Great and small
I visited a corps on a weekday recently for a meeting with the corps officers and a few other folks, and we had a small companion. The office dog.
I’m not good with dog breeds, but I think it was an elderly pug. I say elderly because it walked everywhere slowly, and I say pug because it had that ‘I-just-ran-face-first-into-a-brick-wall’ look to it.
It belonged to the corps officers and apparently attends work with them regularly and is well-known to staff and volunteers. Was there a potential risk of it biting someone who came to the church for help? The only time I saw it open its mouth was to yawn.
In this age of assistance animals and emotional support animals and some cafes allowing dogs, it’s becoming common to see more pets out of the backyard and in public. It makes me wonder how far we can go with this.
Mal: Hi Chris, thanks for coming to church today to chat.
Chris: No problem, Mal. I really appreciate the way you … What’s that?
Mal: Oh, I’m sorry, it’s just my pet goat. Trevor has been feeling a bit low lately, so I thought I’d bring him to work with me today. You don’t mind, do you?
Chris: Well, no. As long as he doesn’t eat my backpack.
Mal: No, he’s quite tame and house-trained, and anyway, he prefers hats.
Chris: Yes, I can see him eyeing off my beanie.
Mal: Anyway, please continue …
Chris: Yes, I was saying I really appreciate the way you’ve been supporting … um … is that a budgie on top of your bookshelf?
Mal: Ah, there she is, right behind me. Sorry, Chris, this is Barbara, my emotional support budgie.
Chris: Hello, Barbara.
Barbara: Hello, sailor.
Mal: Oh, yes, Barbara can say a few words. On those stressful days at work, I love having her with me; always puts a smile on my face.
Barbara: Aye carumba.
Mal: Thank you, Barbara. Hush now. Sorry, Chris, please go on.
Chris: Of course. So … thank you for the
Mal: Bad boy!
Chris: Sorry?
Mal: No, Chris, not you, my apologies. Trevor was licking his lips and starting to move towards Barbara. Sit, Trevor. Sit. Sorry, go on, Chris.
Chris: I’ll try. I just wanted to say that
Mal: Don’t you dare.
Chris: [pause] Trevor again?
Mal: No, Barbara. She was preparing to drop a, uh, a little surprise on the carpet. Would you mind terribly if I just stepped outside for a moment with them and got Trevor something to eat and allowed Barbara to do what she needs to do?
Chris: No, no problem. You do what you have to.
[Mal exits with Trevor and Barbara.]
Chris: Now, what do I do? I guess it’s just you and me for a few minutes.
[Chris turns to Roderick, his support wombat.]
– Major Mal Davies is Assistant Divisional Commander for the Victoria Division.
