MARILYN HAGERTY: Sasha the dachshund is alive, well in Alvarado ... minus a doggie door

• Sasha, the Alvarado, Minn., dachshund

Sasha, the Alvarado, Minn., dachshund

Talk about it

“Yes, my little heart is beating and my tail is wagging as fast as ever here in Alvarado.”

. . . That was the response after my dachshund Dot.Com wrote a letter trying to find her dog friend in this little Minnesota town north of East Grand Forks. The dogs had exchanged letters (with help from their owners) some time ago. Now they are reconnected.

Only a dog understands another dog. Here’s what Sasha writes from Alvarado:

"Wow, your mistress Marilyn gave you a lot of responsibility taking on her column last week. Fine job you did, I must say. My mom’s friends and relatives were calling early in the morning when they got the Herald.

“Your doggie door sounds cool, Dot. I don’t know any other dog with a doggie door. Sounds as though you keep the squirrels at bay. They are crafty little buggers.

“For the most part, I’m on a rope when outside. Those squirrels know how far I can go and think they are tough. When I am allowed to play in the yard rope free, those squirrels scatter.

“I have never had the shock collar you wrote about, Dot. The dog down the block has that collar for when she gets out of the yard. Mom has found her here before and calls the owners. She is very friendly, but Mom still keeps a close eye on me when roped. One never knows what some other big dogs will do. We had wild turkeys in the woods and wild dogs got them.

“My grandma buys me big balls to play with. We call them BBs. I push them all over the yard with my nose. I can turn them on a dime. I have so much fun with them and get good exercise as well. A few neighbors think I’m so cute working with my ball, and I am.

“I have two vertebrae fused together in my back. My vet said I wouldn’t be as agile as I should be. One would never know it, but it might creep up on me when I get older. I am 5 now. I guess you are 4, Dot.

“Do you get to sleep in the big bed at night? I do. I sleep in the middle, but hug Mom’s side. Terry turns so much I’m afraid he’ll roll over me. Life is good, Dot. Terry wakes first in the morning and at times he sees my head on Mom’s pillow. It gets warm under that comforter, Dot. I wish all dogs had it as good as us dachshunds.

“I remember you telling me, Dot, you came from a ranch. I wouldn’t dare go after those big cows. Terry has me chasing bunnies out of the yard. To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t know what to do if I came nose to nose with one. Mom gets mad at me when I do. She calls me back. I look at the path the bunny took, look at her, look at the path…and then call it good and come back home. Rounding up bunnies is not for me.

“So good to hear from you, Dot. You always have a friend here in Alvarado. I am black and tan. I am called Old Fashion. Mom had another Doxie before me. Ginger was black and tan as well and lived to be 16. Mom had Vanessa before us. She was a lab mix and only lived to be 7.

“Can you believe, Dot, we were bred for hunting badgers? I’ll stick to squirrels and bunnies.

“Sniffs, licks and tail wags,

“Your Paw Pal, Sasha

“P.S. My mom is Jackie Jordan.”

Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gra.midco.net or (701) 772-1055.

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