Soul Dog

If you remember back a few months ago, two Labradors, an old lady and a puppy raced into my driveway and refused to leave. I tried for days to find their owners, but then the puppy (Biscuit) fell sick with Parvo, and eventually died.

The old lady remained. No one claimed her and none of the no-kill shelters would take her. We couldn't just toss her away (like I suspect someone else did) so we kept her and called her Mama.

Mama is gentle, quiet, loyal and obedient. But she will NOT let me out of her sight. At first I thought it was a fluke that she followed me so diligently. Now I see that she makes it her mission.

No amount of pleading will make her stay if I walk out of a room. She'll obey any command but that one. She has to follow me. 

This wouldn't be so terrible, but I move very quickly from room to room, especially when I'm cleaning. I feel bad that she no sooner makes herself comfortable that I whisk off somewhere else.

Greg even tested her. We were out in his shop and he covered her eyes while I hid. The poor old girl went wild with fear and she bolted from the shop to look for me. I had to race to catch her. You should've seen the look of relief wash over her.

I'm a pretty good reader of dog psychology, but I have yet to figure out Mama. From day one, she acted as if she knew me intimately. And she is deliriously happy when she sees me. Not just crazy-dog-happy to see me, but relief-and-hallelujah-happy.

Greg and I had been discussing her bizarre behavior when he mentioned he had read something about soul mates. Supposedly, our life's journey includes many soul mates.

Soul mates are not necessarily lovers, but kindred spirits that travel together from lifetime to lifetime. Friends on the same journey. According to the article, we gravitate to certain people because we subconsciously know them as our soul mates (soul friends).

Greg wondered if Mama was one of these soul mates. Maybe she'd been looking for me all along.

Mama has been with us for more than five months. In all that time, she's never changed. I cannot leave a room without her following me. Even when I go out, when I return, she is right where I left her, dutifully waiting for me at the door.

For a very brief time, I had hoped it was my Chelly come back to me in the guise of a Labrador. But I don't think that's true. I don't see Chelly in Mama. If my girl ever comes back to me, I'd recognize her in an instant.

Obviously, Mama is another soul from my past. But why does she keep such close tabs on me? And why even after all this time hasn't she accepted the fact that I'm not leaving her? Even Tank and Iko think she's goofy.

Any guesses?