Sixteen years ago I wanted to have a dog again. I’d go to the shelter a couple of times a week to see what choices there were. At the time I was living on a 26 foot-long sailboat and was looking for a small dog…small boat, little space = small dog. I also wanted an older dog. They don’t demand the same attention as a young pup. Scratch their belly once in a while to get their hind leg working and they’re happy for the day.
There was one dog that attracted me the instant I saw her, but she was at least five times the size I wanted and she was only a year or two old. When she first saw me at the gate of her cage she immediately came over and nibbled on my fingers when I stuck them through the fencing. She was there week after week that dragged into months. I couldn’t figure out why. Then, one day when I went to check on the new stock there was a sign on her cage saying, “Channel 10 Pet of the Week.” Now, shelters say they don’t euthanize the animals, but they don’t keep them forever, and when I saw the sign I knew it was a last-ditch attempt to get her adopted out. I immediately went to the front desk and claimed Penny.
Everyone who sees Penny think she’s a great looking dog, and she is.
I absolutely believe the reason no one adopted this “great looking dog” is that she was supposed to be MY dog.
She’s 17 or 18 years old now. Arthritis has set in with a vengeance. Three or four times a week I have to lift her hind end into the air so she can get her feet beneath her. From time to time she has bouts of incontinence. But every afternoon around 3 or 4, she wants, no demands, on going for her walk.
We don’t go very far. She only has one speed and though the spirit is willing the endurance is no longer there. It takes us about a half hour to simply make it around the block. Recently I’ve been taking my camera with me. Here in south Florida flowers bloom throughout the year. This is what I see on my walks with Penny.
The recent cold snap colored a lot of leaves
A Gumbo Limbo Tree
Dirty Gumbo Limbo Tree
Staghorn Ferns
Working Lunch
That’s All Folks
One More Good Adventure 
Penny’s beautiful and so are your flowers…and it’s too late for me to pay proper attention. Be back soon!
She is beautiful. She’s been a great friend over all these years and I’ll miss her greatly when we’re no longer together.
Oh, my ~ her story is just wonderful. I think you’re right. She was meant to be yours. And, from her tone in “her” movie, I think she agrees!
I suspect it’s not all bad that she slows you down a bit on that walk, either. Your photos are superb, and I’m so envious of all that color at this time of year. We’re just at the edge of things thinking about beginning to grow, but we’re not there yet, and it’s pretty monochromatic.
When I was in the Keys I was amazed how much it looked like Liberia, in terms of flora. I was told that currents carried a lot of seed from Africa – never pursued the truth of that, but the same blooming trees and plants abound.
I do have two dandelions out front 😉
Lovely!!! I just wish there were more pics of hers…