Who Let the Dogs Out?
I was walking the tree streets after work yesterday and its usual peace and quietness was replaced by a dog adventure.

I had just rounded the corner at Cedar Street and Bank Street when I came upon a couple walking their dogs. Not just any dogs but Great Danes! Two beautiful Great Danes, one black and the other a spotted gray. They had heavy-duty harness leashes and they appeared to be walking their owners instead of the other way around. The woman especially seemed to be having a hard time with the spotted gray dog. I walked along with them on the opposite side of the street watching as the Great Danes bounced along happily exploring everything in site. The many annoying cats that reside in my neighborhood stood scared or ran away as the Great Danes approached. I will admit to moments of delight watching the annoying cats scurrying away in fear.

There we were the couple, the Great Danes and I walking along Bank Street enjoying the out doors when a lady walking her Toy Poodle rounded the corner at Myrtle Street. It was the cutest little white fur ball Toy Poodle that reminded me of an ex boyfriend’s mother’s Toy Poodle Buddy who loved me more than her. Compared to the Great Danes, the Toy Poodle looked like a piece of fluff on a leash. Not one to be daunted by size, the Toy Poodle reared up and began barking furiously at the Great Danes. Non stop barking, pulling on its leash, holding the Toy Poodle back from the Great Danes, kind of barking. The Great Danes looked annoyed as if a fly was buzzing around their heads. I waited to see if a scuffle would ensue…

“You better watch out, those Great Danes eat Toy Poodles for lunch.” I joked with the lady as she and her adorable barking fur ball walked past.

It was shortly after the attack of the barking Toy Poodle that a running man and his dog rounded the corner at Cypress Street on the same side of the street as the couple and the Great Danes. He and his stocky dog (not sure of the breed) looked like they were running a marathon. His dog looked like it could tear your leg off if it decided to. Without breaking stride, I watched as the stocky dog and the Great Danes got entangled and the barking ensued. The runner tried to untangle and control his dog while the couple with the Great Danes pulled on their leashes like you would rein in a horse. The Great Danes and the stocky mutt dog danced a choreographed ballet before becoming untangled. The runner and stocky mutt dog continued on their marathon while the Great Danes resumed their bouncing and exploration while pulling their owners along.

The Great Danes and I finally parted ways over on Olive Street as they found their home on Oak Place Way. I felt their loss as I walked down Olive Street. Their innocence and playfulness something so simple that made me happy to be in the moment with them.

Later that night I got out of a friend’s car in front of my house and walked to my front door. A yapping barking Terrier dog came running across the street towards me as if to say: “What are you doing here? This is my territory!” That’s strange… I thought.

I never see dogs on my street or in my neighborhood; usually only annoying cats, but yesterday someone let all the dogs out to play. I wish they’d come out to play more often.  posted by Matildakay at 4:08 PM