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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v09n12)
Howling at the Moon by Susan Smith
posted: Jun. 08, 2012

Howling at the Moon header

What makes up the fabric of a neighborhood are the people who live and work there. We come in all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, personalities, ethnicities, religions. We are all unique from our marital status, our educations and on down to our personal preferences. Our preferences are anything in Midtown (Broad Ripple and surrounding neighborhoods) from architecture, bars, cafes, sidewalks, trails and dogs. Interestingly enough it is often the dogs that tie it all together. They are the ice-breakers that give us reason to chat with strangers while dining outside at the café. They are the ones that beg us to take them on walks down the sidewalks and trails that lead us to new places and ultimately introduce us to new friends. They are the ones that give us extra reason to get off the couch and throw balls in the dog park and get us engaged with others who are teaching their dogs new games. They are the ones who are not shy and come up and sniff us when we are in front of our homes doing yard work thus encouraging us to get to know our neighbors who are out walking. They bring out our humanness without us even realizing it. I find it comforting to look out my window and see familiar faces walking down the street with their companions. I know the dogs as well as the people. I can count on seeing daily Dave with Beagle Pete, Sarah with Shelties Piper and Tink, Bill with Westie Mazy, Dennis with Patty, Rick with his Boston Terriers, Derry with his Bichon Frise, Dave with his group of labs, Danny with his black lab, Carol with her black lab mix and her Havanese, Gail with Charlie, Jerry with Juneau, Desiree with her Boxers and so many more. Michele and Cherokee were the ones I first met when I opened my shop that started out on 49th Street. Once Cherokee figured out there were dog biscuits handed out to dog visitors there was no keeping him back. . . literally. A large Newfoundland mix could not be controlled when he had a craving. Michele would tell me how he nearly dragged her to our door on their early morning walks even though we did not open for another two hours. He became my good buddy and Michele became a good friend. She painted our mural on the outside north wall of our store at 52nd and College. I have written about him for my readers before because I had reached out for you to send me your stories and Michele sent hers. Here's what she said then. . . . . . ..
"My dog Cherokee is a mixed breed, part Newfoundland and part mystery. He was a mess when someone found him wandering the streets. He was abused and in need of lots of love so I took him in. I did some research about Newfoundlands and found that they love water and swimming. The first summer I had Cherokee I bought him a small wading pool. He loved splashing in it and I thought wouldn't it be great if he had a bigger pool that he could actually swim in. Well, he had his chance. At the end of the summer swimming season Garfield Park was having a puppy swim before they closed up the pool. I took Cherokee, thinking he would splash around in the wading pool. Boy was I wrong! He went straight for the deep water and ran in. He immediately started barking and swimming right behind another dog and when he caught up with that dog Cherokee dunked him. This went on several times. The dog owners were getting upset and the lifeguard looked at me and said "one more time and he is out of here". I got my dog out and took him back to the wading pool but he wasn't happy there. He wanted to swim, so off he went to the deep water, swimming, barking and dunking. The lifeguard was not happy and we were asked to leave. Sadly we left. I was embarrassed and humiliated. I took Cherokee again the following summer. We weren't there more than ten minutes before we had to leave. I have since learned that Newfoundlands are rescue dogs and you can't really swim with them because they keep trying to save you. That is what he was trying to do to the other dogs at the pool only he didn't know it. Needless to say we have never gone back."
In an email this week she said. . . .
"I am sorry to announce that Cherokee, my beloved companion and friend of eleven years has passed away peacefully. I made the difficult decision to have him put down, he was not able to get around very well and I know he was tired and in pain. I don't know for sure how old he really was since he was found wandering the streets, he was maybe 12/13 years which is old for a dog his size.
I must say he has made my life more interesting and given me stories to tell from all the things he has eaten: pin cushion, Christmas decorations, bras, whole cherry pie, rat poison, 5lb. bag of flour, loaf of bread, mulberry leaves and the list goes on, to being asked to leave Garfield pool two years in a row to the many people and friends we have met on our walks through the neighborhood. It will be strange not to have Cherokee sitting next to me while I am eating, waiting for me to give him the last bite of whatever I am having or always being in the same room I happen to be in at the time. He was a big presence and that space is empty now. I wasn't looking for a dog eleven years ago, already had one, but he desperately needed a home and when I met him and he looked at me with those golden eyes and leaned up against me I fell in love. I think the feeling was mutual. Rest in peace my friend."
Another neighbor sent me an email. . . "The whole neighborhood loved Cherokee. . . . . . ..he was such a sweet, gentle soul. . . ..just like his Mama. Our dogs have always been the catalyst for meeting the neighbors and connecting the neighborhood." And thus he became the catalyst for my column. I always say. . . pets make you smile. And sometimes they make you cry.



Susan Smith is a life-long area resident and is the owner of City Dogs Grocery located at 52nd and College. Send your pet related questions/comments to susan@BroadRippleGazette.com




susan@broadripplegazette.com
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