Cooper and Italy

Dogs With Jobs, and Freeloading Cats

Cats negotiate deals in their favor

Photo by author: Cooper (black lab) and Italy (yellow lab)

Cooper and Italy are guide dogs who begin their workday in the CNIB¹ coffee room. While waiting for Pat and Kay to make coffee and talk endlessly, the dogs have time to compare perspectives on life as a dog.

Cooper needs Italy’s perspective on a crosswalk incident, that happened the other day on his walk with Pat.

Cooper: Italy, something happened the other day at a crosswalk

Italy: Something, like what?

Cooper: Just as we stepped off the curb, two dogs on the other side, jumped and barked for joy at seeing us

Italy: Did they know you?

Cooper: I don’t think so, they are freeloaders…

Italy: How do you know that?

Cooper: Their human said, “See that black lab over there? He has a job, you two are freeloaders.”

Italy: They’re good negotiators then…

Cooper: What does that have to do with freeloaders?

Italy: It means they got a good deal on food and lodging. They’re smart — once they negotiated the deal, they were in, free everything, plus they get walks…

Cooper: Do they get treats?

Italy: I doubt it, they don’t do anything after the deal’s been made…

Cooper: I live with two cats — they’re freeloaders.

Italy: All cats are freeloaders.

Cooper: Ya, Pat says Zoey, the cat, looked pitiful, laid across the doorway hoping to trip someone up, and she made it inside.

Italy rolls her eyes

Cooper: And that’s not all, she constantly occupies my bed, and challenges children for their blankets.

Photo by the author. James is nervous about taking his blue blanket. Zoey the cat is sitting on it, on Cooper’s dog bed.

Italy: That makes no sense! Doesn’t she have a bed?

Cooper: Yes, she has a couple of beds but she hogs my bed AND the humans’ bed, as though she owns them.

Italy: Owns what? the beds…