INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — I never thought I would say this, but I’m becoming concerned that I may have OBPD.
I had never even heard of OBPD until I began talking to a 6-year-old Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog (never heard of those either) named Pepper who lives up toward Ambersand Beach with Janice Broda and Bob Bruce.
Pepper’s humans adopted her from the Humane Society after she was brought here as a puppy by a family fleeing New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
“My family evacuated to Vero Beach and moved to a place that did not allow animals,” Pepper says. “I am a Louisiana Catahoula Leopard. My breed is the state dog of Louisiana. I’m a herding dog and was bred to herd cattle and hunt wild boar.
“When I’m not playing ball, I herd my brood of five cats at home,” says Pepper.
Personally, I think I’d rather hunt wild boar!
“Janice and Bob are part of the brood too because they are the designated ball throwers,” Pepper says. “Actually, the cats are useless. The cats are good for one thing though. I love to eat and I gobble up any of their food that’s left over.”
“So Pepper,” I interrupt. “Let’s talk ball.”
“Awesome,” Pepper replies. “I love playing ball. But only with a tennis ball. I especially like to retrieve balls thrown into the ocean. I like to bash my way through the waves and retrieve the ball and then body surf back to the beach.
“My goal every day is to play as much ball as I can on the beach. The best thing would be for there to be lots of people to throw my ball. Other dogs are welcome but of no significance to me. No offense, Bonz, but you should know what I’m talking about since you also have OBPD.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Why Bonzo,” Pepper replies. “I thought you knew. From all the symptoms you describe, like me you clearly have Obsessive Ball Playing Disorder.”
Gosh! That might explain it!
“It might interest you to know Bonzo, I am also a socialite. I love a good party,” Pepper says.
Janice tells me, “Our neighbors were having a wedding on the beach and Pepper, the willful socialite, would not come home with me. We weren’t even invited!”
“I insisted on staying for the ceremony,” says Pepper. “Janice went home and I stayed for the reception, too!”
Hmm. Not me. I’d rather have a good game of ball any day!
Perhaps I have an advanced case of this OBPD.
Till next time,
The Bonz