At least a decade ago, Grandpa Snell of Snell’s Septic service pulled into our farm to clean out the septic tank, which had filled up and threatened to back up our toilet.

This was our first experience with a septic tank or with the Snells, who was terrific in every way – prompt, friendly, reasonable, and knowledgeable. Septic visits are not supposed to be fun, but I always am happy to see the Snells. And they never fail to clean things out when necessary.

(Above, Brian Snell and his new ride-along dog Cash.)

You might see it as dirty work, but they love it and are very good at it.

(Brian is paying the bill for emptying our septic tank while Cash supervises.)

When I went out to greet Mr. Snell, who was in a huge truck, I was startled to see three happy and energetic Corgis sitting beside him, staring at me as if they owned the farm. We became instant friends.

Today, Brian, the heir, and grandson, pulled in with his new Corgi, Cash. The tradition goes on.

I love Corgis, I can’t look one in the eye without smiling, and they also make good herding dogs. I worked with them in Pennsylvania when I learned how to herd sheep; they can be strict and firm.

Grandpa Snell explained that the dogs go everywhere with him and stay quietly and patiently in the truck. “I don’t go anyplace without them,” Mr. Snell, like the other prominent men in trucks I had been meeting upstate, got me thinking.

These big, strong, competent men seemed to have small dogs that rode around with them everywhere they went. And the Corgis are not always silent. They love to stick their heads out the window and bark at my dogs from a distance.

 

 

(Brian’s huge new septic truck. It is 14 years old and pulled a tractor once.)

They were lovely people and amiable dogs, which was new to me. I am in awe of these big men; they all can do things I can’t imagine doing, I met five or six of them with small dogs they adore,  and they often shed tears when talking about dogs they loved or dogs they lost.

These men led me to reconsider my misguided notions of small dogs as being yappy and too excitable.

Their dogs were calm and sweet, and quiet.

They traveled well and fit into small places. They were essential to these men because they drove around the country all day in these giant trucks, and the dogs were their companions and comfort.

When I decided to broaden my horizons and get a Boston Terrier, I got Gus (who died young) and Bud, who we love very much.  He’s a beautiful dog, a whole new experience.

The Snells, the wood stove cleaner, and the wood delivery man were the reason I thought of it. They all had small dogs, and they loved them madly.

My idea of small dogs sitting on the laps of the rich was foolish.

(Cash, Brian’s New Dog)

I will never put small dogs down again. They have enriched our lives, brought us laughter, and cuddled up on our laps on cold nights.

Grandfather Snell is dead, as is his wife, who terrorized me on the phone. She was all business and took no nonsense or prisoners. This is a family business in every sense of the word.

Grandson Brian comes with his dogs in his big new red septic truck now; he has taken over the Septic business along with other family members and lost two of his dogs and some family members in the past year.

I photographed those dogs, as is my habit now with the big men in trucks.

Brian said he was going to grieve for a while about the loss of his favorite dog, but like most true dog lovers, they have to have a dog. They get another one and love that one to death. And they rescue a few in between.

Brian got Cash, a rescue dog from an animal shelter who was sick. Cash is healthy now and happy and has assumed the role of a big truck dog and companion; he goes everywhere with Brian.

Like his grandfather, Brian is a pleasure to know and talk to. I love seeing him. He comes once a year. He knows when to go and come, which is good because I forget just how vital, regular septic visits can be.

We talk to dogs for half an hour, shake hands and wish each other luck with our lives. Brian is about to have a child, a daughter, and he is excited. I’m excited for him.

I loved seeing how Cash has filled the role of the other Corgis – the family is Corgi crazy but also are suckers for rescue dogs that need homes.

We get along very well, we are friends, not just customers. We have a lot to talk about and are very happy to see them every Fall.

Brian is efficient and conscientious, always trying to instruct me on pipes and vents, and never mind that I have no idea what he is talking about. I made him promise to e-mail me when the baby is born. Cash is a sweetie, the perfect next-generation Snell Septic Dog.