Dog Days of Summer
A Reluctant Feline Surrenders to the Call of Canine Charms
By Cat Saunders
With those words, I began an article called "I Love John Because
He Treats Me Like a Dog" (www.drcat.org/articles_interviews/html/lovejohn.html).
That tongue-in-cheek piece was written as a seventh anniversary surprise
for my longtime partner, John Giovine, who loves dogs. Now, ten years
later in 2004, I decided it's time to write another dog story for John
to honor our 17th anniversary this August.
Many things have changed for me in the last ten years, but cats are still
my favorite animal, and I still wouldn't call myself a dog lover. Even
so, I can honestly say that I genuinely love some dogs now, and the numbers
are gradually increasing to include dogs I don't even know. There are
many dogs who capture my heart from afar when I see them running joyously
alongside a jogger, flying through the air to catch a Frisbee, or panting
patiently outside a store while awaiting the return of their human companions.
More importantly, I finally understand why John truly needs a dog in
order to be completely happy. What's more–and I can't believe I'm
saying this–I would like to have a dog with John. Boy, does that
sound like a headline out of a tabloid: Cat has dog with man!
Seriously, though, after seventeen years with John, you can bet that
he's had plenty of time to work on my dog prejudice, and I've had plenty
of time to resist. After all, it's highly unlikely that I will ever actually
like the smell of dogs, or that I'll ever actually enjoy certain canine
qualities that would push the limits of any self-respecting feline (all
you dog lovers out there, please refrain from throwing biscuits). It's
also highly unlikely that I would ever want to live with a dog if it weren't
for John.
Even so, love does strange things, and I love John like I've never loved
before. Over time, I've come to realize that "the dog issue"
was just another power struggle, albeit a relatively playful one. In that
context, it felt scary for me not to resist having a dog, because I was
afraid that if I didn't resist, a dog would arrive on our doorstep whether
I wanted one or not.
For me, my resistance is not only about dogs, but also about the addition
of another bundle of energy to our household. I'm childless by choice,
having known since I was 14 that I wouldn't be a parent this time around.
In the animal department, I've dearly loved the cats I've lived with in
the past, especially my childhood cat who lived to be 18. Since I've been
with John, however, I like to visit all the neighborhood cats and dogs
with him, but I treasure living just with him. I often joke that he's
all the animal I need!
Aside from my personal preferences, I take the presence of animal companions
seriously. I think it's important for everyone in a home to truly want
any animals who might live there. I strongly believe that animals deserve
to be sincerely loved and welcomed, not merely tolerated (the same thing
applies to humans, of course).
On the flip side of my resistance to dogs, I must confess that I've been
dreaming about an amazing German Shepherd for many years. The dog is beautiful
and smart, and it loves me like crazy. The truth is, German Shepherds
are one breed I've always loved without having to work at it. Lucky for
me, German Shepherds are also at the top of John's list of favorite dogs.
In my dreams about the German Shepherd, I adore the dog and feel totally
safe with it. We romp and cuddle and it serves as my loyal protector.
Busted! Well, I do admit that I've long had a secret suspicion that a
dog–perhaps a dog like the one in my dream–will eventually show
up to live with John and me.
Once that happens, I hope I don't become an insufferable dog fanatic who
whips out photos of our pooch's latest antics, the way some parents pull
out precious photos of their babies and bore all but the most solicitous
of friends. If I ever neglect my feline manners and forget to consider
the needs of those who don't love dogs, you have my permission to hang
me from the nearest hydrant.
We all know what would happen to me there!
This article was originally published by Evergreen
Monthly (August 2004).
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