BODACIOUS BODIE

On April 5, 2008, a new animal entered my life. I have been thinking about getting a dog for a while now—a few years, to be exact. Besides the obvious (loving animals and wanting to rescue a shelter dog), I wanted a dog because I want to be out in the world with my pet(s). I want to take them on car rides and for hikes in the woods. My cats, though seasoned travelers, merely tolerated the car and were more than content to be homebodies. (I once saw a hippie couple, two children and a dog hiking near Eugene, Oregon, and when my boyfriend and I looked up, the guy had a cat on his shoulder hiking with them! I was so jealous!) But I had two adult cats back when I first thought about it, so I put the whole thing on hold.

I picked up Bodie at a Park & Ride lot at Exit 3 on 93 North. He, and about 25 or more other dogs, came up by converted horse trailer transport from Arkansas—land of high-kill shelters* (*LD: do NOT click on this link). The dogs came in all shapes and sizes, all ages and genders. Those of us adopting or fostering got in a sort of haphazard line, anxiously and excitedly holding our leashes and collars with name tags already on them, waiting for the dogs to whom to attach them. The transport driver came out of the side of the trailer and took the name of the first dog. When he delivered a senior golden retriever to a middle aged man, a few of us clapped.

"He has a really sad story, but he has a good home now," the man tossed over his shoulder as the older dog patiently walked behind him to his car. I looked up at my friend standing on the little hill next to the trailer, camera in hand waiting to document this moment for me and my new companion. We locked eyes and both choked up immediately. This was going to be intense.

Next out was a little black lab puppy handed to a boy of about ten or so. More welled up tears.

And so it went, with lots of laughter and "ooohs" and "aahhs" until I got to the front of the line. "Dillon," I said, handing over my leash. As soon as he came out, nose low to the ground in true hound fashion, he stopped and lay on his back for me.

It's been quite a week. We are still figuring each other out. I have hardly been able to think or talk about anything else. I have entered a whole new world. My conversations have revolved almost solely around dogs; I have talked to so many other dog owners. I have tons of questions and have been reading books (Cesar Millan's) and researching the internet on breed (Bodie is part Black Lab, part Whippet) and just the species, in general.

Cats I know so well that I can take care of them like breathing—it's that involuntary that I don't even have to think about it. Dogs are a whole different beast. I did not have the best role models for being a dog owner. We had many dogs growing up—Tessie, Sonny, Darby, Willi, Goldie, Jana—but we never took them for regular walks, and we never really trained them in any way. I am going to learn a lot not only about dogs, but also about myself. That is one of the reasons why I picked the new name (besides not really liking 'Dillon'). Bodie is a character from "The Wire." Although I like so many characters on the show, he was one of my favorites. He "grew up the hard way" and is "loyal, stoic and willing to do whatever his superiors regard as necessary." When I googled the word, I also came up with the homophone Bodhi, and I liked the fact that (in Sanskrit) it means 'enlightenment' and 'awakening' and can also refer to reaching a state of nirvana and perfect Buddhahood. I am hoping that with all I will learn about dogs and myself, it will be, at the every least, enlightening.