DOGS | PETS
Chews What Matters
An Emotional Short Story
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“STOP THAT, PLEASE!” Andrea yelled at Toby, finding the black and tan Airedale atop her bed, chewing on the soft stuffed comforter. “GET A TOY INSTEAD!” she insisted, her brows furled, and her voice clearly upset. Toby returned Andrea’s glare with joyful, mischievous eyes, wagging his tail and wanting to play.
The straw basket on the fireplace hearth in the living room was overflowing with a variety of dog toys that Andrea had purchased for Toby over the years.
There were plush squeaky toys by the dozen, shaped like cartoon animals, or like bones or balls or pizza slices with faces. Their soft, fuzzy exteriors would be perfect for snuggling, and the stuffing inside would make a satisfying crunch or squeak when squeezed.
There were rope toys of all different colors, made of strands of fabric twisted together to form a sturdy tug handle at one end and a chewable knot or ball at the other. The textures of the ropes were rough and durable, making them good for games of tug of war between dog and master.
And there were Kong toys of different sizes and colors, made of durable rubber with hollow centers, fillable with treats. The texture of each was bumpy and slightly squishy, making them easy for a dog to grip and chew on.
But not one of them had so much as a single bite mark or scuff mark on it. Toby didn’t care much for them. If Andrea had kept the packaging for them, she probably could have returned them for her money back, good as new. But she kept buying more, hoping to find one that might pique his interest.
Toby wanted none of them. He was a blanket boy! He loved chewing and tugging on all kinds. In addition to the comforter, Andrea had a cozy flannel throw, which was soft and fuzzy, perfect for snuggling up on the couch during a chilly evening. She also had an all-season cotton quilt, a lightweight blanket great for year-round use, providing just the right amount of warmth without being too heavy. And there was a thick throw, a chunky knit blanket that was both stylish and functional. It added a touch of texture to a room and was perfect for staying warm while enjoying a cup of tea or reading a book.
All these prized blankets were torn and tooth-marked where Toby had taken hold of them. And when they weren’t still wet from Toby’s saliva, they were a tad crusty from his dried slobber.
“Augh!” Andrea said with exasperation, whenever she tried to take a blanket from the dog.
Of course, there was more to their relationship than these battles over blankets. They’d go on walks together and make friends with other dog owners. She learned how to brace herself and control the dog whenever a squirrel came by to tempt him. They’d cuddle in bed whenever Andrea was going through a difficult time at work. She’d talk to the dog about men she was going out with, and the dog seemed to understand it and support her after a break-up. Always taking Andrea’s side!
Still, day after day and month after month, Andrea would try to get Toby to chew on his play toys, leaving her blankets alone. But season after season, and year after year, he chose to chew away on her blankets.
It didn’t really get any better as the dog got older. “Stop that, please!” Andrea would continue to yell, or at least say firmly, when finding the dog chewing on one.
Over time, Andrea developed a soft spot in her heart for the boy’s quirky addiction. In fact, after Toby developed arthritis in his hips and had difficulty standing up, she’d purposefully round up one of her old blankets for him to lay in. Of course, he would chew as he lay.
And when Toby was no longer able to jump up into her bed without being in pain, she took the prized soft comforter and put it on the ground where he could nestle up into it. And chew.
“Stop that, please,” Andrea would say in a more subdued voice, feigning anger with him, but now accustomed to him chewing on her blankets.
Andrea began to take Toby to the vet more often as he aged, where the doctor would inject a shot of cortisone into Toby’s hip, hoping to bring him comfort as his arthritis worsened. She watched with care as the doctor prepared and delivered a syringe full of medicine that gave temporary relief.
One day, though, when Andrea took the dog to the vet, there was a decidedly more somber mood. Atop the examination table was a simple, thin cotton blanket. Andrea lifted the large dog onto the table, softly stroking his fur and talking to him in a loving voice. Behind her, the vet prepared a syringe of a different type.
Andrea held Toby stoically as the doctor delivered the final shot, and then cried gently as life peacefully passed from Toby.
“Chew all you want, boy,” Andrea said as she tearfully nudged the examination table blanket toward Toby’s mouth. “Please.”
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