Member-only story
AGE OF EMPATHY
Our Dog Dutchie and How She Saved Us
A German Shorthair dog came into our lives and pulled the family close
Our family dog Dutchie was the glue that held us together for twelve years. Some of the best years of my childhood, a young girl growing up on a small farm. A lot of the time dreadfully lonely. But there was Dutchie!
Dad came home from work holding the wriggling young dog — a German shorthair, he said. He was excited beyond words. My brother and sister and I ran to the kitchen. Mom looked apprehensive, but we clamored to get our hands on that dog.
“She’s a purebred!” Dad said, “A hunting dog. Extremely intelligent!”
Dutchie got loose from her owner’s yard in Milwaukie, and Dad rescued her from the busy highway. He called the phone number on her tags and the owner drove out to pick her up. My brother and sister and I sat at the dining room table, gloomy and upset. We were already in love with the glossy little dog.
The owner called us back the next morning: “She cried all night! If you still want to buy her, I’ll let you have her for $200.” Dad, a salesman, didn’t even dicker. Just said yes. We kids jumped up and down and Mom was happy too.
