Jolt Country

It's a tremendously heartfelt and touching story in which everyone's a winner, except maybe Shadow.

"I think sometimes the ones that have challenges to overcome, tend to be more affectionate and kind, right? Yeah," said Ben.

"Yeah, no, you see -- " -- Ben Parrish

"We have a good enough time playing Frisbee in the back yard, and let him hop around there," said Ben. "But with the wheelchair, once he grows into it and it's a little more comfortable -- yeah, like to take him on walks around the neighborhood, down on the beach. Whatever, just like any normal dog."

Jesus, what was the reporter's previous job, court stenographer?

Before any of you read ANY of this, please know that I am absolutely amazed at the love to this animal shown by Ben and Kathy. My respect for them could not be greater.

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On the other hand, riffing on news stories is what we do.

ChainGangGuy wrote:It's a tremendously heartfelt and touching story in which everyone's a winner, except maybe Shadow.

In case you're wondering where Parker's wheelchair came from, it was donated by a man in Cleveland whose dog "Shadow" suffered from the same spinal disorder as Parker.

Shadow, huh? Somehow I don't think a dog with no legs goes out and gets the name "Shadow" on his own. I think there was some helping. "Yeah, he's my little shadow. Oh, I should mention, I don't move neither or nuthin'."

I do like the idea of a guy in Cleveland, overcome with grief, deciding that the organs, strike that, wheelchair will live on as he cyborgs-out a new puppy. It's too bad Knuckles the Clown was exposed as being My Brother From Rochester, because the mythic Knuckles would totally fit here.

I also like how apparently dog wheelchairs are pretty hard to come by, and need to be gifted around the country because they are so rare, like the control panel to a Discs of Tron machine.

HEY BEN! What is it like to go down to DHL and pick up a dog wheelchair? Is that something you knock out on your lunch hour?

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... And again, let me reiterate how happy I am that that dog found two loving and wonderful owners in Ben and Kathy. He is adorable and will have a terrific life with you two.

Ice Cream Jonsey wrote:Shadow, huh? Somehow I don't think a dog with no legs goes out and gets the name "Shadow" on his own. I think there was some helping.

Perhaps the Shadow of Dog Death that maintained a steady, watchful gaze from no more than two wheel lengths away helped to inspire the name.

How is it that Emmy-award winning journalist Leslie Miller couldn't manage to squeeze Ben into the photo, unless that is indeed Ben "Pinback" Parrish squating down on the left (who looks to be wearing a microphone).

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We have failed as the internet. There's a girl with a dog in a picture, and not one set of candy-covered fingers tapped anything out? Amazing.

He doesn't, nor will he ever, use that goddamn wheelchair. It's in a cardboard box in the garage, where it will remain until everyone involved in the news story, including the news van driver's unborn illegitimate triplets, are long dead.

He just hops around. That's it.

Do you remember that story where you got honked at while loading the wheelchair of the son of that girl you were dating in Florida into your car? Because I think the thing that would finally turn you into a four-state spree (and unfortunately, me-)killer would be if you were loading Parker's wheelchair out of your Ford Probe in order to take him to the vet, and somebody leaned on the horn.

I honestly think that 36 years of repressed rage would come to a boil and you would skin the person who did that alive after violently fucking every orifice in his or her but probably her body twice.

And then do the same to every single soul in California-Nevada-Utah-Colorado before they took you out with an A-bomb.

Would I be correct in presuming Kathy Harter was your girlfriend at the time? If so, is she the one you broke up with, was that someone else, or am I completely wrong? Or is she still living with you?

She was my girlfriend at the time, and also at this time.

Also at this time.

Still?

Also at this time.

pinback wrote:Also at this time.

Yes, but has the FAME from saving a dog lasted?

I met the dog in question, Parker, and I can assure everyone that he is a good boy.