Was about this time of year
September 29/30th the traveler showed up, at first all I heard was a screechin “there’s a bear outside!”.
well if it’s looking for something to eat it’s SOL
“come look!”
ok kid
was more dark then light so I can understand the kid’s mis- identification being all of 4/5 years of age
I flipped on former Military landing strip lights ( had 4 of them) instant daylight
never mind where I (found them)
Kid it’s dog
“can we keep it?”
When I hit the lights, the dog sat there not moving just looking at me
ok dog I’m coming out, grabbed the 12 gauge above the door went out sat down on steps
the dog never moved , just sat there looking at me
Kid! go to the fridge
grab something, she comes back with what was left of supper roast beef and tatoes (few carrots onions )
skinned over gravy
So much for lunch tomarrow which I didn’t say but was thinkin it
started tossing a few tatoes maybe an onion
the dog just sat there lookin at me
What the hell dog I said, got up started walking towards the dog, he didn’t move
I seen no collar, lots of burdock in it’s hair offered the back of my hand while saying
Bozhoo Aaniish naa ezhiyaayin
( hello how are you )
Wegnesh ezhinkaazin?
( what’s your name )
moving my hand to an ear and rubbing it some
the dog didn’t move at all, again… what the hell ok this is wierd I’m thinking
looking down I notice he’s favoring the right paw, it was on the ground but tender like, then I noticed the bloody tracks behind him. Where ever that dog came from, he had walked his pads off, all of them were bloody and worn raw tissue, about half of the front pads were worn off, bloody mush, no wonder the dog just sat there. Umm ok, this is a first, no problem pickin him up, no fight no reaction at all. Thinking total exhaustion
I still wonder what that dog was thinking while sitting out front
What sort of humans live here maybe?
He slept for almost 2 days straight , very gentle taking food from the 3 us
had to cut a lot hair off because of the burdock burs
Bear dog never liked being inside I piled up 18 bales straw tossed some plywood sheets over the top
Bear dog was happy with that
His tail never wagged like a happy dog would, low wag at best
Took a good long while for his pads to heal proper
About a year and a half he stuck around
I pull up in the truck find the kid cryin and carrying on
sittin in the truck I’m thinkin… Now what
with kids, ya never know, I didn’t get no book
what’s wrong?
you hurt?
where’s your mother?
Bear dog is gone
add more cryin an carryin on here
what you mean he’s gone ?
we looked everywhere , more cryin
look kid maybe Bear dog was on a journey,
looking for something maybe someone
I don’t know
are you not happy you helped him on his path?
He was in rather ruff shape
you did real good with the Bear Dog
yea, but I miss him already
me to kid, me to
Now why I did tell you all that?
I got this call the other night from the kid about 1000 miles away
called me because she wanted to talk about Bear dog
ok kid
let’s talk about Bear dog
Toldja
with kids ya never know
Bear Dog’s favorite place?
laying top of the picnic table just watchin