISH FOR BLACK DEVIL.

DAD SHOWED ME THE PUPPY ON THE WEEKEND AND AS SOON AS IT COULD WALK WE TOOK MUZYNEK FOR A WALK. WE TOOK HIM TO THE PARK ALL THE TIME AND PLAYED WITH HIM ON THE WEEKENDS BUT HE COULDN’T BE TRUSTED ANY MORE BECAUSE HE BIT ONE OF MY   FRIENDS

THE STORY OF BUDDY

IN FEBRUARY 2007, WE FOUND A MINIATURE POODLE ON THE INTERNET IN SASKATCHEWAN. A LADY BY THE NAME OF GWEN DROVE BUDDY OUT TO MEDICINE HAT MOM DROVE OUT THERE AND GOT HIM FOR ME.

BUDDY LIKED TO BARK WHEN WE WERE NOT AT 

HOME. NOW WE HAVE ALMOST TRAINED THAT OUT OF HIM. BUDDY DOESN’T LIKE TO PLAY WITH ANY TOYS, BUT HE LOVES STORE BOUGHT TREATS. NOT MY DELICIOUS HOMEMADE CANINE CRUNCHERS; JUST THOSE CHEAP, ARTIFICIALLY FLAVORED ONES YOU BUY AT THE STORE.

WHEN I FIRST GOT BUDDY HE WOULD SHAKE WHEN PEOPLE WENT NEAR HIM. NOW HE DOESN’T SHAKE ANY MORE. SIT, STAY, COME, GET ON THE CHAIR, AND KISS ARE FOUR TRICKS THAT BUDDY CAN DO, AND HE IS STILL IN TRAINING.

WE ARE GOING TO FIND A DOG SITER OR HE WILL HAVE TO GO TO ANOTHER HOME AND I WILL NOT LIKE THAT.

AUNTIE SHARON’S DOGS

THAT I ALSO KNEW

Auntie Sharon and Siba

SIBA WAS AN AUSSIE CATTLE DOG THAT WAS NOT WANTED BY HIS OWNER. THE OWNER CALLED AUNTIE SHARON TO SEE IF SHE WOULD LIKE A NEW DOG. SHE TOLD HIM ONLY FOR A SHORT TIME. SHE ENDED UP KEEPING SIBA ALONG WITH ACE AND BOOT.

ACE WAS A DANE/SHEPHERD/POINTER MIX PUPPY GIVEN TO MY AUNTIE SHARONBY WAYNE AND MAUREEN IVAN, AFTER SHE HAD ALREADY ADOPTED BOOT.

HE KNEW MY AUNTIE SHARON’S HAND SIGNS FOR SOME DOG TRICKS. SOME OF THESE TRICKS WERE: 1) SIT, 2) LIE DOWN, AND 3) COME. ACE ALSO KNEW HOW TO BALANCE TREETS ONHIS NOSE UNTILL HE WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO EAT THEM.

ACE CAME TO MY DAD’S PLACE, IN BOWNESS, FOR ONE NIGHT.

HE LOVED TO GO OUT FOR HIS WALKS AT ANYTIME AND HE ALSO LOVED FETCHING THE BALLS AND STICKS THAT AUNTIE SHARON OR DAD OR I THREW IN THE RIVER FOR HIM TO SWIM FOR AND TO PLAY WITH.

AUNTIE SHARON BROUGHT HER DOGS TO MY SCHOOL, CENTRAL MEMORIAL, BEFORE I GRADUATEDSO THAT I COULD SEE THEM.

FOR A YEAR OR SO, AUNTIE SHARON, ACE, AND BOOT LIVED ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CHURCH THAT I WENTTO WITH DAD, ON SUNDAYS; SO BEFORE OR AFTER CHURCH, MOSTLY BEFORE, I WOULD GO ACROSS THE STREET TO SEE THEM.

BOOT

BOOT WASA LONG-HAIRED BLACK DOG, MAINLY BLACK LAB, THAT AUNTIE SHARON RESCUED FROM UNCLE TOM.

UNCLE TOM, I BELIEVE, GOT BOOT FROM HIS FRIEND, JACK BROWN. WHEN UNCLE TOM STAYED WITH MY AUNTIE SHARON FOR A WHILE, MY AUNT SAW THAT BOOT WAS IN POOR SHAPE AND NEEDED SOMEONE TO LOOK AFTER HER. SO AUNTIE SHARON TOLD MY UNCLE TOM THAT BOOT WOULD BE STAYING WITH HER FROM THEN ON.

IF BOOT HAD NOT BEEN RESCUED BY MY AUNTIE SHARON THEN I WOULD NEVER HAD GOTTEN TO KNOW HER.

MY DAD HAD TOLD AUNTIE SHARON THAT BOOT WAS NOT A PURE BLACK LAB. I TOLD HER THE SAME THING BUT SHE DIDN’T BELIEVE EITHER OF US.

TACO

THIS IS A SMALLWHITE AND BROWN FEMALE DOG NAMED TACO. AUNTIE SHARON PICKED UP THIS SMALL PUP ABOUT THREE YEARS BEFORE SHE PASSED AWAY. MY COUSIN NOW TAKES CARE OF TACO AT HER HOUSE.

THE JOHNSON DOGS

Pal

BILL AND LINDA JOHNSON WERE FRIENDS OF MY MOM AND DAD. WHEN I GOT TO KNOW THEM THEY HAD TWO DOGS, DUKE AND CINDY.

MR. JOHNSON ALWAYS HAD BLACK LABSAND WHEN MY DAD FIRST MET HIM HE HAD ONE. MY DAD DOESN’T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THIS DOG BUT A SHORT TIME LATER SOWETHING HAPPENED TO IT AND MR. JOHNSON GOT PAL, A MEDIUM-SIZED BLACK LAB (ABOVE) THAT HE ALWAYS TOOK TO WORK WITH HIM. HE BUILT HOUSES AND YOU COULD USUALLY FIND PAL AROUND THE JOBSITE SOMEWHERE. ONE DAY WHEN MR. JOHNSON AND MY DAD WERE GETTING READY TO GO HOME FOR SUPPER THEY COULD NOT FIND PAL. THEY LOOKED FOR PAL FOR ABOUT A MONTH BUT NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN.

Duke

SOME TIME AFTER PAL HAD DISAPPEARED, MR. JOHNSON BOUGHT ANOTHER BLACK LAB PUPPY WHICH HE CALLED DUKE (ABOVE). DUKE WAS A BIG BLACK LAB THAT THAT ALSO WENT WITH MR. JOHNSON TO WORK. MR. JOHNSON STOPPED BUILDING HOUSES AND OPENED UP A CARPENTRY SHOP, WHERE YOU COULD USUALLY FIND DUKE LURKING AROUND SOMEWHERE. THAT WAS THE LAST DOG THAT I KNEW THAT MR. JOHNSON HAD, AS THEY MOVED AWAY TO BRITISH COLUMBIA.

Cindy

ABOUT A YEAR AFTER MR. JOHNSON GOT DUKE, MRS. JOHNSON DECIDED SHE WANTED A DOG, TOO. SHE BOUGHT A MEDIUM-SIZED GOLDEN LAB PUPPY WHICH SHE CALLED CINDY. CINDY STAYED AT HOME BUT WENT CAMPING WITH THE JOHNSONS. SHE WAS A VERY GENTLE DOG.

The End & The Beginning!

When the Lord blesses me with more dogs they will be added to this book.

James Hudson, Jr.

(Tigger)