photo by Rhonda
“I’ll pay you $500 for this dog,” the man told Rhonda’s dad. In the 70s, that was a lot of money for a dog, but he was convinced that Caesar, the Australian Shepherd her family got when Rhonda was in high school could read. If you sent Caesar down the driveway to get the Arizona Republic he’d carry it back. If you sent him down for the Scottsdale Progress, he’d ignore the Arizona Republic and grab the smaller paper. That’s not all he could do. He could climb a ladder to the roof and would jump from there into the swimming pool, though he preferred to jump in off the diving board. When Rhonda started college in California, and called home, Caesar would sing with her on phone.
Photo by Carol
photo by Rhonda
His most impressive feat, however, involved Rhonda’s brother, Mike. When he was high school, one Friday, he told his Mom he and his friends were going camping that night in the desert — a popular Arizona past time. He said, “Mom, we’ll go to Timbob’s house after school and camping from there.” Mike hadn’t planned to take Caesar along and all morning, Caesar was moping around the house. If you’ve ever had a dog, you’ve seen the pose — chin flat on the floor, deeply sorrowful expression. Mike’s Mom let Caesar out around lunchtime. Around 3 p.m., Mike and his friends drove up to the house with Caesar is in the car, grinning from ear to ear in that way that only dogs can. “When I got to Timbob’s,” says Mike, “Caesar was there waiting. Now I have to take him camping with me.” Which was Caesar’s plan all along!
This is just precious guys!
Love it! When I saw the pictures I got all teary remembering that faithful and wonderful dog.