Lina and Darby

It’s hard to imagine a closer pair of dogs than Lina and Darby. Darby was our shepherd-Lab mix that went to Narnia a little over ten years ago. While Lina and Lily had their own special relationship, Lina and Darby were something else – most always together, and when together often touching.

First it was Chris Ann (Cocker Spaniel) by herself; then Mitzi (likely a border collie mix, about six months old) was rescued from the streets of Richmond by Vickie – so then it was Chris and Mitz. Then Darby was part of a litter rescued by a co-worker of Vickie’s; so then it was Chris, Mitzi, and Darby. Then Chris went to Narnia – and Darby really missed her, looked all over for her. Chris was the older dog and Darby was the puppy.

Years later Mitzi went to Narnia and then it was just Darby. Frankly Darby didn’t appear to miss Mitzi very much; Mitz could be temperamental, but I chalk that up to her troubled puppyhood on the streets of Richmond. Mitz and Darby were with us when we moved to the Boston area, then to the Berkshires, and then back to Chesterfield. They could be buddies and have fun, and they were great at chasing squirrels…but I admit that Mitz could be grouchy at times…a nip here, a nip there…the fruit of a troubled existence on city streets no doubt.

Darby was by herself for a couple of years, I had a tough time getting over the loss of Mitzi…she was my puppy. She didn’t have much use for women, but she liked men; she really liked Vickie’s Dad; in her old age she came to tolerate Vickie, maybe even appreciate her at times.

When we first brought Lina home we let her down on the grass in our fenced backyard, then we let Darby out on the deck to see her new sister – oh my! Darby took one look at Lina and let out a bark that was probably picked up on a seismograph out in Colorado. Poor Lina ran into a corner of the wooden fence with her face toward the fence; “If I can’t see that big thing then maybe that big thing can’t see me.”

Not a good start to a relationship.