It’s the era of the lucky dogs

My granddog Polo just entered the Octogenarian dogs’ age of 84 (12x7), like me at 86. I retired 24 years ago and Polo retired the day he was born. I have walked at least a mile a day outside and inside, during severe weather and never miss a day.

I have been granddog sitting Polo his entire life and he never walks. Sometimes he plants himself like the “Statue of Liberty” and won’t move, even to do his duty. He tests my patience up to the point of it being exhausted. All he does is eat, drink, sleep, #1, #2 and that’s it. Truly, the life of Riley.

It’s in the genes

I often wonder how some centenarians keep on going, while they sit all day with no exercise. Genes must play an important part.

I just saw a sign at the veterinarian’s, which says “Dogs Need Dental Care Too.” Health care plays a big part in animal, as well as human, life. It is a life extender. Health care today cannot compare with my Great Depression days. We had no health insurance of any kind. My first visit to the dentist was at age 17. He filled 11 cavities, and I was inducted into the U.S. Navy at age 18, because of good teeth.

Pet food business is huge today. Polo eats special non-allergenic food. In the old days, dogs and cats ate table scraps. We had a cat that lived to a healthy old age eating our food.

Recently Polo appeared to be on his death bed. He was taking a lot of pills and wouldn’t eat or drink. A trip to the vet saved his life. Why, for $200, he was given intravenous medication.

He now has a voracious appetite and loves table scraps. He has been reincarnated. One lucky son-of-a-gun dog.

Michael J. Lacivita is a Youngstown retiree and an inductee in the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.