Tubby

More pictures from the long-forgotten stash. This is Tubby--my mother's dog when he was a girl. His name was familiar to me, mainly as a cautionary tale: poor Tubby contracted rabies--or hydrophobia as it was called back then--and had to be put down. And my grandmother had to have the dreaded series of shots in the belly that was the standard back then. I don't remember being told that she was bitten--just contact with the dog's saliva would have been enough. 

This picture, presumably my mother's work--was it made after his death as a memorial? The fact that it, as well as these other pictures, was saved suggests a sad fondness.

Tubby must have been a nice dog --to be trusted with a rabbit as in the picture below. 

But what a horrifying experience the rabies must have been. My grandparents never has another dog--until my grandfather developed a bond with John's and my beagle/spaniel mix who he cared for while we were in Europe for three months. When we returned, he would drive the 45 minute trip to our house outside Tampa, just to take Juno for a ride. And he always brought treats.

 Finally, after we adopted two German Shepherd pups, we gave Juno to my grandfather and she settled in to a life of walks and constant spoiling.