Fred’s Daily Routine Since My Knee Op

Up the stairs and down the stairs, barking as he goes

Janice Macdonald
The Daily Cuppa Grande

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Fred the Protector (all photos by author)

Every day during my knee-op recovery, one of four different nurses visits me, then goes downstairs to visit my neighbour Ginny who has cardiac problems.

Although my partner takes Fred for a walk most mornings, Fred is Ginny’s dog and very protective of her. As soon as the nurse knocks on the front door, Fred starts barking. And continues barking while the nurse attends to Ginny.

Since this distracts the nurses and annoys my partner, one of us lures Fred upstairs with a piece of baguette. As protective as Fred is of Ginny, he’s even more eager for the piece of baguette.

Fred, back home in Ginny’s place

Once he’s consumed the bread, which he does in an instant, he positions himself in front of our door until Ginny taps to give the all-clear. Then, as though he’s been away for months, he tears down the stairs, almost tripping over his feet to be back home again.

While I give him treats, call him a good boy and generally fuss over him, he has no urge to protect me. If he happens to be up here when a nurse gives me a shot or changes my bandages, he sometimes…

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The Daily Cuppa Grande
The Daily Cuppa Grande

Published in The Daily Cuppa Grande

The Daily Cuppa Grande is where you will find everything you love about The Daily Cuppa in long form. Our purpose is to nurture our lively community of writers sharing their lives through stories to delight and uplift humanity. We build compassion, kindness, and understanding.

Janice Macdonald
Janice Macdonald

Written by Janice Macdonald

At 68, I started a new chapter in my life: I moved to France. Alone. It turned out to be quite the page-turner. Still is — even when age insists on a part.