Pearl has woven herself in and out of my life in very different and special ways. I don’t care to have four dogs, it is one too many for me, but it never feels like a strange dog has come when Pearl visits, it feels very natural, very familiar, to both of us. Pearl is a ttwo-time national show dog, a champion, born and raised by the well-known Lab Breeder Pam Leslie of Pawlet, Vt. When I saw here, she was living in a kennel there, coming to the end of her breeding life and when I saw those big round eyes, I wanted her. Pearl has the great calm and ease of the champion dogs, they are bred to go anywhere, be steady and look wonderful. When Pearl turns those eyes on you, it can melt your heart.
Pam Leslie sold her to me. Pearl’s legs were shot at the end of her breeding life, she needed extensive surgery to implant titanium rods on her hind legs. The surgery has been successful although Pearl has arthritis and walks stiffly. I gave her to Emma seven years ago, so Pearl is getting up there, especially for a Lab.
My daughter Emma has never been much connected to my rural experience or farm life, she lives in Brooklyn and I think she finds my life a bit incomprehensible, although she is too polite to say so. She is not interested in quiet, pastoral settings or donkeys. She does love dogs and cats. Emma fell for Pearl in a big way, and after a year or so of agonizing and gentle prodding, I agreed to let her take Pearl to Brooklyn and it was a happy match for both of them. Pearl was just as happy in Brooklyn as eh was in the country, she made a million friends, walked all over the city and cuddled with Emma in her tiny apartment. Two of them against the world.
They each attached powerfully to one another, and Pearl is one of those dogs that will make herself at home just about anywhere, as long as the meals are regular and she gets some attention. Emma has taken wonderful care of Pearl, exercising her several times a day, keeping her weight down, keeping her healthy.
I have to be honest, I can’t conceive of letting Lenore or Red go, even to Emma, but Pearl was not really the dog for me. I am always happy to give a dog a better life than I can offer if it is possible, even though some people find it heretic. I’m not sure why we didn’t connect as strongly as she and Emma did, perhaps she was too simple, too elemental, perhaps I was needy in a different way, I don’t really know. It was hard to let her go, but not impossible. People love to tell stories of dog’s pining away for their humans, but the genius of dogs is their adaptability, and Emma was barely out of the driveway when Pearl was gnawing happily on a rawhide treat.
I see she is coming near the end of her time, but it has been a rich dog experience for me, getting Pearl, giving her to my daughter and then, every summer for a few weeks, getting her back. The other dogs have accepted her – Frieda took a little persuading the first time she met Pearl, but is quite at ease with her now. Red ignores her, as he does other dogs, and Lenore loves to hang out with her.
Pearl is in the autumn of her life, she loves to sit in the yard and gaze out at nothing, one of her great qualities, she sits by my side when I work in the study, she is very much at ease here. I’ve ordered a big bag of the rawhide treats she loves. She has a great sense of gravitas, and when Emma really needed her, she was an endless source of affection and companionship. She was there when Emma needed her, in the best tradition of dogs, and still is.
The bond between the two of them is very strong, so is my bond with Pearl.
It was difficult for Emma to leave her here, she made sure I was aware of all of her needs and quirks. “You do give them water, don’t you?,” she asked, and I said yes, I do. I had to laugh. I know all of Pearl’s quirks, she was my dog and in many ways, still is. I kidded with Emma about the meaning of attachment theory, I had a hand in all of this. She doesn’t buy it.
Pearl speaks to me of the timeless story of the dog, moving in and out of our lives, offering connection and companionship. She is a peaceful creature, like Lenore, she loves everyone and everything. In my mind, I grumbled about having four dogs, it is not simple, especially at this time but I very happy to be with Pearl. I suspect this is our last time together, and I am happy to take Pearl while Emma goes on vacation and to several weddings. She needs a rest, and Pearl is very content her. I like to look out the window and see her so peaceful here, there is something about the farm that seems to settle animals down, and how fitting that Pearl comes in and out of my life like the generous spirit that she is.