Devil Corgi Takes No Prisoners

Yesterday, approaching dusk, I took Ken the Dog for a walk. I have really missed walking around my neighborhood--I haven’t done much of that in the past 3 months because I’ve been so busy, or just out of town. I got to see all my neighbors’ lawns still proudly adorned with Obama signs--one with “HOORAY!” scrawled across the top in big Sharpie letters. I got to walk through the Carmelite Monastery’s public yard with its gorgeous sculpted rose gardens and hedges. And I got to see my favorite bumper sticker that reads, “I am Pro-Accordion and I vote!”

Best of all was the brief but fierce encounter with a wee belligerent Corgi. Ken and I were headed up the street when I noticed a woman walking two very stout little Corgis. For those of you not acquainted with the breed, they are extremely short, very stubby, tail-less little dogs with big fox ears. They can be quite cute given the proper context and level of fitness. These two were rather overweight, which just made them comical and sad. One in particular was so round and tubby that it made his abbreviated little legs look even MORE stubbular; they were just tiny furry nubbins poking out valiantly from underneath his fat tummy. Totally ridiculous.

I was just enjoying the spectacle when the particularly stubby tubby one suddenly pulled his leash from his owner's hand and came barreling straight at us. Actually, with his extra girth he couldn't run very fast at all; it was more of a highly accelerated waddle. It was hilarious, watching his floppy galumphing progress toward us. He seemed friendly enough when he reached us; he just stood there staring and seemingly waiting for something. It of course never occurred to me to be frightened of this little tub-dog. But when his owner caught up with him, the moment she took hold of his leash he instantly sprang into action, snarling and growling with his little leg-stubs splayed wide in a stance of angry Corgi intimidation. The woman began earnestly apologizing for his fierce protectiveness while yanking him away, but honestly, I was trying desperately to choke back my laughter the whole time. It was simply the most ridiculous sight ever--this pudgy little stub-dog quivering with indignation and protective rage and having no idea that he looked like a silly caricature of a dog and wasn’t scaring anybody.