Gus

I’ve mentioned in the past few blogs that I’ve been having a difficult time finding inspiration to write. It’s plagued me for months and I’m, quite frankly, tired of it. It has occurred to me that I don’t really need inspiration to write so much as a topic to write about. I actually didn’t have to look too far for a topic or inspiration. I literally just had to look across the room at my dad and stepmum’s furry friend for the past 13 years, Gus. It makes sense because Gus has become the subject of many of my Instagram posts and occasional Facebook photos because he’s amazing and is a constant source of happiness for everyone in the house.

Gus is a West Highland Terrier. He is probably one of the sweetest and happiest dogs I’ve ever met. He’s 13 years old, deaf, and losing his eyesight but that does not stop him from heading out for daily walks (or runs, in his case) on the beach with my stepmum where people always seem want to stop and meet him. To see him running on the beach, with what can only be described as a joyous grin on his face, you’d think he was just a young pup instead of the senior citizen dog he really is.

Gus despises going to the groomers and used to hide under the bed if you merely mentioned the word ‘bath.’ He’s clearly not a vain dog because even when you tell him he’ll smell better after a bath and look less like a sheep dog after going to groomer, he still resists both. It doesn’t stop either event from occurring and is one of the few inconveniences that is forced upon him. Otherwise, Gus is pretty much indulged. He’s not spoiled rotten, just well taken care of.

One of my favourite quirks about Gus has to be how obsessive he sometimes gets about certain cats. I had a wonderful cat named John-Kelly and for years Gus would come and visit and obsess over John-Kelly. It was truly a fixation where he’d just watch this cat’s every move. He would even lay outside my bedroom knowing that the cat was on the other side napping on my bed. John-Kelly knew that Gus was obsessed and would toy with him, as cats do, but that didn’t sway Gus’ adoration. I always told Gus he needed therapy but, in reality, it was one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. Turns out, John-Kelly isn’t the only cat to catch Gus’ eye and the obsession continues with my stepmum friend’s cat.

The reason why Gus is getting his own post is because he’s the perfect example of why many of us have furry friends, be it dogs, cats, or hamsters, in our lives. Gus has brought so much delight to my dad and, especially, my stepmum. He is their constant companion and his love is unfettered. That’s what furry friends do. They love us no matter what. They love us even when we are grumpy or sad or leave them alone for hours.

There have been times, recently, when I’ll be sitting there feeling low and I look across the room to see Gus napping on the couch, as he does. He’ll suddenly look up, with half his fur mashed against his face from where he has been laying on it, and I’ll suddenly be smiling because it’s simply adorable. He doesn’t know that he’s taken me out of my gloom in that moment, which is why it’s all the better. He elicits smiles by just being Gus. Thanks for that, Gus.