I mentioned in a previous post that my sister had a fairly recent conversion from “Terrified of Anything Canine” to “Dog Lover”. The other night I realized just how complete her transformation is.
While speaking with her on the phone, I mentioned that Phoenix had looked somewhat “fuller” than she normally does when I saw her the day before.
At this point my sister, the executive, who was cuddled on the couch with Phoenix while talking to me changed the octave in her voice and launched into the following:
Sis to the dog: “Pheeny, Auntie says you’re getting fat.”
Me: “I did not say she was getting fat, just that she seemed more round”
Sis:“Pheeny is adorable.”
Me: “Yes, she is adorable and cuddly. I was just saying she looked like she was getting a little larger. “
Sis: “She did get more round after she was fixed.”
Me: “She got fixed over 8 months ago. I see her every week, some weeks every day. I don’t think her recent size is related to that.”
Sis to the dog: “Pheeny, are you feeling fat?”
Sis: “Phoenix says she has been feeling a little bloaty the past few days but she’s tired and doesn’t want to talk about it.”
Sis to the dog: “Maybe you should stop looking so cute so everyone stops wanting to give you treats.”
Sis” “She says she can’t help it that people just keep offering her treats. ”
Me: “She begs. She’s not obnoxious about it, but she follows the scent of food, knows who keeps treats in their desk and makes a point to visit them frequently when she goes to the office.”
Sis: “Actually she does seem a little slimmer on Monday mornings but by Friday she seems to bloat up.”
Sis to the dog: “Pheeny maybe Auntie is right and you should cut back on the dog treats.”
Me: “Well it’s good that you put up the sign requesting that no one gives Phoenix people food: but I think that it’s just as bad when she gets 22 dog biscuits throughout the day.”
Sis to the dog: “Phoenix, should keep your girlish figure. You need to cut back on the treats.”
Sis: “She says that she doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by refusing.”
Me: “Well I know she is still a healthy weight, tell her we want to keep it that way and that everyone will understand if she passes up a snack now and then.”
Sis: “Pheeny, Auntie is right. Not so many treats. Besides looking better, you won’t feel bloated.”
Sis: “She says she really can’t help it that she is so cute people want to feed her, but that she will not accept so many treats. She thanks you for worrying about her, says she loves you and that she is going to sleep now.”
When my sister and I hung up the phone, it occurred to me that we had just had a 3-way conversation with a dog, all the while my sister sounded like she did when talking to her children when they were under the age of 5 and that she was completely, utterly and totally a “Dog Lover For Life.”
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