Thursday, March 15, 2012

For The Love Of Mongrels

I have always, my entire life, loved mixed things. Even people. When an African American man marries a white woman their children have beautiful skin tones. Not dark brown. Nope!! Not a fair white, either. But mixed flawlessly together like Hershey's chocolate syrup and milk!! Beautiful.... I always enjoyed blending together certain colors, too. As a girl growing up, we owned these cheap, freebie fast-food toys. They had stained glass-like colors. Such as red, green, yellow, blue. If memory serves me right, you could twist your two colors of choice, blend them together, and, like magic, see its result!! I loved those toys!! My two favorite colors to mix together were red and blue. I would twist the toy.... Then see purple!! So it does not surprise me to realize, as I glance back several years, that I've always loved mixed breed canines!! Yep. Always!! My favorite animated Walt Disney dog movie was not "101 Dalmatians". True, I watched that film, and enjoyed it. Several times. "The Fox and the Hound" broke my heart over its story of dishonest friendship. Literally. Broke. My. Heart!! Once I was old enough to understand that concept, anyway!! (Tod: "Copper, you're my best friend." Copper: "And you're mine, too, Tod." Tod: "And we'll always be friends forever. Won't we?" Copper: "Yeah, forever.") What can I say? It was so sad!! Even though, sharing my existence with Rose has given newfound meaning to Copper's line: "I'm a hound dog. Aroo-oo-oo-oo!" That's my girl!! The "Beagle bay" is her "happy sound", definitely!! My favorite animated Walt Disney dog movie growing up, a film that I watched so many times our tape began to wear out, was "Lady and the Tramp"!! Honestly!! "Lady and the Tramp"!! Disney's animated film that paints a positive picture of mongrels!! The lowly, misunderstood mixed breed!! In it, you meet Tramp, its story's wanderlust "Mystery Dog". There are humans and purebred canines alike who "misjudged" him.... Initially. After all, Tramp is not a "pedigree". He's grey. Shaggy. Not the prettiest dog ever born. But Tramp was a good boy that had heart!! Like every single mongrel on this planet!! Such as Rose!! When owners adopt mixed breeds, they are not living with one dog. Nope!! They are living with two or more morphed into one existing, breathing body!! Rose is a Beagle/German Shepherd cross. Which are twain very different breeds!! Rose has the Beagle face, floppy Beagle ears, Beagle legs, medium Beagle size. Yet.... She also has the German Shepherd body, and German Shepherd markings!! Rose is beautifully unique!! Completely irreplaceable!! She is like an individual snowflake which falls from the sky!! She's different!! Rose is special.... In more ways than one!! And, best of all, she's mine!! I would not ask for anything more....

6 comments:

lifewithmydogs said...

I think the Tramp was actually quite cute myself, but that's just because I love dogs with beards I guess! I'm also a big fan of mixed breeds! They tend to be so smart and cute. :)

Charlene and Storm said...

hi raelyn, i just read that bit on the side of your blog saying your like dory the blue fish in nemo xxx i always did love dory best xxx

Mary Lou said...

lifewithmydogs....
Thanks for the comment!!
I sincerely hope that you were not offended by my description of Tramp. I was looking at the Disney character's picture while simply describing him!! Personally, I would adopt a mutt that looked like Tramp--in a heartbeat--because he's beautiful!! This blog post is meant to be a celebration of all mixed breeds. I am glad that you love them, as well!!

Mary Lou said...

charlene and Storm....
Thank-you for the comment!!
Yeah.... About my being like Dory from "Finding Nemo".... It is 100% true!! ;-}
I decided to put that on the side of this blog after going through all of my past posts. Doing so made me realize just how frequently I repeat certain facts or insights. All because of this short-term memory loss, which I have zero control over!! ;)

Lauren @ Life With Desmond said...

rose absolutely is an awesome-looking dog. i, for one, am all about mixed breeds. i can't imagine myself ever going purebred, unless it's a rescue dog.

Mary Lou said...

Lauren @ Life With Desmond....
Thank-you for the comment!!
I am glad that you love mixed breeds!! I cannot imagine myself ever going purebred, either!! You will probably enjoy today's blog post, as well.... Which has yet to be written!! It will.... ;-D
Desmond is definitely BEAUTIFULLY UNIQUE.... With the Pitt Bull face, but the Greyhound body!! I love it!! ;op