DUKE: Part III

Woooooo hold on here a minute: I recall there were three other things involving Duke before I moved back to Alabama in May of 1988 tht I have not told you about. So, here goes: (1) One day I was out in my front yard and a man came running across the street from a house over there, saying he was visiting from Tallahssee and he was surprised to see a Rhodesian Ridgeback there in Lake City. He told me he had a female Rhodesian that he wanted to get bred so he was greatly disappointed when he learned Duke had been neutered in his doghood. We exchanged some dog stories about our dogs. By the way, since I don't have a pictue to post, if you will go to Google...click on Image...and type in Rhodesian Ridgeback look at the nicest one and that is what Duke looked like. (2) Now, for the second event that happened before I moved back to Alabama: I made several trips hauling "stuff" back to Alabama in my Dodge Ram and one time I decided instead of going up I-75, I would go West on I-10 and take US-231 northward, after all that highway went directly through my countryside. After going several miles, I came to a rest area, so I pulled in, got a candy bar and a cold drink and stood not far from the truck consuming it. Near me, a tourist had the hood of his vehicle raised and another tourist was trying tohelp him find out what his trouble was. All of a sudden, the latter said to the other one: Did you see what that dog did? It blew the horn of that truck there. I walked up and said,"Yes, and I have to be careful not to leave the keys in the truck also...and I drove off. (Best I could resolve this issue unto myself was that the windows being down, a bee or some flying insect got in the cab and his trying to swat it accidentally caused the horn to blow. This was the scond time that this had occurred and as you will see later, not the last time it is to happen. (3) Here is the third thing that happened before I moved back: About a year before that, I decided to take a trip, but I needed somewhere to leave Duke as I would be gone for maybe a couple of weeks. So, my brother agree to take care of the dog while I was away so I left Duke and the truck with him, which was next door to the land I had purchased to build on. When I got back, my brother told me that Duke could not tolerate his friend who occasionaly dropped by and that when he came they had to lock Duke up in the truck as Duke would try to tear into him. This man was a police officer, but I don't think he would have been in uniform at the time. Anyway, Duke must have sensed something about him that set him on fire. (I am trying to do paragraphs, but I don't think it works...must not be doing the right think) So, I arrived , to stay, in Alabama in May of 1988. I had a house built and moved into it on the last day of September of that year. You know what, you guessed it, there is so much to tell about Duke after I moved back, there going to have to do a Part IV and I guarantee that will be the end. So hang in there with me. I am feeling better now after having had the heart valve replaced in early October I think I can get Part IV posted in a short time....

DUKE: Part II

If you have not read Part I (the first installment), please do so now. I have told you when Duke appeared upon the scene. Where might he have come from? Well, several people told me that sometimes when Gator students left Gainesville, (FL)..about 45 miles SE of Lake City where I lived...for one reason or another...they could not take their pet with them, so they just turned them loose. I retired in Feb., 1986 at age 60 and thought then that I would probably just remain in Lake City or move to some other place in that State; however about 15 months later I decided to return to Blount County, AL...this was in May, 1988. Guess the hills were calling me home, and, too, I still had several relatives living there. Well, if you count distant cousines, I was probably kin to most everybod. Having collected a lot of "treasures" (????) during the latter part of my living down there, I decided to haul a lot of it to AL in my DODGE Ram (covered). Duke got upset when he saw me loading the truck and would get up in the back of it. To pacify him, I let him sit up front in the cab. So, Duke and I made several trips hauling "stuff" to AL. He loved it. He particulary enjoyed seeing the animals in fenced in pastures as we went along...maybe he thought they were LIONS. After all, he was an African Lion Hound besides being called Rhodesian Ridgeback. Well, finally after I had made several trips, came the day for the final one I having hired a truck to haul the heavier things that I couldn't lift and take in my truck (I still have that truck,presently "resting" in my yard where it has been broke-down for several months, but there is a promise it will be up and running before the year is over..."Oh, yeah"...hope so anyway. After Duke appeared upon the scene (Jan., 1986) we continued to live there until May 17, 1988..that's the date I oficially again became a resident of the State of Alabama. I had lived long enough in Florida. I tell them its a fun place to visit, but think twice before moving there. Some who visit are so carried away with it, before they realize what they are doing they have sold their house "Up North" and done bought a dream place (oh, yeah) in FL.Several told me that is what had happend to them. Looks like I am getting side tracked so let me get back on-line. In this part, I must tell you one more thing as such act,on Duke's part, appears again and again as time passes. When I was 16-17 years old, I worked in same office at the "Air Depot" near Gadsden,AL. Her husband was in the CB's and when the war (now, which war was that?) was over, they would settle in Plains, Ga., where he grew up. So, in making the trips that I did myself I kept telling myself I must look up Mary & PJ as I might never be that way again and as it turns out, I haven't...so upon nearins Plains, I stop at a conveniece store and inquire as to where they lived. The clerk told me, "You, should have been here earlier as PJ just left here" She told me where they lived...yes, it was on that highway and I had passed their house many time. (Actually, it was next door to President Carter's driveway and they had been friends since childhood) But what I am having a hard time to is this: So, I stopped by. Mary remembered me, but I had never met her husband. They were very cordial and we were sitting there, PJ said to me,"Why, don't you invite your friend in..they would be welcome" I was puzzled as there was no one in the truck, which was not visible from where we were sitting in the family room. He had said what he did because he heard a horn blow. Then I realized Duke blew the horn. I told him I didn't think this "friend" of mine wold be welcome in their house as it was a large dog. We all laughed and were soon on or last trip back to Alabama. I am so glad I stopped to see them as now they are all gone. (Their son was President Carter"s appointment clerk). Oh, my gosh, I have rambled on so there will be a Part III very soon .

DUKE

     

         While working for SSA in Florida, mainly in Lake City (Columbia), I was a sucker for taking in stray dogs.  I had a fenced in area in backyard  where my dog "Digger" stayed when not digging out.  She would do this evey few weeks, but always returned.
          On Jan 28th 1986 she returned from a few days out, and brought with her a dog I had never seen.  (These dogs never have any ID on them). I had never seen such a dog before.  This dog had 2 or 3 open sores on each side of the body, was weak and in dire need of some attention.  I immediately gave it some food....it was very hungry and thirsty).  That night it stayed on my open porch  on front of house. 
          The next morning, it was still there.....naturaly...  so, I fed it right away (Chigger is back in her fenced in pen).........I can always recall the date this strange looking dog appeared as it was on Jan 28th, 1986...the date space ship CHALLENGER exploded.
           Needing dire medical attention, I took it to a Vet., which I recall was just 2 of 3 blocks up the highway (US 44l--South Marion Street).  When upon seeing the dog, the Veternarian said, "Oh, my gosh, where did you get that Rhodesian Ridgeback?  I have never treated that one but I have treated several that live in this area"  He told me also that it was know as an African Lion Hound.  Upon researching the history the dog, I learned that some Boers,  who I think were from Germay-Belgium area, had setteled in Southern African (Rhodesia) and had bred it with a native dog there so they would have a hunting dog that could go longer periods without water, and mainly a strong dog to keep the lions at bay until the hunters arrived.
          Well, unfortunately this dog did not respond to theVet's medication.  A local lady that I had worked with (I had retired the year before), told me to take it to this other Vet in the area as there as a Negro man who worked there who could cure about any dog problem with "medical baths".  So,I did and left it overnight as required.  When I picked it up the next day, he told me it had acquired "bad things" from fleas and he thought it would be OK in a few days.  Bring it back  it back next year if it happend again.  (Fortunately it never happended again).
          It gets its name, in part, from the ridge on its back, and the fact it was bred in the country known then as Rhodesia.  Nice looking dog, stought, intelligent, obedient, so I named it:  DUKE
          But what happened to DUKE???  Read my next installment and find out.  (As one follower remarked a previous 2-part story:  "Your stories are  like soap operas, leave you hanging"  Well, how else I am going to back for the secon part?"