by Mad Jack Hanks
Wellington, Colo.
April 1, 2008

My 7-year-old granddaughter, Kailee, has been buggin’ her grandpa (me) for about the last year about getting another dog. After Little Miss Martha passed away, I decided to give away the only dog I had on the place. The purpose was so that I could just up and go visit relatives and have a little more freedom to try and get through the grieving process that lay ahead. I gave the dog to a really sweet little gal that let that ole ranch dog sleep on her bed with her husband and herself and spoiled her to the limit.

Last Saturday I took my little Kailee and her mom with me to the animal shelter to see if I could find a suitable dog for Grandpa and the O-NO Ranch. Their selection was limited to nine dogs and it appeared that only one of the nine might work for me. That happened to be a 5-year-old, 110-pound German Shepherd named Clancy. We took ole Clancy to the playpen to see what he was made of.

He played wonderfully with Kailee and we were told he was a mellow dog and should make a good companion and playmate for the grandkids when they came out. I ask the attendant how much would it set me back to adopt one of their dogs. “Usually about a hundred dollars,” the girl replied. I frowned and sort of gave out a big sigh as I had never paid for a dog in my life. Kailee picked up on my response at once and looked up from holding that big ole dog around the neck and said, “GRANDPA, I GOT A HUNDRED DOLLARS.”

Well of course you gentle readers know that really tugged at my heart strings and I told Kailee that Grandpa had the money and I reckoned that we just ought to buy that ole dog.

She let out a shout of glee and after the paper work was filled out, the dog paid for, he was in the back seat of my truck with us in the front and off we went. At once this mellow dog began to race back and forth, slobberin’ all over the seat and whining and barking. He was sayin’ “where are you takin’ me? Is this an intervention? Do you have cats? What kind of grub do you serve? Do you have a big backyard or what?”

I thought that Clancy would drive me crazy before I got him home and turned him loose. I have to tell you children, ole Clancy has to be the smartest dog in the world and the most obedient. I have had him for four days now and I couldn’t be more pleased with his behavior. He will make a super good ranch dog!

Every place should have a dog and every dog should have a place in the country if possible. I know that’s not going to happen and come to think of it ... it’s really hard for me to imagine a Poodle movin’ cows or trottin’ along side of some ole waddie on a range bronc. Take it all back. Every place should have a dog like my dog, ole Clancy.
Stay tuned, check yer cinch on occasion and I’ll c. ya.