A dog’s tale

Trish Lynn and Thom Donitz and friends

JOLT staff photo

Thom here, 

When you look at our photo you can easily make the assumption that Trish is the adorable dog owner and myself as the Krazy cat lady. While at the present moment this might hold true – it has not always been the case and lately, I have been considering adding a canine companion to my pack of two felines. Something is holding me back though. 

It was the late summer of 1996, and I was going through a difficult time in my personal life. After a little deliberation I made the decision to include a dog to the household. Now while I primarily had cats in my adult life, I did grow up with a blended animal family of both dogs and cats which included Rusty, a very handsome Weimaraner, Bo, our lovable and friendly Golden retriever and Smoky, a very hyper little dog who listened to no one but my father. I did a lot of research (pre internet) for a dog that would fit in with my lifestyle, my job at the time and a household of two cats (two seems to be my limit).  After narrowing my choice down to the breed of American Eskimo, and opting for the standard size, I then searched out a local breeder, armed with a battery of tests, to choose the right puppy. 

Thom holding Toshiro when he first brought him home

I was hooked from the first moment I picked up the little guy and he looked back at me. Forgot about all the tests, he was the one. I promptly named him Toshiro after my favorite childhood actor Toshiro Mifune. After introducing him to his new feline companions, Pachinko, the Matriarch of the house, who promptly let him know this was her house and that he, along with myself and her little adoptive brother, Akira, were merely guests and should behave appropriately. Toshiro accepted these conditions unconditionally and a new chapter in my life had begun.  

We became inseparable. At first, we worked on training of commands, both verbal and hand signs. One of our favorite places to work on this was the open Weyerhaeuser field next to I-5 just south of the 320th exit. With the roar of traffic drowning out my voice it was easy to work on hand signal commands. Always “work” (training) time was followed by playtime as a reward. 

Toshiro playing soccer in the backyard

Even something as simple as going to the mailbox at the entrance of our cul-de-sac became an opportunity for training as I would make him sit while trying to gain a few feet head start for our race back home. Upon hearing ‘Go” he would immediately bark (translation = “cheater!”) before racing by me and actually laughing. 

As he became settled into his new home and life it was amazing the respect he showed towards his two new feline siblings. There was never any fighting over food or treats or who got to sit where while watching TV. 

We began to establish a routine if I came home late from work some nights. Rather than open the garage door and risk him barking in excitement, I would open the back end of my vehicle, then the side gate of the fence, enabling him to race by me and into the car so he could go “bye-bye”. Sometimes for a short drive, sometimes just around the block. 

It soon became painfully aware to me that he was becoming more popular with everyone we knew or met than I was. Everyone, repeat EVERYONE, family, friends, co-workers, even people meeting him for the first time, would make the same statement about him that “He was the happiest dog they had ever met.” Indeed, Toshiro always had a smile on his face. At Christmas it would not be uncommon for him to receive more gifts than I did. The staff at some of my favorite restaurants would even put extra bacon or other goodies in my take home “doggy bag” because they knew who the dog was. I once had to remind all of my nieces and nephews how hard it was to make my mother’s, their grandmother’s, wall of fame: on her fireplace mantle were all of their pictures but Toshiro’s picture was squarely up front and center. She loved that dog. 

Thom and Toshiro on Beach

We traveled everywhere up and down the coast with his favorite place to visit being Ocean Shores. After making the left turn at Hogans corner I would lower the window and he would immediately play “Super Dog” where he would smell the salty air and let the wind sweep back his ears. Regardless of where I parked in the parking lot, he knew instantly which path to take to the beach. Once there he would play in the water followed by kite flying. You would think that wet sand and thick white hair would combine for a mess but that was not the case. As soon as he was dry the sand would fall out and presto! Clean dog!  His leash would be looped thru my belt as we ventured up and down the beach in search of buried treasure. 

Toshiro’s travel bag became a staple part of my travel supplies. Again, pre-internet, research was needed to find hotels and motels that were dog-friendly. Once, after checking out of a motel on the Oregon coast, he went into the water and I got equally soaked getting him. The kind and friendly staff, upon seeing this, and even though we had already checked out, quickly provided him with a towel. 

When first Pachinko and then Akira both passed away Toshiro noticed his two friends were gone but when an abandoned cat showed up, he welcomed Kitty-San to our home. It was about this time, around 2006, that his cancer first showed up and he battled thru it.  

It was shortly after this time that he met his Aunt Trish and her grandson Lee. He became a regular fixture over there as the two of them, Lee & Toshiro, would watch Ninja Warrior together after a day of playing together in the yard. Lee would go on to write a short essay about life with Toshiro while in the 2nd grade. It is one of my most cherished possessions as it was written with the innocence of a child.  

Sadly, his cancer came back in the spring of 2009. I had just retired and was looking forward to trips with him again, but you could see it was taking its toll on him as this time it had spread. When I made that decision to do what was right for him, we decided to go on one last adventure together. For an entire week we travelled to his favorite spots and ate his favorite foods. On that final morning, we went for short drive. A ritual that he and I had long established was to share a small bag of gummy bears. When it came down to the final one, I would always carry on a fake debate about which one of us would get it. He would always look straight ahead and pretend not care. Eventually, I would give in. On this final trip together, there would be no debate. He got the last one. I have never had a gummy bear since that day. 

For right now I am content with Trish’s dogs coming over to watch TV and/or get treats. They make themselves right at home with my cats leaving me to fend for myself in finding a spot to watch TV. Will I ever get one of my own again? I don’t know. Not this week or next. That’s as far as my Magic 8 ball can see. 

Trish and Lee with Toshiro at the beach.

Paws for Thoughts: (This is the story written by my young friend Lee in the 2nd grade)  

“I’d like to tell you about my old dog that died, Toshiro. He was an American Eskimo, all white (because that’s the only color they can be) and very friendly. Even to our old cat! He loved to go on car trips, especially to the beach. The last time we went, it was so fun. I flew a kite and fed some seagulls and Toshiro played in the water. THE END!!!!” 

Thom Donitz and Trish Lynn are neighbors and close friends who share their love of animals and wildlife. Trish and Thom are residents of Tumwater. Contact them at  pets@theJOLTnews.com.