Rooster Crows No More

Each Nov. 1st I take my dogs shopping to celebrate birthdays. They actually have the same birthday four years apart. Pi always picks some kind of disgusting chew bone or treat. Sonic almost always picks a stuffed animal which lives a short abused little life. He usually performs a squeak-ectomy later followed by complete de-stuffication. Only the fuzzy pelt remains as his prize. And prize it he does as he trots about the house shaking it and  dragging it out the dog door into the muddy yard.

This year Sonic insisted that he needed a stuffed rooster. Numerous attempts to redirect to him to a quiet toy failed and  he returned again and again to a little black and white chicken. When  he bites it, the stupid thing crows three times. Since November the obnoxious toy has alarmed me day and night with incessant crowing. Strangely, the rooster has been meticulously cared for by little Sonic. It has not be de-stufficated or dragged into the yard. Sonic always knows where rooster lies, and he can fetch it at my request.  While my disgust for the toy has grown exponentially with each cock-a-doodle-do, he delights so much in his chicken that I could not bring myself to deprive him of it.

This morning Pi shook the crow right out of the rooster. The toy's little faux fur body remains intact except  for a slightly worn wing. But, alas, his voice box has been smashed! Rooster will no longer startle me in the darkness when I step on him. I will not be awakened  at 5 a.m. when Sonic decides to snuggle him in the soft morning light right next to my head. The rooster has been de-crowed, if you will.

I gave Pi an extra treat for doing me that little favor. Sonic still totes rooster about seemingly unconcerned about the silence. Perhaps he is glad that the darn thing has stopped crowing too.

Peace! at last! lw

Sonic & Silent Rooster