“God, verily, loveth those women and men who
show forth patience.”

Bahá’u’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 43

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22-23

I am beginning to worry about this dog’s seemingly insatiable appetite for all things previously thought to be inedible.  Wanting to avert further “incidents” and to appease my husband before Max is dog-meat,  I buy a spray , an EXPENSIVE spray “guaranteed to stop animals from chewing . Bitter apple.  Can’t be more freshly organic than that.  Do not want to harm my sweet little angel, just protect him from indigestion.

 Since he had already developed a taste for wicker in the dog shelter I spray the wicker chairs first. Max eagerly runs over to see what I’m doing, licks the bitter apple cleanly off the wicker legs, looks up at me angelically with big brown eyes, gives me a lick or two, trots back to the couch to soften up the coverlet by sucking on the tattered edge.

I re-read the fine print on the Bitter Apple.  It says chewing, no mention of eating.  No listing of wicker chairs, throws and comforters (oh yes, forgot to mention pillow cases).  Not wanting to spend more money  I try what’s on hand – cayenne pepper . . . wasabi powder  . . . tabasco  . . .  Each flavor being more tasty than the next.  We put the chairs up on the table. Throw the throw, comforter and pillow cases to the dogs, so to speak.  And wait for signs of acid indigestion.

This is a dog who now has a proper name that reflects his personality – distinct but cute, short but sweet, unique and memorable, independent but loving and a gourmand not a gourmet.