In her later years, my beloved paternal grandmother, Ethel, used to keep a bell near her bed. She would ring it whenever she needed the attention of a caregiver who was staying with her. A few weeks ago, while unpacking the last of our belongings from the move to SD, I came upon the little bell. It's not fancy. Just simple steel with a cast iron clanger on a rusty, bent paper clip. At around the same time I read an article about dogs learning to alert their people when they needed to step outside. The author suggested hanging a bell near the door, at dog level. Ring the bell when taking the dogs outside and they would soon make the connection and ring it on their own when they want to go out. Simple enough.
Motivated, I rounded up a number ten hollow wall, ribbed plastic anchor, polished up an old brass long-neck cup hook I had saved quite some time ago (for just such a purpose, as in "might need this some day"). With 1/4 inch drill bit chucked in the DeWalt drill motor, proceeded to mount the bell near the back door. At just the right height for Corgis, of course.
Fletcher was initially fearful of the bell, though he seems to be getting used to it now. Audrey, on the other hand, got it pretty much straight away. Liane and I were downright gleeful the first time she rang it. We're optimistic that Fletcher will eventually put his courage to the sticking place and give an angel its wings too. I've no doubt that my grandmother Ethel earned hers long ago and would be pleased to know that her little bell is again on active duty.
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