Grandma Dropped the Tailgate at the Edge of the Field. Pip Wouldn't Look Anywhere Else.
Evening has softened the light over the farm fields, turning everything a dusky blue-green. Grandma June sits on the tailgate of an old pickup in a denim jacket, silver braid draped over one shoulder, smiling down at the little dog beside her. In the distance, a farmhouse porch light glows warm and rows of crops stretch toward a line of trees. Pip sits upright on the tailgate, his scruffy blue and tan coat a bit windblown, gazing up at June with steady, devoted eyes. It is a quiet moment at the edge of the day, with nothing to do but sit together and watch the field go dark.
Rural evenings are lovely for a stroll or a sit with your dog, but a few precautions help. Tailgates and truck beds are high for a small dog, so lift your pup on and off rather than letting them jump, which can hurt little legs. Never let a dog ride loose in the bed of a moving truck. Dusk is when many wild animals become active, and fields can be home to snakes, coyotes and ticks, so keeping small dogs close or on a leash is wise. Mosquitoes are also busy at twilight, which is one more reason to keep your dog up to date on heartworm prevention.
As the porch light glows brighter, they will head back to the house. For now, June and Pip seem perfectly happy to let the evening linger.
