Rundus: Sunny and Harley's tales have happy endings
By Raymond J. Rundus
Two dogs who live in the Cypress Lakes area have recently caused their human companions considerable concern.
Sunny the dachshund and Harley the German shepherd both have origins in Germany; they represent popular, standard breeds in the United States. Interestingly, each breed's colors are predominately black and tan. As working breeds, the dogs spend a good portion of their lives outdoors.
The dachshund, or "badger hound," was trained to find - and perhaps even help kill - the crotchety animal which damaged pasture lands by tunneling and by building large mounds.
The dachshund can, because of its long and low body, wriggle into the badger's tunnels. Its large and strong paws help it to dig dirt efficiently and rapidly.
The German shepherd typically was trained to herd sheep, keeping them in their proper territory and also, using its great strength, intelligence and courage, protecting the herd from predators.
An unhappy incident in our neighborhood took place early on a recent Saturday morning in the backyard of Marvin and Elizabeth Parrish.
Two predator dogs savagely attacked 12 1/2-year-old Sunny just after the dog was let out for its usual early morning short stay.
Were these the same dogs that - a couple of months earlier, also on a Saturday morning - aggressively threatened four women golfers as they approached the 13th green?
The alpha male in that twosome had the size and appearance of a Great Dane.
I was able to track those two dogs at a distance for a few minutes and near the woods, but to my knowledge and that of those in the pro shop, they have not again been seen on the golf course.
As I chatted with Marvin that Saturday morning, he told me that Sunny had been taken to a veterinary on Sycamore Dairy Road. He was told that Sunny had very nearly been killed and the outcome was uncertain. I got much better news later that afternoon when the Parrishes' next-door neighbor told me that Sunny was doing well and would be able to come home the following day.
On the same Saturday morning that the golfers were threatened, the story of Harley emerged. I arrived early at the golf course to find our newest "cart boy," Stuart, petting a young and friendly German dhepherd. Stuart said the dog had been back and forth to visit him a time or two. We provided it some water.
Although the dog was friendly, it would also break away from too much cordiality. An hour or two later, I kept it still long enough to hold it by its collars. One collar had "Harley" inscribed on it and an address in the Cypress Lakes Villas where Harley apparently lived.
I found a worried husband and wife and young girl at their door as I approached. My query about Harley prompted the girl to ask, "Where is he? Is Harley all right?" I replied, "I expect Harley might be eating breakfast right now at the club house."
And indeed he had just done so. It was a heartwarming sight to see Harley's young friend and companion run down the hallway in the pro shop, fall to her knees, and grasp Harley around the neck while exclaiming "Harley! Harley! Harley!"
She quickly attached a leash to his collar and led him back to her waiting parents.
The heavy thunderstorm that had hit a tree near Harley's home the night before, it seemed, had just been too much for the dog to process. Now the youngster and her parents will have to keep workin' on it.
Raymond J. Rundus is a professor emeritus at UNC-Pembroke. He has lived in Cypress Lakes since 1985 and is former president of the Cypress Lakes Men's Golf Association. He can be reached at rjrundus@infionline.net.