Heather made special efforts to help Shadow stay included. We did start making shorter walks in our neighborhood rather than taking her to the park. This wasn’t just to save time that we needed for Kathryn. Shadow had started limping badly on our walks at the park. We started using an arthritis treatment, Rimadyl. She seemed to get better but we kept the walks in the neighborhood. Kathryn went by stroller, so to Shadow it must have seemed like the walk was just about her. Honestly, it was.

Kathryn was so enamored of Shadow. We were just happy Shadow tolerated Kathryn for the most part. Shadow had a strong phobia of small children. When Shadow was only two years old Heather took her for a walk with out me. Heather used a different route from our usual because I wasn’t with her to help cross streets. This took her passed an elementary school and a herd of small children rushed them from the playground screaming “puppy!” Heather told me that Shadow leapt into her arms from four legs and shivered as they were surrounded. Heather had to carry Shadow all the way home. Shadow wouldn’t walk and her heart raced against Heather’s chest as she carried her. Heather couldn’t get Shadow to go on a walk passed the school again and always since she cowered around small children.

Kathryn would grow and Shadow would keep her distance, steal moments of our attention then abide.  That didn’t keep Kathryn from claiming Shadow as her dog. She still does and refers to her in the present tense.

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