HOGAN & ME
by Jane Davis

As I was waiting for a ride from a friend down her “off the grid” road,  a flash of energy came bounding toward me. I knelt quickly on the ground  while a spotted white, brown and black dog leapt upon me. He was  emaciated, dirty and determined. I played with him for a few minutes until  suddenly he sat still, smashed his right paw on my left shoulder and  stared into my eyes, his icicle blue eyes piercing my soul.

“Ghost eyes,” I thought.

“You get it?!” he seemed to say. “You are mine. I am yours.”

As soon as I acknowledged, “Yes, I hear you,” he started jumping all  around.

But he would not get into my friend’s car. I communicated to him that  he had to come on his own. He refused, so I said goodbye.

Two miles later, glancing out the window, I saw him running alongside  the car, a slight grin parting his mouth. He jumped into the car.

But my landlord said, “No dogs.”

We moved.

Two months later the new landlord said, “Dog can’t stay.”

We moved twice more before we found our final home, where we have been  for the past three years.

For the first year, Hogan thought it was fun to play his favorite game  throughout the night: head butting. He would take a running leap onto the  bed and smash his forehead into mine. He remained unsocialized despite the  training he was receiving. Finally, a friend suggested that I spray him in  the face with water. Two sprays later, the head butting ceased. I worked  closely with him, attempting to train him while keeping his wild spirit  intact. We went to puppy training and the dog park. He became increasingly  accustomed to everything in his new life.

He chooses to sleep at the foot of my bed, practically falling off, his  paws and part of his body dangling over the edge. No matter how much I  coax him to lie next to me, he won’t do it. He has determined where his  place is and stays there.

Whenever I sit eating at the dinner table, I can feel a slight pressure  on my thigh. Hogan is not begging for food; he just wants to offer  companionship and love through the gentle resting of his head on my  leg.

One day, Magic, a blue heeler mix found running along Interstate 40 on  the Navaho reservation, was brought to us. Hogan welcomed her as if he  understood the challenged path they shared. I was hopeful that he would  teach Magic things that I could not.

Hogan has great patience, but when he’s pushed it wears thin. One night  around 2:00 a.m., I was propelled from a deep sleep by a blood-curdling  scream. Running into the living room, I saw Hogan on top of Magic. Magic  was on her back, all four paws sticking straight up in the air, peeing  from apparent fright. Fearing the worst, I tried to get Hogan off her. But  this was a dog thing. I did not exist in their world in these moments. To  make a long story short, Magic ceased being a nuisance. Hogan had taught  her in a language they both understood.

I had left three rescued dogs with the Atlanta HOPE-HOWSE, where I used  to live. HOPE-HOWSE is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization, “without  walls,” dedicated to service as a path to peace, which includes conducting  workshops and animal rescue. Hogan was the first dog to join the  HOPE-HOWSE family here in New Mexico.

Recently Hogan began joining HOPE-HOWSE when we went to the state  penitentiary to do volunteer work. We met with 20 inmates who are part of  the Black Awareness Group that we sponsor.

When I introduced him to the inmates, I told them, “He will go to any  of you who are afraid of him.” As I said this, Hogan got up and walked  slowly towards two inmates who had confessed that they were fearful. Once  they petted him and began to relax, he lay down at their feet.

One of the inmates took Hogan and worked with him for the hours we were  there, teaching him to shake hands.

Hogan is now an official volunteer with HOPE-HOWSE and comes regularly  into the prison. The minute his service collar and leash is put on him, he  intuitively knows he is “working”. He brings unconditional love and light  to a place of darkness.

Inevitably, the day after his penitentiary work, Hogan has a  contemplative demeanor and generally keeps to himself. It’s almost as if  he is reflecting on the community service he has provided. Even Magic  honors his space and does not try to get Hogan to play with him on those  days. Magic will be joining us soon in our work.

Hogan’s intuitive nature, shining through his piercing blue eyes,  radiates all around him.

For more information on HOPE-HOWSE please visit: www.hope-howse.org <http://www.hope-howse.org/> ; e-mail jane@hope-howse.org; phone  505-983-6677; address PO Box 9855, Santa Fe, NM 87504

Our mission at Brandy and Val, LLC is “to do good where good is needed.”  It is through the sales of our books and toys, along with our pet therapy duties that we hope to benefit the lives of children and animals.

They are SO happy now

After being told as a kid that I could not have a dog, I finally took the plunge a few years ago and went off to the internet in search of one. I did not know much about the different breeds and wanted to find one which would fit our lifestyle. After many long hours looking, it seemed a lab was right for us. Luckily, my local dog shelter, Fortunate Lab Rescue., was only 10 minutes from our house. After looking at many deserving animals, I figured I needed one with “training wheels” – I had no idea how to housebreak a dog, although my wife, Ilene did since she grew up with them.

I became friendly with the founder of the rescue and after explaining my situation, she found the perfect pup for me – Brandy. She was 11 months old and had already been in multiple homes and was cast out each time for reasons which were not her fault – children making promises to their parents about taking the time to care for their dog and not keeping it and then a divorce in the family, a young couple who decided that after having a newborn the dog had to go, etc. Luckily, Brandy was housebroken and trained. When I picked her up from her prior home she could not wait to get out of there as she was being confined to a cage with another dog and there was not much room for them to move around.

She has been a great addition to our family and truly, a great dog. She is the dog when one thinks of “man’s best friend”.

Holding my new girlfriend, Brandy

Since Brandy was such a pleasure to have, I did not have to think more than a couple of minutes when I was contacted by the rescue that Brandy came from about taking in another dog.  Ilene really resisted since we traveled a lot and when it gets really cold in Chicago, which is most of the time, Ilene wouldn’t walk them.  Anyway, Fortunate Pooches had taken 30 dogs from the ones which were made homeless by Hurricane Katrina. When we first saw Valenti he was pathetic. He was just a bag of bones and one of them, his wrist, was broken. He had heartworm, recent abdominal surgery and his fur was falling out due to mange. He nose was sunburned from wandering the streets. I did not think he would live but he had such a look in his eyes that said he was the one for us.

I love my dad

He could not really stand much and ate his food at mealtime like it would be his last. Eventually, he gained about 30 pounds and now is one solid guy! He is about as sweet as they come and he is my constant shadow following me where ever I go. He is well mannered as can be and rarely, if ever, barks. He is friend to all and including some of the more picky dogs in the neighborhood.

Considering I had no idea what I was doing when I had my first dog, taking the second could have been a disaster, especially considering my work schedule. Luckily, their mom is around for them. She is the “great entertainer” and has managed to get both of them as certified therapy dogs. They just love to “go to work”, mainly with disabled kids. I am sure all the treats the kids stuff into them doesn’t hurt either.

So if you are thinking of getting a dog, do your homework. Why not check out your local shelter – there are a lot of great dogs who would love to be your friend for life. I know I get more from them than they get from me.