Tasha

Most people think that their pets are more special than anyone else’s, so I feel justified saying that Tasha is the most fascinating creature I know. Tasha is a Siberian husky. Her papers call her “red” but auburn-tipped white hair gives her a caramel color.

I hesitate to call her mine because if she had a choice she probably wouldn’t claim me. She’s not loyal to one person or family but would claim the whole human race as hers. Whenever she gets loose she runs to one of the neighbors houses and as soon as they open their door she’s in like a shot.

Several times she’s gotten away from me on a walk and has stayed about 50 feet in front of me; close enough to be associated but far enough to flaunt the fact that I can’t catch her. Her downfall is always the same: someone will stop and open their car door and she goes to them. I think it’s a conflict that humans feel as well: wanting companionship and independence at the same time.

More Fun Facts About Tasha:

1. She slides down snow banks like a seal then lies on her back, twisting around and kicking her legs in the air while thrashing her head back and forth to snap up snow. She may be part dragon.

2. An environmentally aware dog, she eats and apparently digests litter, principally tissues.

3. Before drinking, she kills the water or frightens it into submission by snapping at it.

4. She shows her appreciation for certain odors by rolling vigorously on the (usually decomposing) substance. I think of this as a positive trait. She wants to smell nice. I put on perfume, she rolls in garbage.

5. She picks up plastic bottles and carries them home—sometimes for several miles—where she buries them. Once she was carrying a nearly full bottle of water and a guy stopped his truck to compliment me on training a dog to carry my water bottle. It was flattering, but I had to tell him that Tasha’s bottle-carrying behavior has nothing to do with me.

6. On our last walk she grabbed the bloated body of a squirrel that was bobbing down a stream. For an instant I imagined having to watch her carry that thing all the way home because no one can get “food” away from her and keep all of their digits. But I yelled so loud that it scared her into dropping the squirrel and I hauled her off just in time. As we walked away she turned and look longingly at the sodden lump of fur on the road behind us.