Interview with a Dog is an occasional series in which Shore Dog Walkers sits down to learn more about a dog’s life.
In this session, we find out about the hobbies, preferences and one particular obsession of Zeus, a middle aged Golden Retriever from West Long Branch.
Shore Dog Walkers: Thank you for agreeing to this interview Zeus, can you give the readers a little bit of information about yourself.
Zeus: I’m a middle aged Golden Retriever. I live in West Long Branch and I like my routine.
Shore Dog Walkers: What do you mean by routine?
Zeus: As you might have noticed, when I walk out the front door, I only go to the right. It is my routine to hook another quick right and then go into the cemetery at the end of the street.
Shore Dog Walkers: Are “the cats” part of your routine?
Zeus became visibly agitated at the mention of “the cats”, in the interest of moving the discussion along, I did not immediately press him for more information.
Shore Dog Walkers: Ok Zeus, I will skip any questions about “the cats” for now. I see you often have Bob Ross on the TV when I come to get you, are you interested in painting?
Zeus: I am a dog, so I do not have the dexterity to hold a paint brush. As you may or may not know, like all dogs, I have red-green color blindness, so even if I could hold a paint brush, my color selections would be limited at best.
Bob Ross has a very calming voice. So even if I am not watching, he makes me sleep, which is what I like to do.
Shore Dog Walkers: I have noticed that you like to roll in the grass once we get to the cemetery, what is that all about? Is there some sort of “stink” in a particular spot I should be worried about, or do you roll in it that spot for a different reason.
Zeus: It’s not so much about scents or smells as it is with some dogs. Rather, I like the feel of the grass and sometimes I am looking for a belly rub.
Shore Dog Walkers: That makes sense, not scents. (I tried to make a joke by spelling out “sense” and “scents”. I don’t think Zeus got the joke.) How come you don’t want to read the names on the gravestones and instead always head straight for the borough owned property behind your house?
Zeus turns the tables and asks me a question.
Zeus: I noticed that you always want to go read the gravestones, why is that?
Shore Dog Walkers: I find it interesting that a number of the names on the gravestones are also the names of streets in Long Branch. For example, there are a few members of the Wardell family buried in that cemetery. Many towns in the area have street’s named “Wardell.” Eliakim Wardell bought up much of the land in this part of Monmouth County back in the 1600s and many of his descendants helped towns likes Little Silver, Rumson, and Monmouth Beach grow.
Zeus: Fascinating.
Shore Dog Walkers: My second grade teacher at Point Road School in Little Silver was Mrs. Wardell.
Zeus: Fascinating.
At this point I realized that Zeus could care less about the Wardell family or my second grade teacher and he was just humoring me, as if he was thinking about something else.
Shore Dog Walkers: Can we talk about “the Cats” now Zeus.
Zeus: Sure, but what is there to talk about, they are just cats?
Shore Dog Walkers: You know, I know, your owners know, that you are obsessed with the cats that hang out in your neighbor’s yard or under the bushes by the fence that separates the neighbor’s yard from the borough owned property.
Zeus: I just want to see the cats.
Shore Dog Walkers: Why? Are they your friends? Are they your enemies?
Zeus: I think they want to be friends. I think they like it when I stick my head under their bush and see my face.
Shore Dog Walkers: It seems to me that they just like to tease you Zeus. It seems that when the black one sits on the opposite side of the fence and just stares at you as you pull and strain at the leash; that he gets enjoyment out of watching you struggle.
Zeus: I know. The tabby and white colored cat does the same thing. He seems annoyed when I stick my head under the bush, but I just can’t help myself.
Shore Dog Walkers: So basically, “the Cats” are doing what cats do. They stay just out of reach and remain calm while you get all excited and worked-up without considering that it is just a game for them?
Zeus: Deep down, I understand that they are just “playing” me. Still, the instinct to get them never goes away. I just want the cats.
Either the interview started to get too personal or Zeus smelled a treat I had in my pocket; the interview was basically over.
Shore Dog Walkers: Thank you for the interview Zeus.
Zeus: What’s in your pocket?