The smell of wet, freshly cut grass was the last thing that Lucky remembered before the accident. For months, he had bided his time with the family, accepting their table scraps, half-hearted pats on the head and insincere attempts at fetch. Amateurs. Mom was a control freak, the teenager was secretly obsessed with popping his pimples, and Dad's hands always smelled like … bitches. And so Lucky had, on that fateful night, slipped out through the doggie door. In the corner of the yard was a hole, carefully dug and concealed each day when they left him to his own devices. He slipped out, and with joy broke into a full run, intoxicated with the scents of grass, of the street, of freedom. He never saw the truck coming.
He woke up at the vet, with the bastard who had stolen his manhood holding onto his paw, injecting another needed dose of drugs into his IV. The family gathered round, faces drawn, pinched with worry. Lucky had lost an eye and a leg, but he would live.
The young boy held tightly to his mother, a small tear slipping slowly down his cheek. The teen son looked stricken, his eyeliner smeared at the corners of his eyes. Even the father seemed suitably worried.
This year, Lucky thought to himself, Christmas would be good.
60 oz. strip sirloin
$215.42, Bern's Steak House, 1208 S. Howard Ave., Tampa.
A weekend stay at Julie's Puppy Palace
A suite to himself, with TV, a wrought-iron bed and a webcam so Mom can keep watch over him at home.
$70, Julie's Puppy Palace, 4313 Pearl Ave., Tampa.
A doggie massage
$45 per session, estimate only, costs vary according to breed, FourLeggedMassage.com, Certified Canine Massage Practitioners.
Professional grooming
$32-$45 small dog, $38-$45 medium dog, $80-$85 large dog (estimates only, actual costs dependent on size of dog, and condition of coat), Barks by the Bay, 1732 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa.
Doggie Hawaiian shirt
$17.99-$21.99, Reef Dog, 2820 Beach Blvd., Gulfport.
Peanut Butter Squirrel Cookies
Chase 'em or eat 'em — good either way. And they come with carob and nuts.
$3.99 each, My Pet's Dream Boutique, 2516-A McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater.
This article appears in Nov 17-23, 2004.
