Latest Headlines

Random Acts of Comedy in Thousand Oaks ( Kamaka Brown )

1,160 Elementary Students Receive New Clothes ( Carol Karm )

Book an Artful Prayer Workshop to Make Books ( Lynne Farrow )

Learn to swim in 2008 ( Melia Parchman )

share stories | more stories »

YourHub.com \\ Ventura \\ Stories \\ Posting is no longer available. \\ General Pets

"What's It All About, Alphie?"

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

Contributed by: Lawrence Berk on 6/20/2007

(Originally published in the Ventura County & Coast Reporter, October 5, 1995 under the title "Alphie, The Pooper Scooper Mutt - - - 'What's It All About, Alphie?'"
by Lawrence Berk)

I've seen Alphie walking with Jack many times as I pass by their home on Patricia Street in Oxnard. At about 7:30 A.M. on weekdays I pedal by on my daily commute to Ritchen School where I work as an instructional assistant. Last week, however, my attention was drawn more intently than usual to Alphie, a black and white springer spaniel adopted more than a decade ago by Jack and his wife, Marnie. Alphie had been abandoned by an unknown family who left the area without a trace. Jack and Marnie Snyder made every effort to find Alphie's owners to no avail. The Snyders then adopted Alphie and it is apparent that the mutual love and admiration this trio shares has been a blessing for them all.

Jack does a lot of walking in the neighborhood as his physical activities have been limited by a horrible motorcycle accident he suffered some years ago when he was riding his cycle near the Esplanade. Jack is a retired Oxnard police officer and was wearing his police jacket during the ride when an unknown assailant shot him causing him to be thrown from the cycle and leaving him with permanent injuries. This terrible event hasn't altered his gregarious nature or the love he demonstrates daily toward everyone he encounters. Whenever he sees me ride by he always has a warm "Good morning!" and I see him greet everyone who passes with the same warmth. In the past, these encounters were common even though Jack didn't know me. I met him for the first time this week because of Alphie.

A few days ago Jack and Alphie were on their daily walk when I noticed that Alphie was carrying something in his mouth. As I got close enough to identify the object, it proved to be a large plastic slotted spoon which, obviously, Alphie was carrying so that Jack would have it readily available if needed to scoop Alphie's (for want of a more tasteful term) poop. Not since our dog Keysay (made famous in a March 9, 1981 Ventura County Star-Free Press "Love Story" I wrote for columnist Stan Whisenhunt) demonstrated responsible toilet training during our hikes in Arroyo Verde Park had I seen anything close to what Keysay habitually did. Regrettably, I was never as responsible as Jack (or Alphie for that matter), but Keysay, who must have sensed that, did the next best thing. Instead of depositing her deposit in the midst of the hiking trail, invariably she would exit to either side and "do her thing" so that no one using the trail would later step into it. In fact,"Keese" would sniff at other droppings directly on the trail with a bit of disdain, as she clearly felt that most other canines lacked her sensitivity.

I made up my mind that I had to find out more about that adorable and responsible dog on Patricia Street as well as the training efforts of his owners. I stopped by their home one morning and met Marnie who explained that neither she nor Jack had trained Alphie to carry his own scooper. One day during awalk Alphie kept jumping up in an effort to grab the scooper held by his owner and it became clear that he was saying, "If this thing is to be taken on all our walks, and if its use is for me alone, then I'll carry it." From that day forward, Alphie carried the scooper, discreetly by the handle, of course. Marnie has padded the plastic handle so Alphie doesn't feel uncomfortable while holding it between his teeth.

I told Marnie that I just had to have a picture of Alphie carrying his scooper. Without hesitation, Marnie went in the house and came back out with a Polaroid camera. I snapped one shot of the two of them, but Alphie was a little too far away to clearly distinguish his scooper. Marnie invited me to try again, but by then I was late for work, so I stopped by afterwards and she and Alphie graciously allowed me to take two more photos. This time Alphie had a child's white sand shovel which Marnie quickly explained was a "change of wardrobe."

Alphie sees my children on their way to Ritchen Elementary and Marnie and Jack stressed that "he just loves all kids." In his loving way, he also greeted the mailman with his unique "squark" (a combination squeal and bark) as the latter passed on the sidewalk right next to Alphie's rest spot. Marnie agreed with me that most dogs seem to despise the mailman, but not Alphie who greets him daily. He must have got that bit of kindness from living with Jack and Marnie.

So, what's it all about, Alphie? It's about love. It's about daily kindness. It's about a couple who refuse to allow life's tragedies to detract from the daily joy of expressing their love. It's about a springer spaniel who's got infinitely more class carrying his scooper in his mouth than that other Springer's got carrying a microphone in his hand.

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above story