Tag: Achilles

Guard dog

Guard dog

I’m not a fan of cats being allowed to roam in urban situations for several reasons – caterwauling cats disturb my sleep and serenity, the appalling toll they take on urban bird life, the cats that are run over by vehicles.

This cat found its way into our backyard without my knowledge. I took a break from computing and let the cattle dogs out. Achilles almost immediately saw or scented, then cornered it. Chili is pretty cagey, while he kept it cornered he maintained a healthy distance. After about 20 minutes I lost interest and went inside. All remained quiet outside. After another hour or so Achilles lost interest and scratched at the door, asking to come inside.

I took this photo almost four years ago and as far as I can determine this cat has never returned to our backyard. Smart kitty.

Achilles, resting

Achilles

Several years ago Achilles and I participated in a fund-raising walk for the local chapter of the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA). It was a natural thing to do since I adopted him from a shelter. It was a warm and humid day which made the stroll, largely out in the sun, less than easy. We took a break when we got in the shade of some tall trees. What a good boy he was that day, and is to this day.

Dozy dog

Taken with and posted on the PlayBook.

Achilles at rest.

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I have your back

I have your back

Greetings

Greetings

Achilles greeted me at the gate when I arrived home from work. It’s good to be greeted by his sweet furry face and gentle personality. His muzzle is grayer now, eight years after adopting him out of the shelter. I’m still quietly pleased and very deeply gratified that fate, chance, karma, luck, The Maker, what have you, bring us together. He’s been such a pleasure.

Achilles takes his ease

taken and posted with the PlayBook

Achilles often lays here, just outside the door. He can watch traffic on the street as well as keep an eye on a sliver of the backyard. He is remarkably trustworthy, rarely digs or barks without reason so he can spend as much time in the backyard unsupervised as he chooses. We are so blessed to have such a good dog.

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Irresistible

Taken with and posted on the PlayBook.

This is a poor quality photo but the look is priceless. Achilles completely relaxed. He is such a treasure, helps put my cares and concerns in perspective. I am so blessed, life is good.

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Achilles at rest

Achilles at rest

Chili did not use this bolster bed for quite some time, only recently curling up in it. It’s interesting how dogs’ habits and preferences change. For the longest time, Stella only came in the man cave when I was eating at the desk. She still comes in only infrequently, yet on occasion she will hop up on the love seat when I’m in here.

Escape artist no more

Escape artist no more

I had real trouble with Achilles being a roaming dog for the first year-plus I owned him. That’s how I came to own him in 2006, he was picked up as a stray and his people never claimed him from the shelter.

Achilles escaped several times from the house, the backyard. Once I put he and Stella in a neighbour’s backyard because I had to leave while people worked on my house. Over an hour later I got a call from the worker that Achilles was sitting on my front porch. Once he broke through the screen on the storm door without my knowing; I walked into the living room and saw his one-of-a-kind tail disappearing behind a neighbour’s hedge.

Some people would have understandably given up on such a roamer and given him back to the shelter, or done what his previous owners had done – never claimed him. I could not, would not, do that because he was an exceptional dog in so many other ways.

Yesterday morning I scraped frost off the car’s windows and unbeknownst to me the gate had not latched. I turned and there was Achilles watching me. Even while I grabbed the camera and photographed him standing there Achilles didn’t approach the gate let alone dash through.

Achilles is an even more exceptional dog now. Not only is he marvellous on leash, loves meeting people, is great in the car, he no longer is compelled to roam. We are so very blessed for, with, his presence, and that it was seemingly meant to be.

Watchful

Tuesday, the day before the storm, our dogs monitored the backyard. I love each of them, they are so different from one another, so unique.

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