Kepler Babysits

(3 Minute Read. 15Feb2023)

Kepler and Ref

Woof! Woof!
This is Kepler, Master’s Jack Russell terrier, writing another article for Master’s Bible-Science Guy Blog.

Master has roped me into taking care of another dog! And it was not my idea at all.

The dog is an 18-pound black and white Cockapoo. A Cockapoo results from breeding a cocker spaniel with a poodle. His name is Ref because his coloring looks like a football referee.

At first I didn’t want to share Master and Missus with another dog. But Master mollified me by telling me I could supervise him. Master gave me the job of teaching Ref the house rules.

Ref belongs to one of Master’s sons. He asked Master to take care of Ref for several weeks. Master’s son and his wife have a new baby, and they wanted someone to look after the dog while they concentrate on caring for the new baby.

Even though Ref has nine years seniority over the new baby, Master’s son opted to keep the baby and farm out the dog. Go figure! I would have done it the other way around. What good is seniority if it’s just ignored?

But Missus says that new babies are extremely special. She reminded me of these Bible truths:
Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. (Psalm 127:3-5)

I get it that everyone is thankful to the Great Creator for the new baby. But I couldn’t help wondering why the new human needed so much care. I never got an answer to that question.

My bossy sister and me at 15 weeks

When I was a puppy, I very quickly started taking care of myself. My brother and sister and I all ate together out of the same feed bowl. I was the oldest and smartest of the litter, but my brother was a lot bigger and my sister was a lot bossier. So I quickly learned to eat very fast in order to get my full share.

Ref is very docile and placid. I think he might be depressed from missing his family. Due to allergies, his diet is restricted to a special dog food. This is good because it means he cannot help me wash dishes.

One of the “house rules” is that everybody has their own feed bowl — Master, Missus, me, Ref. I’m not allowed to use the feed bowls that belong to Master and Missus, and they don’t use mine.

And I don’t let Ref eat from my feed bowl either, even though he badly wants to do so. He thinks my kibble smells much better than his — especially when Master adds table scraps to my bowl. And I agree — my food always smells much better than his.

Occasionally I get to Ref’s bowl and gobble a little before Master stops me. His kibble tastes like sawdust, but I still wolf it because I’m always hungry. I know I’m breaking a rule, but in the moment, I just don’t care. Sometimes sin is just too alluring, and my punishment is an insufficient deterrent. Master says this is what happened with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-6).

My babysitting client Ref

Ref has a different style of eating from me. Master dishes out his kibble in the morning, and he slowly grazes on it all day long. Sometimes, unbelievably, he doesn’t even finish.

My eating style is to get the job done as quickly as possible. I empty my feed bowl in under a minute.

You’d be amazed at how persnickety Master is about measuring out my kibble. He gives me exactly one cup — no more, no less. I think he should just fill up my bowl. There’s a reason my bowl is as big as it is. It is supposed to be full!

We’ve had lots of niveous weather recently for me to enjoy (see Kepler the Snow Commando). I always bolt outside whenever I can. And when I get loose, I take off. Missus has to lure me back with odoriferous treats like liver, sausage, or beef fat.

But Ref is less eager to leave the house. And he never wants to run off exploring with me. Even without a tether, he stays near the house to do his business and then goes right back inside.

I have enjoyed having a buddy for five weeks now, but I heard recently that Ref will be going home soon. I guess the new baby is finally old enough to take care of itself.

Anyway, that’s how things look from the Kepler Dog House!

Till next time, this is Kepler signing off. Woof! Woof!

Questions to Ponder

1. Is it Biblical for our culture to value pets equivalent to children?
2. What concrete assistance will you offer new parents to show love and practical support?

Share your thoughts on these questions in the comments below. It could encourage or help another reader.

For Christ and His Kingdom.
Alere Flammam Veritatis.
Soli Deo Gloria.

This is the 52nd article in a series of blog posts on a precocious Jack Russell terrier named Kepler. Numbers 1-8 are by Kepler’s master, the BibleScienceGuy. Numbers 9-53 are by Kepler himself.
Read the prequels:
1. Why I Named Our Puppy “Kepler”
2. Kepler’s Kind
3. Kepler’s Lopsided Trade
4. Kepler’s Amazing Nose
5. Kepler’s Business Card
6. Kepler & the Psycho Squirrel (with video)
7. Taunting Kepler
8. Adam and Puppies

The following posts are by Kepler:
9. Who Taught Kepler?
10. Kepler Gets a Buddy (with video)
11. Kepler Chases a Squirrel (with video)
12. Kepler’s Complaint
13. Kepler’s To-Do List
14. Kepler and the Football Weekend
15. Kepler’s Favorite Store
16. Kepler at a Truck Stop
17. Kepler & Henry Catch a Squirrel
18. Kepler Finds Killdeer Eggs
19. Kepler Finds Robin Eggs
20. Kepler Lives to Tell the Tale
21. Kepler, Bears, & Raccoons
22. Kepler Mentors Henry
23. Kepler Gets a Bear
24. Kepler Finds Strange Eggs
25. Kepler Finds Duck Eggs
26. Kepler Gives Thanks
27. Kepler’s Newest Enemy
28. Kepler Loves Bulldogs
29. Kepler Ponders Snow
30. Kepler Wants to Move to Australia
31. Kepler’s Dating Profile
32. Kepler Meets Skunk
33. Kepler Wants to Be Good
34. Kepler on Guard
35. Kepler Chews On Grammar
36. Kepler for President
37. Kepler for President: Grins & Growls #1
38. Kepler for President: Grins & Growls #2
39. Kepler’s Water Guns
40. Kepler Remembers Henry (with video)
41. Kepler Gives a Virus Briefing
42. Kepler’s Campaign Advice
43. Kepler Ponders Senescence
44. Kepler’s AK-47
45. Kepler Talks Turkey
46. Kepler Versus the Squirrel
47. Kepler Hates This Word
48. Kepler and the FRIB
49. Kepler Finds Strange Creature
50. Kepler on Dawgs & Frogs
51. Kepler the Snow Commando

Read the sequel:
53. Kepler Gets a Chipmunk

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©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith”
“destroying speculations against the knowledge of God”
“for the defense of the gospel”
(Jude 1:3; 2 Cor 10:5; Phil 1:16)
Wednesday February 15, 2023 A.D.

But now ask the beasts, and let them teach you;
And the birds of the heavens, and let them tell you.
Or speak to the earth, and let it teach you;
And let the fish of the sea declare to you.
Who among all these does not know
That the hand of the LORD has done this,
In whose hand is the life of every living thing,
And the breath of all mankind? (Job 12:7-10)

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