White Tornado

Si Si was an almost white female Chihuahua bought from a
woman outside Sacramento, CA in late 1955. The place
would be called a puppy mill today. There must have been
50 Chihuahuas on the grounds and the tiny thing came with
a developing case of Mange. Nevertheless Si Si grew to be
a very happy and typically yappy and somewhat aggressive
companion.

Several years later our son was born and thus a competitor
for our attentions came into the picture. Si Si was not able to
handle this situation well and would not stand for any attention
from the baby, no matter how gentle. After about a year it
was decided that my mother, who adored all dogs, would be
the new owner of Si Si. We tranquilized the dog and put her
in a small Eastern Air Lines duffel bag and carried her aboard
a plane with us to Jacksonville.

That was the beginning of a 12 year relationship filled with
love for both my mother and Si Si. These two were made
for each other. Both were small and more than a little scrappy.
Si Si had always been very defensive of her sleeping area.
She may have been our dog, but we, nor anybody, put their
foot on her tiny bed without being attacked not to mentioned
barked and growled at. My mother, of course, thought it was a
totally acceptable reaction to anybody putting their “dirty foot
in a persons bed.” As the dog aged it got a bit worse but was
accepted as the small price to pay for such an otherwise
wonderful pet.

My father was very active in skeet and trap shooting and
attended weekend events all over Florida and southern
Georgia. My mother and Si Si almost always tagged along.
Mother could be found sitting someplace with Si Si in her
lap on a small pillow talking with someone or just surveying
the scene.

At one of these events mother was sitting outside on a
covered porch area. Si Si was curled up on her pillow in her
“secure” area of mother’s lap. A gentleman arrived with a
beautiful Weimaraner (sp?) and was walking by with his dog
properly leashed. The Weimaraner made the mistake of
sticking his nose in my mother’s lap to give Si Si a good
sniff. ROWWRR!! - YIPE! YIPE! The Weimaraner has
blood coming from his nose and it’s owner is going ballistic.
This is a very valuable show dog, and your vicious dog has
attacked him!, he excitedly exclaimed. All the while mopping
the dog’s nose with his handkerchief. Mother, equally as
aggressive about the defense of her lap as Si Si, told him that
his dog should keep it’s nose out other peoples laps.

And so they parted, as Si Si resumed her rest on the pillow.
I don’t know if the show dog was permanently scarred or not,
but I expect it was always a bit apprehensive about giving little
dogs a sniff lest it be one of those tiny White Tornadoes.