Courtesy Wikimedia creative commons by daveynin(Flickr:2010 PA Kennel Assoc. Dog Show

Valentines Day brings thoughts of the unrequited loves of Yodel, a dachschund we once had in Maine.

Yodel’s first love, long-legged Nosey, lived next door. Nosey would rise on her hind legs and ring the doorbell when she wanted to come into the house. Yodel would stare longingly at Nosey and wag his tail.

Some years later, Heidi, the lady St. Bernard three streets down, came into her season. With no regard whatever for neighboring male dog owners, her owners kept  Heidi at home for two weeks.

One day, laden with the family groceries after the weekly shopping trip, I placed our food on the kitchen counter and noticed Yodel sitting quietly in the laundry room. On second glance, he appeared to have encountered a porcupine. Actually, his swollen cheeks were filled with wooden slivers.

Frantic to reach the Heidi, Yodel had chewed his way through the bottom third of our flimsy wooden laundry-room door, determined to leave home and head for Heidi.

Alas, poor Yodel.