Animals have always been a part of my life, so it’s actually difficult to know what to share.
Growing up we had horses, cats, dogs and so many were protectors in some way, and goats for awhile in my teens.. In my adult life I’ve had lizards, rats and other rodents, a ferret as well as more dogs, cats, horses and goats.
The real protectors when I was growing up were our two dogs, a Toy Poodle and a Doberman that was actually a trained guard dog for my family’s store. When we lived in an apartment in the store I always knew I was safe with both the actual guard and the little alarm. But even when we moved and only Scram was by my side at night, with Cinnamon at the store, I knew nothing could come near without me knowing.
In high school I got my own dog, a German Shepherd cross named Gabrielle. For 14 years she was with me, often traveling just the two of us. In the woods or on the road I knew that while she was friendly and open to most people, she could suss out the Terminators too. That’s because when she was spayed and had to be kept on leash, I was walking her and, it being such a damn “innocent” time when we didn’t seem to think about attacks so much, I didn’t think anything of the guy walking up the road. I realized when we got
close and he began to cross the road towards us that he was the guy who had hassled me at a party awhile before and suddenly Gabe was lunging and snarling at him, something she had never done before. She knew he was a threat, either by something he presented or by the fear I presented and he wasn’t coming near. He backed off and kept walking.
So, I have long known that dogs are protectors. I have also learned of the protective value of horses, as I have a mare who is willing to take on all comers and is the best livestock “dog” we have. No predators larger than a weasel, which can hide from her, gets near our chickens, goat or the other horses. We do have to make sure delivery people are warned, as she does mostly have the run of the place.
…….
I intended to write more here, so many animals in my life…and with that often so much loss….it became overwhelming. So I leave you with some photos for now. I do have a website for my animals at The Beasts of Dùn Sgàthan and they have a Facebook page for most recent updates Beasts of Dùn Sgàthan
The Lost
Still With Us
Greyhound Placement Service of NH (no longer an active rescue)
Maine Greyhound Placement Service (still active, mostly bringing ex-racers from Ireland and rehoming returned dogs)
