PART ONE
Belore, I tell the story of "John The Dog",
I want you to know the history of dog life in Key West at that time.
When I arrived in Key West in 1969 the island had an out-of-control feral cat population and a sizable number of free roaming street dogs that did not belong to humans. I encountered the old town resident dogs daily. They were large in size, well-mannered, appeared to be well nourished and healthy considering they were susceptible to fleas, heartworm and distemper. At that time there was no history of rabies in our county. The dogs walked around living peacefully among the towns people. The dogs were not fearful, aggressive or noisy. They were not so needy or trusting, as to present their bodies for touching, petting or scratching on the head or belly. Every few blocks in every area of town had their resident dogs. I do not remember the sound of dogs barking, growling, breeding, fighting for food, territory or females in heat. I do not remember any dog menacing humans by chasing them on foot or bicycle or in any way being threatening to humans. They did not form packs. I do not remember ever seeing a litter of puppies. Maybe unknown to me they were captured and neutered and put back on the street. I lived at 518 in the middle of 500 blk of Elisabeth Street in the Heart of Old Town. The dogs where I lived were not non-descript mutts of different colors and sizes. My neighborhood dogs were large, medium to short haired, and light brownish in color. They were big and impressive in stature, with self-reliant confident relaxed behavior around people. In the early 70's there were still a number of small locally owned family neighborhood "convenience" stores in each city block that stayed open late in case neighborhood residents needed toilet paper or milk. The store supporting in my area on Elizabeth Street was a three-story sizable building on the corner of Fleming and Elizbeth (just a half a block from my house). It had a back yard hidden from the street where groups of excited sounding Spanish speaking men played competitive board games every day. Their human presence was an everyday audible neighborhood sound. They played some sort of domino like board game in which they which created sharp slapping striking dominos like sounds. This seemingly all male owned and operated store was a social center for a loyal group of Spanish speaking men and free roaming island dogs. The proprietor offered a amall cooler of freshly butchered meats. It took me awhile to realize they slaughtered baby pigs in the backyard. I often heard the sound of what I later learned were the terrified screams of piglets being killed. Every day the proprietor put raw meat scraps on brown butchers' paper and placed this offering on the sidewalk out front of his store for the neighborhood dogs to eat. This was a time before pre city laws for canines and pre ASPCA dog catcher time. People who owned dogs at the time walked them comfortably off leash. I do not remember any dog fights over territory or the plentiful daily meat scraps. I never saw "John The Dog" feeding there. He had other agendas regarding food.
The dogs were street savvy, and I never knew of one being hit or killed by an automobile.
People gave them nicknames heart medicine heartworm medicine like dogs today, but they seemed well enough and party enough and happy enough and they were just part of our community.
A woman named Sister lived in Key West she travelled the island with a pack of dogs that followed her everywhere she went!
Belore, I tell the story of "John The Dog",
I want you to know the history of dog life in Key West at that time.
When I arrived in Key West in 1969 the island had an out-of-control feral cat population and a sizable number of free roaming street dogs that did not belong to humans. I encountered the old town resident dogs daily. They were large in size, well-mannered, appeared to be well nourished and healthy considering they were susceptible to fleas, heartworm and distemper. At that time there was no history of rabies in our county. The dogs walked around living peacefully among the towns people. The dogs were not fearful, aggressive or noisy. They were not so needy or trusting, as to present their bodies for touching, petting or scratching on the head or belly. Every few blocks in every area of town had their resident dogs. I do not remember the sound of dogs barking, growling, breeding, fighting for food, territory or females in heat. I do not remember any dog menacing humans by chasing them on foot or bicycle or in any way being threatening to humans. They did not form packs. I do not remember ever seeing a litter of puppies. Maybe unknown to me they were captured and neutered and put back on the street. I lived at 518 in the middle of 500 blk of Elisabeth Street in the Heart of Old Town. The dogs where I lived were not non-descript mutts of different colors and sizes. My neighborhood dogs were large, medium to short haired, and light brownish in color. They were big and impressive in stature, with self-reliant confident relaxed behavior around people. In the early 70's there were still a number of small locally owned family neighborhood "convenience" stores in each city block that stayed open late in case neighborhood residents needed toilet paper or milk. The store supporting in my area on Elizabeth Street was a three-story sizable building on the corner of Fleming and Elizbeth (just a half a block from my house). It had a back yard hidden from the street where groups of excited sounding Spanish speaking men played competitive board games every day. Their human presence was an everyday audible neighborhood sound. They played some sort of domino like board game in which they which created sharp slapping striking dominos like sounds. This seemingly all male owned and operated store was a social center for a loyal group of Spanish speaking men and free roaming island dogs. The proprietor offered a amall cooler of freshly butchered meats. It took me awhile to realize they slaughtered baby pigs in the backyard. I often heard the sound of what I later learned were the terrified screams of piglets being killed. Every day the proprietor put raw meat scraps on brown butchers' paper and placed this offering on the sidewalk out front of his store for the neighborhood dogs to eat. This was a time before pre city laws for canines and pre ASPCA dog catcher time. People who owned dogs at the time walked them comfortably off leash. I do not remember any dog fights over territory or the plentiful daily meat scraps. I never saw "John The Dog" feeding there. He had other agendas regarding food.
The dogs were street savvy, and I never knew of one being hit or killed by an automobile.
People gave them nicknames heart medicine heartworm medicine like dogs today, but they seemed well enough and party enough and happy enough and they were just part of our community.
A woman named Sister lived in Key West she travelled the island with a pack of dogs that followed her everywhere she went!
John the dog roamed freely on our propertyPart TWO Introduction to John the dog THE DOG FIGHT
We, my sister, myself and cousin Peter hired "the carpenter" to build a back porch on our house. When interviewed for the job, the carpenter made it clear his dog would be on property while he was working or else, meaning he would not take the job. His dog was a lot like my dog. Big male young black Lab type. I said yes reluctantly because my dog was aggressive to other male dogs on or off the property. I figured there would be regular 8 to 5 working hours during which I could secured my dog and avoid conflict. I figured wrong. there were no regular work hours and my sister started dating the carpenter so he was on the propertyin the house at all times of the day and night. Of course the dread dog fight ensued. It was awful. To break up the fight The carpenter grabed my dog by his back with both hands and thru him of the porch. My dog responded by growling and trying to attack the carpenter. I was able to stop my dog but from that day forward my dog hated that man and his dog and grew to hate all carpenters (people with tools). While the porch was build I had to isolate my dog by locking him in my bedroom, he became more aggressive in time. The carpenter said he would kill my dog if he attacked him, I believed him. It was a very stressful time for me and I handled it badly Joh the dog roamed freely at will on the property and in the house. Morgan became more confined and more aggressive.
We, my sister, myself and cousin Peter hired "the carpenter" to build a back porch on our house. When interviewed for the job, the carpenter made it clear his dog would be on property while he was working or else, meaning he would not take the job. His dog was a lot like my dog. Big male young black Lab type. I said yes reluctantly because my dog was aggressive to other male dogs on or off the property. I figured there would be regular 8 to 5 working hours during which I could secured my dog and avoid conflict. I figured wrong. there were no regular work hours and my sister started dating the carpenter so he was on the propertyin the house at all times of the day and night. Of course the dread dog fight ensued. It was awful. To break up the fight The carpenter grabed my dog by his back with both hands and thru him of the porch. My dog responded by growling and trying to attack the carpenter. I was able to stop my dog but from that day forward my dog hated that man and his dog and grew to hate all carpenters (people with tools). While the porch was build I had to isolate my dog by locking him in my bedroom, he became more aggressive in time. The carpenter said he would kill my dog if he attacked him, I believed him. It was a very stressful time for me and I handled it badly Joh the dog roamed freely at will on the property and in the house. Morgan became more confined and more aggressive.
Art Kara, Morgan, Harold, John the homeless street person Naples, FL Beaufort SC
P street dog street dog he robbed garbage cans. and from what I understand and his owner left town a lot and wanted the dog to care for himself able to take care of himset back then there wasn't a lot of the business downtown and Front Street near aquarium and John the person used to sleep in the bushes down there then John the dog used to accompany him and sleep with him at night he said one night police came by flashing flashlights coming in the bushes trying to move them out of there and John close grab the flashlight and the place which enabled John the person to run away and not get arrested fun so John the dog learned how to evade the dog catcher he went out to the pound a several times and learn how those people searching towns for dogs roaming the street been picking them up putting them in a kennel in 1969 and the early 70s I don't think he was had an ASPCA dogs roam the dog from what I understand I don't know if that means that he beat him what I had heard he liked he wanted John the dog to be self-sufficient if he wasn't around so John was free to go and live well he lives he was also struggling and art was out of town a lot and the dog had an alternate lifestyle John the dog went to the beach every day from the middle of the island from downtown Old Town he West of cross the island through the ocean side and he entered the water near what's now known as dog beach and back then a lot of us went there to swim it was one of the few beautiful natural places where you could walk into the water on white sand with natural sand that had collected there and the keys it was hold up from the Bahamas like the sand is now and in that water beautiful Clearwater was there used to be scores of Molly in the shallows that would swim back and forth and John the dog went every day honest by himself all the way over there the fish in the shallows for mullet and he played a game I don't know if he ever caught one but he was cramped and the shallow water hurting the mullet putting his head in the water to try to catch him all and he just fascinated him for hours he did it every single day of his life he would walk all the way over there did a lot of exercise enjoy themselves and then come back middle of the island and I think sometimes she went to his former maybe I'm not sure the man thank some maybe raise some minutes but he also came to my place and he others so he hung out France he had more he had quite a few friends who knew him and knew his name and I would like to discuss he was a very she was a big dog umm would like to describe him and more with short hair I don't remember any white patches on them he was one would describe him as a black Labrador type but it was not heavy bowling like labs tend to be he was very long laid lated and elegant and of didn't lumber when they ran or walking was very agile and very cramps and he was very beautiful for you walked in motion he he was very he was a very attractive large black short haired dog he someone taught him probably arcara to go to the grocery store every day and bring him home and Harry they can a large can of kennel ration dog so he asked them send them your house and I would open for the panel but if I wasn't home you know how to open and get the food out of the store hurting him for we move over somehow open that so I made friends with him and he used to a company made on my bicycle when I was open and he would wait in the bushes in the shade not visible so I would come out and then accompany me on to my next stop and sometimes she would would come in my house and lay there and he was delightful to be around I don't remember combine a touchy feely doors like new scratching or belly scratching or head or ear tweaking he was very um much of a companion dog always nearby never barked I don't remember him suffering from was scratching a lot or and when he was near he never uh seemed to anywhere were you ever saw it or bumped into it or had to clean it up he had no odor as far as I knew he had no skin problems or any sort of flea problem he never barked at people he was never menacing at anyone he was he was very loyal to the people he liked and hung out with just more than me so at times he came to my place so one one day I saw he had a but not a very nice injury over his eye you have an eye it wasn't his eye itself wasn't injured but he had the skin around his eye hadn't had some sort of gash or injury edit it I don't know that it was I don't remember it being infected but I I do remember that it was puppy and soar and it looked to me like he needed to see a veterinarian so I called his so-called former owner or who's alleged starting place with this man named arcara that is said to him that I thought John might have gotten a dog bite and had an injury a serious injury on this eyelid and I thought he needed to know and he needed maybe to take him to of veterinarian and I spoke to this man and he he said he didn't believe in it the dog would either heal himself or he wouldn't and it was up to the dog to take care of himself so I took upon myself to take him to the veterinarian and had an eye looked at or hit his eyelid and and doctored and then thereafter um partly because I spent money to help him and I was feeding him quite often he seemed to like the comfort of someone caring so he hung around here more often would and he was very welcome she didn't bring any inside the house he never seemed to have mug or he didn't seem to be a dog that needed to have fresh water on her body after he had been in the salt all day he didn't wasn't naggy about being hungry one can of those old style large cans of kennel rations seem to be satisfying to him every day and we would go about a block and a half walk to foster stood palace we go in by it he always carried the camp needed to when he was very proud and he enjoyed the attention that I got him from people passing by when they saw him carrying his dinner home every night in his mouth he wasn't a dog that jumped into bed with you and had to sleep in bed with you next to you so that you had no room or had to move over he seemed comfortable in the house I don't remember any certain special place in the house he liked but he was welcome to come in he was an acquired all night sleeper he wasn't like a an animal guarding even though he lived here and it was certainly offered to be a place a home for him he didn't do resource guarding house like other dogs stood chin and have done in the past if he was row when I got into the van or the car he was he would jump in and go with me I would leave the windows down he would jump in and out of the van and lay under the van in the shade waiting for me to come back and then get back in the van and we'd come home he was free to come or not come when I went to Beaufort SC in the summer and I went for six months up there and I've got six months since he was I said if he's around when I leave he's welcome to come to South Carolina with me but I didn't necessarily try to round him up or put him on a leash or a collar I don't think he ever wore a leash or a collar in his life I don't think he was ever in a leash or police if he was with you he walked with you as if he had been trained to walk with you and he was not threatening to anyone or or threatened by any animals I don't remember ever having dog fights ah I do remember one thing now once I was down on Caroline street and I was walking by a bar that was particularly filled with humans who were more on the motorcycle type not that that means violent but that particular bar it was just kind of a scary place for me and I didn't go in there we were walking by there once in a large Pitbull type animal came out of that far and grab the hold of his next and he just went down and didn't struggle and I remember the grinding sound that the pitfall was making him somebody came out of the bar and I was yelling and I was afraid because I thought he was dying and someone came out of the bar and got the board beer in the nose of the big pit bull and made that dog we leave this hole and then we were able to come home and John survived that majon the dog never initiated the fight sometimes stocks would ambush him and sometimes she would get wounded but I never saw him pick a fight what a doll so he was so once I was filing a trip to Naples FL and he happened to jump in the van and go with us we went to Naples we were there a few days and he he just traveled along and he we were in downtown Naples I leave the to the front the windows on the van down and he would just come and go and either occupy the van or occupy under the van I never had to worry about him getting hit by a car about him being picked up dog catcher I never had to worry about any complaints that he would get into any sort of mischief where anybody would ever complain about he he would keep us eye you didn't have to follow us we went off and did our own thing often did his own thing but we wouldn't meet back at the van umm so he would go to South Carolina during that. That I lived half there and half here he would go six months to South Carolina and six months here and again went to the store to the Piggly Wiggly every day God has can of kennel ration and carried it home it was during the time that they were doing a movie in that town that was a very popular movie with Glenn Close and I forgot the name but I'll think of it I'll I'll look it up and put it in here but I remember when we went to the NP we had a house and we were walking Elliot and I were walking with John the dog to the end P to get his nightly kennel ration it was such a a ritual that you didn't want to buy it and have it in your cover you want they have him walk and walk home with this kind of add to the that right the movie troop was being fed and there was a caterer who had tables out and there were quite a lot of famous young people who later became famous they were young people like well Glenn Close for instance was the one that comes to mind because when we went through the parking lot when close noticed John as we were went to the MP to get his food she came out to pet him and he did allow people to touch him and pet him but he wasn't initiating the physical touching and she stayed with him quite a long time watched she was fascinated that he was had his kind of kennel ration and holding it waiting to walk along home and have U.S. Open it with a can opener then I can remember this was before I knew who Glenn Close was it was really before she got famous and there were other people in that movie like Jeff Goldblum and that that other character of Maine he was sort of the main character and I liked him personally as an actor he was there there were a lot of young people that were actors in the parking lot but Glenn Close was the animal lover who who had to come over and really phone all over John the dog so we lived together in Cuba for many years I I don't remember whether or I don't remember him ever being restrained and I'm sure that later on well there was a dog catcher the violent off catcher who used to catch dogs and they used to disappear and then you had to go and pay to get them out of jail I don't think he was he was never tied up he was never on a leash he never wore a collar to my knowledge he roamed the island freely I think he knew all the different different areas because it's only one mile by 4 miles he he made lots of friends he died on van he died he saw when he died or whether I he was older and he was had a grandmother and he was a little stiff and it was a little cold it was February and the place was a bit torn up we weren't in the big house we were in a small cottage that had recently been moved and had house movers come down from Miami and move the cottage off of the the the front lot under the back garden so that we had I had two buildings two different laws and with the idea that if the property increased in value and I wasn't able to support the whole place that I could at least live in one or the other buildings that I own and we were in the cottage and it was Valentine's E and it was a little chilly I don't think it was bitterly cold like you can get for us sometimes but it was it was cold I remember that and he came up into the cottage a little bit of effort because the stairs hasn't been replaced in the cottage was off the ground maybe as high as hip so we had to get him up into the cottage and he he was in in a warm air space for the night and he woke me up in the way morning hours of the morning and want and let me know he wanted to go outside which wasn't that common he doesn't usually ever wake me up the woman's long side but he did and I let him out and then in the morning we didn't find him and wasn't like him you would check on us in what we were doing with all the world and then in the afternoon I was worried and I started looking for him and I found him behind man made structure that we built and on the edge of the solution hole in the back with a little jungle back there the found him dead than he was hello Steph by then then he died and that was Valentine's gone the dog died on Valentine's Day and I don't I don't think um I think I will I watched I didn't really know how old he was but he was not as agile and a little more there were no big veterinarian bills like there can be should have chronic problem tell um I remember feeling sad still have lost such a good friend but he loved such a great life and he was so independent and so intelligent and so smart the maybe that just help is the law because I've had other animals die and and their passing was much harder for me to accept and maybe it's because they weren't as well adjusted to sort of mesh with human our human foibles when they live with us and John Liu and it wasn't that I didn't love him and didn't respect him he was and I sank the most one of the most the most beautiful dog if I ever saw and the smartest dog I ever knew and um just because of the he he was absolutely so sufficient and chose where he wanted to live with whom he wanted to live and the the he was the had had the control 222 to create his own lifestyle and hang out with the people that he wanted to so I can say I never controlled him I never watch him anything or trained him to do anything he was such a free spirit and he was such an intelligent person so now how do I save it
I Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!
Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden
Home of Key West Parrots
518 Elizabeth Street, Key West, Florida 33040
HoursEveryday: Including Holidays 10 am - 3 pm
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Telephone305-294-0015
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