Today’s challenge from Dutch Goes the Photo concerns memories and is sparked by his memory when losing a beloved canine member named Bette, last week. Our canine companions really do become family as they become part of our hearts. So this post is in dedication to all the loved canines I have had over the years. I actually have written a book about them but now that it is complete I have no clue what to do next.

The pictures I will post are taken from old photos that were in scrapbooks or photo albums from ???years ago when I was young.  But as I review these wonderful photos, I remember their individual personalities.  And I remember how all the kids in the neighborhood loved them and wherever the kids were, the dogs were too.

My first dog I remember was Spot Tillman Jr III as named by my older brother who was probably 4 at the time. There was no I, II or even junior for Spot, so I am not sure why the additives but there you have it. Spot was mostly white with brown ears, a German Short Hair that was scared of hunting. But allowed being sat on – yes that’s me.

Then there was Nellie a small terrier who had puppies and we kept one that looked like her and her name was Sandra. Then in junior high I got Gypsy, a mixed breed with pronounced black skin around her eyes and mouth. She was part of the neighborhood canine group of kids and dogs together as one. With her is Blacky, another member of the neighborhood group.

Samantha, which my mother thought was her dog came when I was in High school and college. But in reality we all really know whose dog it was.

After college and leaving home, my first dog was Zero. So named due to his over tiny ears and tail when he was a puppy. They later grew into very nice ears and tail.

Of all the dogs I have had, Baby Ruth was my favorite. She was a Black Lab cross that was connected to my very soul. She is the matriarch hero of my book.

A breed of dog I wish I had discovered earlier in life is the Great Dane. Wonder gentle giants, clownish and protective at the same time. Dittims was a Harlequin Great Dane meaning he was the white with black spots. His back hit just above my waist and he topped out at about 185. I use him in my blog heading. He had his own chair.  The funniest thing though, and evidently a lot of danes do it, they think they are lap dogs and they will literally come sit in your lap – feet on the floor with their butt in your lap. It is too funny.

My canine besty now is Mimi. Her full name is Screaming Mimi as when she was a tiny, she would scream when left like what my images of what a screaming mimi sounded like. Ear piercing. Even now that she is grown, the pitch of her bark can make you put your hands over your ears.

While she sounds ferocious you can tell from the last picture she really is just goofy. But she is a great companion.

I hope you enjoyed my canine memory lane and I look forward to read other memories as well from this fpj-photo-challenge.

And since we are in canine mode, I remind everyone the value of kindness. No matter how small a kindness you may share with human or animal, it is never wasted.