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Over the years, my home has more or less become a sanctuary for all things great and small. We have 55 acres as well as a wooded area which marks the boundary on the back side of my property. We have never allowed hunting and have become known as nurturing individuals. Therefore, when one doesn't want an animal or has too many to take care, we find the little critters on our doorstep. What starts as two kittens becomes a mighty brood. Our barn houses these. Besides kittens, many puppies have found a home with us. They have the run of the pasture and frolic with our horses. Deer have made our woods their home and come out to graze while their fawns run and play. And, as I wrote yesterday, the geese have been coming and were present again this morning and watched as I watered my flowers and herbs.
One of the puppies dropped, we called Girl Dog. She was such a loving girl. She was so loving and congenial that I noticed another pup came every day to hunt and play with her. His family, who lived about a mile down the road would pick him up at night on their way home from work. But he didn't stay with his family for long. Back he would come to be with Girl Dog. I started calling him Traveling Man since he kept the road warm coming and going as he did. His name is Roscoe, but to me he has always been Traveling Man. He and Girl Dog would always accompany me on my walks and loved going with me. They were such company, never roaming too far from me.
Traveling Man has always been a looker. So, when females were in heat, they would come to the house to pay homage to him. Naturally, other male dogs would come to compete, but they were no match for Traveling Man. One made the mistake of growling at poor affectionate Girl Dog. Traveling Man whipped him soundly for messing with his sweet pea!
Traveling Man's family moved, but he didn't. They expressed concern that he might get hurt trying to make his way back to his beloved Girl Dog and asked if I would be willing to keep him. Of course, I said, "Yes." He and Girl Dog were inseparable. When Girl Dog became ill(old age--Traveling Man was much younger), he never left her side. He would lie with her at the barn and was with her when the vet came to put her to sleep. He watched over her as we dug her grave and gently laid her to rest.
I was certain that Traveling Man would leave us after Girl Dog died since he is such a sociable young man. He didn't, however. I guess that he loves us almost as much as he loved his girl, for he is still here although he has been enticed by the neighbor's girl. He walks her to the road, but he never accepts her invitation. She always looks mournfully back at him, but he remains solidly grounded at our sanctuary we call home.
