THE CHOICES YOU MAKE

My name is Parker. I’m a dog with an exceptional intellect so I use words to bark out enlightenment for humans. It’s not as fun as biting them, which they deserve sometimes, but I’m a friendly sort and prefer words to wounds. This brings me to Frat the cat. He is a reformed feral feline. – If there is such a thing.

Recently I admonished Frat for being rude to another dog and told him he should have better manners.  He retorted, “I’m a cat, I don’t have to be polite.” Frat has a tendency to say what other people think, which is often inappropriate but funny. As a result, I relish his richly worded opinions but can seldom share them with anyone. What Frat doesn’t understand, or care to consider is that it is hard to garner the loyalty of readers for my blog so the last thing I want to do is insult them. The way he views it, humans were cruel to him on the street (before he was rescued) so why not be cruel to them now that fear of retribution has been removed? He has a point.

Whereas I love humans, Frat finds more joy insulting them (figuratively speaking) or swatting humans upside the head (literally speaking). I’m not much of an artist but he sketched out a self-portrait that I included in this week’s blog (below). As you can see, he wears a chronic look of disdain on his fuzzy face that I swear is saying, “Since you are beneath me, it would be an indignity and a waste of my time to ingratiate myself to you.”  

I find immense joy in the company of humans and in teaching them. Sometimes I fear that by hanging out with Frat instead of my kinder, gentler animal pals, that I might become more like him. I like using a wagging tail to make humans smile, a friendly bark to lure them into a game of fetch, a soulful look to engage their heart, an exposed belly to snag a tummy rub. Humans become the best part of what they can be under the influence of a loving pet. They become more affectionate, compassionate and relaxed. When Frat enters the room, they coil.

This is the conundrum: Frat’s way with words make him an exceptional conversationalist for me. Very few animals (cat or canine) have my splendid vocabulary and I love a rich conversation. On the other hand, I can’t take Frat anywhere because he uses words as weapons.

So, who influences whom?

I’ve given the answer a great deal of thought and decided: it is a choice. It is a choice all of us make. When a perfectly nice college kid shuns her old friends because they don’t fit in with the type of girls in her preferred sorority house, it is a choice. When a young professional sabotages the career of a colleague because his ambitious coworkers tell him it is the fastest way to move to the top, it is a choice. When a nursing aide steals money from the wallet of a senior citizen that is in their care because his peers do it, it’s a choice.

I’m going to positively influence Frat’s behavior rather than let him jade mine. It’s a choice.

So my lesson of the week is this: humans are kidding themselves if they think it doesn’t matter what friends they hang out with but they are also kidding themselves when they use their friends’ [bad] behavior as an excuse for their own. Either choose your friends more wisely or choose to be the greater (and better) influence over your friends that lack the character to make right choices.  Hu-mans, choose wisely. Choices are often riddled with lifetime consequences.

LETTER FROM A FAN

Dear Parker: My human loves saving abandoned dogs and cats. Recently she participated in a fundraiser to help make money to save more of us. There was a pet contest (with a motorcycle theme) that I was sure to win due to my charming personality. (See my entry photo attached.)  Another dog won the contest however this isn’t what upset me. What burns my furry be-hind is that the event coordinator let a pig enter into the contest because it was the pet of one of the ticket holders. I find this insulting. What do you think?

Your friend and fan -  Dixie

Dixie Duffy

Dear Dixie:

You are a cutie but you’re thinking with your head and not your heart. Any animal saved, loved and nurtured (wild, feral or domesticated - pig, bird, dog or cat) deserves our support as do the humans that care for them. Don’t allow your prejudice for a pig cloud your passion for the creature cause. – That is such a human trait.       - Your Canine Advisor, Parker

"BERNARD" enters contest.