We went out to the huge 1400 acre park by the river where snoopys are allowed to roam free and naked as the day they were born. It was perfect weather and the snoopys were in full force. Big snoopys, small snoopys, weirdos, losers, and supermodels, all were pleasant to one another, like the high school of your dreams. An enormous great dane pup chased our snoopy around and around while we all talked about how one time we heard somebody at the dog park got their leg broken when a snoopy rammed into it. I made the astute observation that snoopys never run into trees while chasing, so why do they run into us? No one had an answer. Then I said “your dog is TOO BIG”
At the river there were snoopys galore. There were these two Australian shepherds who jumped like wee land dolphins into the water, fetching a tennis ball. There were three enormous golden retrievers who lumbered into the water and swam grandly like polar bears. There were two pit bulls who waded solemnly as hippos, drinking as they went. There was another pit bull who swam so far to get the tennis ball I thought she would drown and ruin the day for all and sundry but her friend assured me that she does it all the time. There were two grand red dogs who seemed old and somewhat sad, and who did not go near the water but sat peacefully in the sand writing poems.
Our snoopy, the meanwhile, as usual deigned not to swim, indeed ran back and forth on the shore and cried audibly for much of the time, shaming us in front of everyone. However, he was a brave boy and went knee deep into the water of his own volition, which he has never done before. Fans will recall two years ago at a lake in Iowa how while we tried to swim he sobbed loudly and dug at the water of the shoreline frantically until we all got out. This time he waded, gingerly and without much pleasure. He also put his face under the water and blew bubbles and then shook his head in surprise. He was trying to get a stick that was down there. He would wade out and then stretch as far as he could without moving his hind feet. He looked like a fool, but the thing about a snoopy is that they have no body shame. Then he chased some small dogs, dug a hole in the sand, and drank water out of an old olive container.
He cried all the way there in the car, and all the way back too, and then he got a bath and a cup of kibble and has been asleep for eight hours.
It’s hard to be a snoopy, but you do what you can.
oh goodness, i love stories about the snoopy. also his proud face in photos.
I, too, love Snoopy posts. Contributing anecdote: I once got hit by a 75 pound snoopy in a park and when I landed the impact pinched my sciatic nerve and I had to quit my job and go to physical therapy as a result. Right before it happened I thought about the very same thing: they don’t run into trees, so why would they run into me? Now and forever embarrassingly skittish. Also recently got a flat and had it fixed without that spray stuff thanks to your post.