Balls and Walnuts
more than you ever wanted to know
Chihuahuas
My parents’ 60th wedding anniversary is coming up next January, and for the occasion, my sister wants to put together some sort of scrap book. My sister, my brother, and I each have our own collection of photos. It’s always something of a shock when we compare photos. For example, my sis had never seen this photo of my grandfather.
My brother turned up a few black-and-white photos of our chihuahuas, Chi Chi and Perrita. That’s Chi Chi on the right. I’ve told you about her before — my canine sibling rival. My mother still blames my father for Chi Chi’s failed pregnancy. As far as my dad was concerned, a dog ought to be able to deliver her puppies without assistance. My mom wanted to let the vet deliver the litter. Chi Chi gave birth to live pups, but somehow, she smothered them within the day.
I suspect every family has stories like that one — something which, on the face of things, isn’t all that big a deal, yet it becomes emblematic for so much of the deeper pathology of the marriage.
I’m not sure what happened to Chico, Chi Chi’s mate. I remember him vaguely as a hyper hairless who wouldn’t leave Chi Chi alone. I also remember being very disturbed by his bright red penis, and by the way he would get twisted around (tail-facing-tail) when mating with Chi Chi. We didn’t have him for long.
Here’s another picture of Perrita. I don’t know if she had gotten into some laundry, or whether my brother (as a joke) put that sock on her head. My sister and I both find this photo quite touching.
I’m not sure why my parents bought a second female Chihuahua; if my mother wanted a litter of Chihuahua puppies so badly, why not buy another male? There’s so much I don’t understand.
Perrita was a sweet, good-natured dog. We hung out together during my teenage years. Chihuahuas are house dogs, in case you’re not familiar with the breed. You don’t walk them or run with them or make them chase frisbees. You could probably decapitate a Chihuahua with a frisbee. They’re there to cuddle with, to give and receive love.
Isn’t there a line in the New Testament that you will be judged by how you treat the least among you? When I remember Perrita’s last years, I think of that; and if it’s true, my parents are in for some grief. She became flea-bitten, so they banished her from the house. She had to sleep in the garden shed. My parents fed her but gave her no affection — and no treatment for the fleas. It was a damned shame.
I admit that Karen and I have had pets we stopped caring about. Our snakes, for example. We continued to give them food and water, of course, but we didn’t lavish as much attention on them. But they’re snakes. Keep them warm, clean, well watered, and well fed, and they won’t give a damn if you don’t give a damn.
Dogs give a damn. I suspect cats give a damn, too, even though they like to pretend they don’t.
Most everyone would agree (wouldn’t they?) that cats and dogs are family members. If you mistreat one family member, what does that say about your other relationships? Lousy things, I suspect.
D.
Adorable pictures. Perrita looks like Sister Perrita of the Chihuahua order of nuns.
Saint Perrita of Chihuahua, pray for us.
So sweet. And sad about Perrita’s last years.
We spoil our dogs, I’m afraid. They have two beds in the house, and yet they are very well behaved. I agree about the judgement of the least among us – another reason I’ll never become a conservative.
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It’s perfectly understandable that you felt so strongly about Chi Chi’s death. You were like siblings. Not to mention, you are an admirably sensitive man.
I tend to think that chihuahuas should not actually be classified as dogs. But yes, they should be treated as family.
I carry guilt about our turtles. I wish we could have a bigger space for them and they were less leery of us. I see the sliders in the local park ponds and wish we could transfer out turts there, as they’d have more space and company. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely they’d survive outdoors after growing up in tanks. I only hope that, in their reptilian way, they are somewhat happy as they are.
CD: I remember calling that photo “The Virgin Perrita.” Definitely has a religious quality to it, doesn’t it?
Sam: Yay! A meme! That means I don’t have to think up a blog topic! But perhaps I should find out what the meme is before I celebrate.
DN: Thanks for reminding me about all those one dollar sliders I failed to take care of as a kid 😉 We used to keep a tank of sliders and Reeve’s turtles. Nasty creatures . . . always trying to bite our fingers through the glass! We ended up donating them back to the pet store.
Help, I can’t read what is under the photos. Is there a trick. You know I’m computer illiterate.
The picture does have a religious quality and I am converting now to the Order of the Virgin Perrita. Please all stand and sing “Onward Virgin Chihuahuas.” God has a special place in his heart for this order. I suddenly feel the urge to go door to door converting people.
Sweet puppy pics.
I grew up with cocker spaniels & daschunds. Married my husband and converted into a cat person. (It was a package deal — if I wanted him, he came with a 3 year old Maine Coon.) Live with 6 cats now, who are as real to me as if they walked on two legs instead of four.