5 posts tagged “dogs”

The second night in Moscow there was an LJ users party.  Following the party a bunch of us went to a cafe called FAQ (ofcourse their website is on LJ),  after a little while we decided to walk to Red Square to see the Kremlin. 

We walked no more that 200 meters and this dog comes up to us.  She is the smallest German Shepard mix I have ever seen.  Maybe 20 lbs, clearly a street dog, but strangely with a collar with no tags or address.    She walks up to us, looks at us and goes to the corner to WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE.

When the light changes she starts walking ahead of us and none of us think anything of it.  But as we walk we start to realize that WE are following her, or at least it seems that she is going to Red Square too.

As we go on on it gets stranger.  If she gets too far ahead of us she stops, turns around and waits for us to catch up.  Just like a tour guide with a slow group. Once we are close enough, off she goes again.

When we come to an underpass for crossing a big street she is standing there waiting again, she runs down under the street and waits for us to open the swinging glass door for her to go through, and she is off again.

It is about 2 am, the streets are dark and wet and we are being lead by this strange little dog.

As we get closer to the Kremlin she becomes more intent on making sure we are with her, she waits more often and does not get as far ahead of us.  Then right at the entrance to the square she takes off ahead of us.  The entrance is a simple portal with a a copper plate in the sidewalk marking the Heart of Russia.  On the wall is the shadow of  astatue of someone on a horse.

So we enter the last street before the Square.  We can already see the spires and the beautiful light. Our guide seems happy but unexcited, just one more tour group.

When we want to take pictures she sits and waits.  When Brad loses his glove (acting alot like Mena in Helsinki when the same thing happened to her :-}  ), she waits for him to come back.

But when we enter The Square she head off quickly and moves to visit Lenin's tomb.  The guard seems unfazed, sees her all the time I guess.  After a visit to the tomb she rejoins us a patienly waits as we take pictures again.

So, photos taken, sights seems we decide to move on, and so does she, ignoring the other dogs baying in the square.

 

She walks with us, still leading.  We discuss with Edward his desire to take her home but his apartment does not allow dogs.  So we just walk on.  When we grab a cab she is still waiting and watching.  Time to find anouther tour group.  We feel bad that there is no handy hotdog stand to reward her for her work.

Clara and Goofy at the Palo Alto pound. Clara is a small cattle dog mix. Goofy is a beautiful shepherd mix. Anyone interested?

 

 

 

 

Do not read this if you think people who love dogs are sick.  For the rest of you..

Get ready to laugh and cry.  This book is the story of "life and love with the world's worst dog".   A true story with a self effacing tone, it explains as well as any book the deep tie that can exist between dog and person.  The little things that give you an insight into the dogs soul, and the moments you think he or she knows more than you about some things.  Humans can share space and love with dogs but we live in different universes, on different time scales and a more complex view of love.  We learn from them like we might learn from aliens, seeing the world through their eyes even though our communication is imperfect.  This book captures that reality vividly with wit and compassion.