Ok, so I took the white dog to get his rabies shot. And that’s where it all fell to pieces. There was a line. Too many people, too many dogs. Left him in the car til our number came up. He walked me to the door (yes, he dragged me, cause he weighs 67 lbs and he was curious) and as if she didn’t see us coming, some lady with a tiny white thing got nosey and stepped out like “look at the pretty white dog.” Dumb. Never approach another dog. You stay still, check the tail action, let them come to you. If it ain’t waggin, turn and be still. Don’t even look at him. Mind you, everything there was a lap dog, except the one other dog in the lobby.
So bully sees the little white thing step in his path and wop! Right jab, Caine done stole her dog in the head. I got him in the door and over in a corner behind a partition, can’t see nothing, calm down. I didn’t know this fool was looking at reflections in the glass above, still hype. I’m talking calmly to him, got him to lie down and relax. I used my body as a visual block. The caucasian college kid in charge sends a lady with a little lap dog my way. She sat in the chair and I told her my dog doesn’t play well with others. She said he was beautiful and stayed.
Caine had to see her, so he peeked from around my leg, which I had wedged against the wall so his head wouldn’t be free to roam. Bamma doubled back real quick and shook his head, jerking the entire collar and leash off. I’m like “everybody be still and everything will be fine.” I knew he just wanted to be free and check out the situation. He ran across the lobby, stopping only to sniff another dog’s butt. Dude was cool though. He and his dog chilled out, then I caught the white fool and wrestled the collar back onto his neck. Whew! The lobby patrons did real good. They must have dogs or something…. Dude was like, “you got him? He all right?” Yeah, we’re good. Thanks.
Only problem then was he saw this little black Pomeranian inside the office area, behind me. Before I could choke up on the leash, he turned that way, and the lady owner is screaming, “Lady, get your dog! Oh my god! Let me get my dog the hell outta here!” I was thinking–you know what I was thinking. Begins with B, ends with shut up. She ran somewhere with him in hand. Well, with them gone, I kicked the doorstop out and shut the door. Just me and my white dog in the room now.
So the staff is bad-mouthing me and my dog behind the glass cashier window which is wide open. “He’s next. He isn’t nice, so make sure the hall is clear before you call him.” They pull some lady and her little dog into the room before we come into the hall. I’m pissed now cause you work in an animal facility, with animals, you’re talking about me after you make me wait even after you call my number, and you don’t know jack about dog behaviors. He never barked or snapped or anything. Little blonde cashier girl, shut it please. She kept talking. But I chilled.
We get into the examination room and the two technicians pet, rub, talk to him, he’s giving paw and all that. The black dude says, “Man, they’re giving you a bad rap. You’re all right.” Still comes the muzzle. He tried to wipe the joint off, but I talked him out of it. So he laid on the floor and waited. Doctor finally comes in, checks him out, gives the shot, he never even looked funny. She’s like “I would take the muzzle off and check his teeth, but I don’t know.” I said he would do fine. Muzzle comes off, he lets her check every tooth. “Oh what pretty teeth you have Caine.” Funny, people say that to me every day. So anyway, we’re done.
I took him to the car, after he whizzed on their tree out front, then came back to pay my bill. A little Yorkie walked up on me and checked me out, then jumped up for me to pet him. I spoke to him. People thought that was so cute though. Maybe it was his sweater that said “Chick magnet.” Then it clicked. I go through the same kinds of stereotypical, idiotic, biased treatment at the hands of regular people, so-called professionals and specialists too.
Some see beauty and assume it’s okay to poke and prod. Some see big and bold, then feel threatened. Smaller, less imposing, “friendly” breeds are all the rave, accepted everywhere. But my kind, and my dog’s kind are shunned because we don’t behave like the masses. We don’t look like the masses. Ignorance. Plain and simple. I don’t give passes for it. I go elsewhere, maybe after I leave my impression so you never forget me. People need to do better with their education. Especially if it’s your job to work with all kinds. There is absolutely no reason why my dog or my kids or I should encounter or endure foolish behaviors when all this information is out here on the information superhighway. That’s why I keep jabbing those who jump out there in ignorance. Pump your brakes. Here’s what you need to know….
From the Mind of Tonya D. Floyd
Learn something useful.
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