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Crusades
Not On My Watch!
by Dannielle Malcolm
I LOVE my breed.
We're got a lot in common. It takes a while to earn our trust, respect and love
but once you've got it, it's yours forever. An Akita will step into the line of
fire for you, no questions asked, and expect nothing in return other than your
affection and kind regard. Light sleepers who are constantly vigilant. Loyal,
courageous and able.
Yeah, I can connect with that.
So it's 4 am on a Saturday night (Sunday morning?) and the alarm bark goes up
from the entire kennel. This is NOT a drill. I toss something on for modesty's
sake, grab the collar of the night's indoor dog (Doppler - who has time to look
for leashes?) and head out the front door. Rule number one when engaging a
possible threat- don't go alone or unarmed - with an Akita, you have both bases
covered.
I can see headlights outside and hear an engine running, the sound of multiple
voices talking over each other and running feet. As I get around my garage I see
a van parked on the street, facing the wrong way and right behind mine in the
driveway. This doesn't look good.
Both driver's and passenger side doors to the van are open and there are several
young men running around the car. One climbs up on top of the van and another
runs up to get in the driver's seat (planning a little urban surfing?), they are
all yelling like maniacs and then a fourth grabs something from the side door
and runs up on my neighbor's porch with it across the street. He's a wonderful
old man and we try to watch out for him, which I do now.
Time to announce someone's up. "What the *&%$ are you doing??" They stop
laughing like lunatics and look up my drive - oh shit faces firmly plastered. I
get the standard idiot's response.... "uhhhhhhhhhhhh..." The one who ran
up on Richard's porch and tossed something there is now hoofing it back and
stops dead in his tracks as I ask again, a little more firmly and with the my
backup singer in full chorus - you can't miss an Akita growl no matter how hard
you try.
See, they hadn't noticed him yet. Doppler is a big dog and by holding him at the
collar there wasn't much indication he was there. He's a silver with black
overlay, a deep charcoal really, and blends nicely into the night. His growl is
easily heard since the kenneled kids know Mom is out here, she's in control and
we're going to be quiet until she needs us. Doppler is NOT amused. His hackles
are up, his muscles are tensed to act, and the growl is probably raising every
hair on the backs of their necks.
They freeze. The laughing has stopped. Finally the kid directly in Doppler's
sights stammers, "Newspapers. We're dropping of the newspapers" A few
tense seconds go by. Another picks up the thread and hauls one out of the van
"Just the papers lady - just newspapers" He quietly ads, "Please don't let go of
the dog".
I tell them to knock off the shit, it's 4 am, get their papers delivered and get
off my street, you're upsetting my dogs.
Two words in response. Not "Bite Me" or "&*$% You"........."Yes Ma'am".
The kid on the van roof slowly climbs down. They all climb into the vehicle and
like good little paperboys quietly deliver the rest and get outta Dodge.
Doppler rubs his big bear head against my leg and sighs, Akitas sigh. I know
that sound. "Not on my watch."
Handy links:
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If Dogs Had Wings, Flying With Your Companion Animal
Breed Police aka: Paw Enforcement