Happy Birthday, Freya….errrr…being owned by a Newfoundland

Freya Bear, the Newfoundland dog whom I own and love, turned seven years old yesterday, August 10. (Do we truly “own” an animal? No, truly, it’s she who owns me).

Freya is arguably the smartest, sweetest dog I’ve ever known, though I’ve certainly loved some other dogs with all my heart.  Why do we love our pets so, so much? There are starving children in the world, and there are so many causes we should get behind, and so many things to worry about…why is it that pets consume our hearts so entirely?

Unconditional love, yup, that’s what good dogs give us. That’s why animals win and break our hearts.

Always, always happy to see us, they forgive us for leaving them for eight hours a day, love, love, love.

If only we could learn from our dogs. I’m sure that’s why dog is god spelled backwards. God who can send one of his children to hell doesn’t seem very unconditionally loving to me. Backwards? yup. So let’s go with Dogs.

So yesterday, on Freya’s seventh birthday, she and I spent the day with good friends Roger and Gwen Hart who have two Newfies. In the morning, Freya lifted her head and ears the moment I said, “Freay, we’re going to go see Buster.” She jumped up and went to wait at the back of the car for the trip.

 

We had a blast. Much laughter, good food, much great conversation.

 

Freya and Buster Brown swam in Storm Lake. Newfies are natural swimmers, bred to be lifeguard and life-saving dogs, and though I only take Freya swimming once a week or so, she runs to the water and can’t wait to fetch the bumper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She and Buster almost competed to reach their “quarry” in the water. Roger Hart is adept at timing throws so one dog swims for each bumper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a beautiful thing to watch Newfies swimming.

 

However, when she gets tired, she takes the bumper and runs toward the car!

 

 

 

 

 

This year, The Harts have added another family member: little Leo. All puppy, all Newf, all goof!

 

 

 

 

All in all, it was a happy, happy way to spend my Freya’s birthday.

And I just had to indulge by posting all these pictures!