Freddie, the Town Dog

 In reaction to a friend who recently lost a valued member of the family, their pet, I am writing this. Sometimes we don't realize how much pets are a part of our lives, as a member of the family. Nor do we know the affect they have on others around us. The following is about our pet. I'm sure many of you have stories just as grand.
I would like to tell you about Freddie. Ole Fred came to us one day by way of a little red wagon. A young girl came by our house one day with a red wagon full of little fur balls. She asked the wife and kids, "Wouldn't ya just love to have one?" Here we go...a pretty little girl making a "pitch", and again who can say "No." If it would've been a boy pullin that wagon, I could have turned him down flat. So that how we added Freddie to our little family. He was just a mutt who needed a home. A little pup we could train, play with and love. That was the idea anyway. The only thing we trained (or he soon learned) him to do was go outdoors to do his business. He was good at that too. He never made a mess in our yard, he would always go next door to the neighbors. He was sensitive that way. He knew we'd be unhappy if the kids went out to play and stepped in his "doings." One time the neighbor shot at him with a BB gun, in hopes of making Fred to find a different bathroom. I swear Freddie looked at him, raised his right paw, and flipped him off, before trotting back across the street. As soon as the coast was clear, Ole Fred went back to the neighbor's to finish what he had started. The kids just loved Freddie, and he would tolerate just about anything they could dish out. My niece actually bit him on the ear, and he never moved. He slept in their room beside their beds. He was their protector. If they went for a bike ride Fred would run along side, putting himself between them and the cars. If they took a walk, same thing, Freddie be on the traffic side. Let me just add that he was never put on a leash. Freddie became well known around the little town of Markle, where we lived. That dog went with us everywhere, he dearly love to ride in a car, any bodies car. Cindy and the kids use to go down to the laundromat back then. Although Markle was a pretty safe place to live, they would take Freddie along for protection. He was good at that too, he was content to station himself between them and the door. No stranger could get near them, he could change from "nice doggie" to "vicious beast" in a heartbeat. If he knew you, you were a friend for life. Sometimes at the laundromat kids would drive by, see Freddie and stop. They'd open the car door, "Freddie...wanna go for a ride?" Off Freddie would go, anything for a car ride. Of course after a cruise around town, they would bring him back. I suppose that is where it all started. Freddie became the town dog. I took him to work with me late one evening (I was working a second job part-time at a gas station). While I was in the back room Freddie was on guard by the front door. Suddenly I was startled by a man behind me. It was the local Town Marshall. Freddie "knew" him, and let him pass unannounced. Back then we lived next door to my folks. They started letting him in whenever he would scratch at the door. Believe me that must have been quite often judging by the amount missing paint, and deep gouges on the door frame. My Dad worked downtown, just a short jaunt down the hill from our house. Freddie by this time had developed quite an addiction to car rides. He knew what time Dad went to work, and came home. That dog would be over there early to hitch a ride along to work, and then Freddie would walk home. Come about 10 minutes before 5 pm and Ole Fred would walk back down there, just to ride home. If Dad was running a little late, Fred would scratch at the door at work til Dad would let him in...as if to say "what's the hold up, let's go." Dad tried to pull a fast one on him one time. Dad snuck out of the house, and went a different way to work. Freddie wasn't buying that, he trotted on down to Dad's work, got there ahead of Dad, and waited for him. It was Freddie's way of saying nice try Pops. Being the town dog gave Freddie privileges other dogs didn't get. He was allowed to have a membership in the local Markle Fish and Game Club. He even attended meetings and sat at the table with other members. (Somewhere there is a picture of him in attendance.) He went to the ballgames, sometimes with family and sometimes on his own. He pretty much came and went as he pleased all over town. I think he also enjoyed a carefree, playboy style, love life. Girl friends all over town. One fella said he was going to sue Freddie for support payments to care for the pups he left behind. Freddie got mail. He once got a card from the ASPCA for his contributions in fertilizing somebodies lawn. Fred was always a regular in the local Wildcat Festival Parade. He never won any prizes, but did get a mention more that once.
Freddie was also a hero. Might not measure up to Lassie, but never the less. One night when we were sleeping he came into the bedroom. He stood up and put his paws on me and starting whining. This never happen before, something must be wrong. I got up and followed him down the hall. He stopped in front of the furnace. I was then I noticed it was unusually warm in the house. Upon further investigation I discovered the furnace was stuck running, and was shutting off. Needless to say, if it wasn't for Fred...well who knows? I'm sure many people in Markle from those days and recount their personal relationship with Fred. Everyone has their own story to tell. He probably did a lot of good deeds we'll never hear about. He will be remembered for a long, long time. In the end though, it was his philandering lifestyle that would do him in. He decided one day to go visit my sister, on the side of town. Freddie had a (dog) girlfriend up there he liked to visit. Seems that Fred decided it would be safe to cross the busy highway...oops. Well that was the end. It was probably some out-of-towner who didn't know Freddie was allowed the right-of-way, just like other folks in town. If only someone would have given him a ride up there to see his girl friend.
We probably should have erected a memorial in the town square. Just the same, I'm sure he has lived in the hearts of everyone who ever met him. May he rest in peace. If dogs go to heaven (and he deserved to), I'll bet some of the town folk who have passed on, are happy to meet back up with Freddie, and I hope we will too.