No One Perishes On My Watch
heres the world famous alpine search and rescue dog, just arrived on the scene of a newly formed avalanche, ready to spring into action.
in our briefing they told us the story: a small human was carrying a precious cargo of newborn puppies and homebaked snaks, on her way to visit her sweet old grandmother, when she was chased up a mountainside by a pack of bloodthirsty feral chipmunks. as she broke out into the open, one of the little thugs lit off a string of firecrackers and that was all it took to bring the recent snowfall tumbling down the mountain, like cds cascading off a bookshelf that was accidentally, I repeat accidentally, bumped. now its our task to find this young waif before she perishes in her cold, cold tomb.
released, and off we go! racing about on top of the snowpack I remind myself to keep my emotions in check and follow my training. is this something here? digging frantically for a few moments, then stop to inhale deeply through my nose. I detect… nothing. move on quickly. how about here? digging, sniffing, evaluating, nothing here either. move on again.
in the distance I hear barking; other dogs are here too but they dont have my determination, my courage, my drive. they are easily distracted and will never match my instinct for this great work. there… something… dig, dig, dig. inhale… nothing. where could she be? hang on little angel, I will find you.
a tennis ball lands nearby. half green / half black, it rests atop the frozen earth. no games, no distractions; ive an important job to do and will not rest until its done! over there, theres a scent coming from over there. I race to the spot and begin digging frantically. dig, dig, dig…
“Nooter. What are you doing?”
silence! im working.
“C’mon, play fetch with me in the snow. Nooter, c’mon.”
no. must not be distracted…
“Nooter, what’re you doing digging random holes in the snow in the back yard? Are you nuts?”
nuts.
“Hey, what’s Lulubelle barking at anyway? C’mon, here, play fetch with me in the snow. Come over here now.”
(sigh) heres the world famous alpine search and rescue dog, forced into early retirement by management.
that’s the way they do ya. then the will subcontract out your job so there are no perks or benefits, or worse…hire an illegal; a chihuahua or anatolian shepherd or something. You better find ways to make yourself indisposable, Nooter. The writing is on the wall (or in the snow as the case may be.).
But what about the feral chipmunks? Did you get them and rip their little lungs out?
I wonder if that search and rescue dog can help me find and affordable acoustic pink guitar for my niece?
I’m impressed, Noot. What next, you’re gonna be a famous World War I flying ace?
Tell the human not to eat yellow snow, OK?
I’m sorry your plans were foiled. You were doing so well searching for that half-pint.
I had no idea the life of a rescue dog was so stressful!
Such a brave doggie ………. time for a bath ………..
Snow? Ohhhh. I love snow. We don’t have any of the white stuff yet, so Shadow and Sheba are forced to dig in the mud. And you know what that leads to.