Being a dog lover all my life, I have many stories of these dear pets I could tell, but Riley is closest to my heart. I have these tales to relate of this beloved canine, the pet of my brother Gary, sister-in law Lynda, and children, Ben, Sophie and Sam.
After the family agreed to get a dog, Gary and Sophie headed to the Humane Society and chose a little round ball of golden fur with a shelty face and white paws; he was to be named Riley.
Riley was a mutt and grew into a handsome animal with a beautifully marked shelty face and long, red- yellow shiny fur blending into a beautiful tail. Lynda called him “handsome boy,” and no one disputed his title. When Bernie and I came to visit, he would begin to pant and his brown eyes were alive in expectation of a pat; his tail wagged excitedly as he came to us, two happy relatives who always brought a treat.
He hid in the crannies of the house and yard and wouldn’t come to call. He also acted with Sam and his friend on the stairs when they were filming their rendition of a Shakespearean play. Riley was not to be left out.
There is a story when Riley was a pup. He roamed and Gary was afraid they would lose him, so he put up a small electric fence around the lot. Sam patted him when he left for school and parted while Riley was barking. Sam was sitting in his class in the basement when he looked up and saw something: Riley in the window. The class was in an uproar, and Sam was so proud that Riley came for him. Gary was amazed when called to transport Riley home.
Gary had a travel business, and he and Lynda were away by times. There was a sweet babysitter for the children, but our charge was to be Riley. Bernie and I fed, watered and walked him, where he stopped at every leaf and pole, for an hour. When we cared for him at our home in town, he was contented. He followed quiet and gentle Bernie to every seat and room. He caught my attention with his cold nose on mine early in the morning when he wanted to move from his cosy mat to the outdoors on an urgent matter.
The family cottage twenty-five minutes away provided respite for us all, but for Riley it was his Shangri-La. He was free to roam, chase foxes and blue jays and watch osprey dive for fish. The food was good and there were lots of pats.
At Thanksgiving, Uncle Garth from NS was taken with Riley. When the pet returned from outside, there was a question if Riley had met up with a skunk. Garth said no, yet the room reeked. Riley was sent out with his whining. Then he could not be found on the grounds, the lanes or the shore. Everyone felt concerned. The search moved to the cars and miraculously there sat Riley at the wheel of Garth’s new silver Honda. A door had been left ajar! There was relief from all but Garth, who a little later sold the car at a great discount.
Despite his mischief, Riley was a romantic. Lily, the gorgeous black standard poodle next door, caught Riley’s attention. They romped and chased, and all was cheery at the family’s back door. One memorable evening there was great concern when the dogs were missing, and the search was on at the two properties and block. They were desirable dogs. Maybe someone picked them up? The families couldn’t sleep. Next morning at early dawn Gary went to the back door. Emerging from under the station wagon were a shelty and poodle shaking off sleep. Riley and Lily had spent the night together!
There was a problem when Gary and Lynda took a tour to Australia. Riley was very sick and was put in a caring kennel. I went out to see him every day, but when he begged to come home with me, I felt guilty that he was not fit to accompany me. A few days later he was in a veterinary clinic, and we saw he was terribly ill. The next day we were called in.
I sat beside Riley on the leather cushion and patted his sweet face until the veterinarian came in. After tears, I read one of my Riley stories to the technician, and Bernie who said a prayer. Our beloved furry friend was gone.
Saddened, I wrote a note of sympathy to the family that Riley was still playing at the cottage amidst the other animals.
Lynda, hearing of Bernie’s prayer, said “Oh, my God. He went off Catholic.”
