Watching Trucker stroll around my office with a cozy white fleece throw blanket over his back brings to mind Linus from the comic strip Peanuts. Just like Linus, Trucker finds security and almost magical powers in his blanket.
Trucker is deeply attached to blankets – so much so that he now has a collection of 10 fleece throw blankets. I’ve been buying him these blankets ever since I adopted him at the age of five, two years ago. In addition to these, three more fleece blankets featuring car and truck designs cover my car seats when Trucker accompanies me on drives. The assortment of blankets ranges from red plaid to green, from snowmen to stars and moons.
He has claimed my old comforter, a couple of twin-size bed blankets, a crocheted afghan made by my mom, some Snoopy-themed fleece fabric, and even my bedding.
While my previous dog had a multitude of stuffed toys scattered around the house, Trucker prefers his “blankies” which can be found in almost every room.
Trucker enjoys burrowing in them, being covered up by me, and wrapping himself up – he does this by rolling on a blanket, grabbing it with his front teeth, and enveloping himself in it. Often, when he moves to another room, a blanket clings to his fur due to static electricity, making it look like a cape. My cats are always intrigued to see their big brother with an unusual object sticking to him.
I frequently find myself doing laundry and shaking off fur from fleece blankets, but I don’t mind it. I believe that blankets have had a therapeutic effect on Trucker, assisting him in reducing his reliance on Prozac and sedatives that he used to take while he was at a shelter.
Similar to an anxiety-relieving shirt for dogs or a snug hug from me, a blanket provides Trucker warmth and a sense of security. Looking back on his past, it’s a comfort that he truly deserves.
Throughout his brief life, Trucker has experienced abandonment on multiple occasions. He was thrown out of a semi-cab as a puppy, rescued, sold at a garage sale, given up to a shelter during a divorce, retrieved by one of the parties involved in the divorce, and then sent back to the shelter due to his separation anxiety issues. During his five-month stay at the shelter, Trucker had to be sedated to prevent him from harming himself by attempting to chew through the chain-link cages.
When I went to the shelter to bring him home, I noticed that Trucker had chosen a lavender-colored old comforter on the tiled floor near the kennel manager’s desk. He often lay there to feel the comfort and companionship of humans.
I extended that sense of comfort, through the use of blankets, into our home.
Observing Trucker now, wrapped in a blanket with only his nose visible or snuggled in his dog bed resembling a “Trucker pie,” I can’t help but think, “He must be in heaven.” Having a short-haired coat, I can’t fathom how cold he must have been in the past when a previous owner left him outside in a dog run (as the shelter informed me).
Shortly after Trucker arrived in my home, I started capturing images of him with his blankies. I saw him lying on my bed with his head resting on my pillow, so I covered him up with several blankets up to his neck and left him there. He slept soundly for hours. I have a file on my computer named “Blankies” that contains around 50 images with titles like “Sheik Ali Baba” and “Big Green Lima Bean.”
About a year after I adopted Trucker, a shelter volunteer shared a heartwarming story with me regarding Trucker and his fondness for blankets. It moved me to tears and reinforced the necessity of quilts, afghans, comforters, throw blankets, and the occasional oversized flannel shirt that I drape over him when needed. The volunteer wrote:
“I spent at least seven to eight afternoons with Trucker when he was at the shelter. I used to make him pumpkin and honey treats that he loved, and I would bring a week’s worth on Saturdays. Then, I’d hang out with him and another dog at the time. I used to read to Trucker. We would find a corner, lay down a blanket, and he would relax next to me, nibbling on treats and listening to me read. It helped keep him calm on busy Saturdays at the shelter. He truly is a gentle soul.”
Does your dog share similarities with Trucker? What brings them comfort? Share your stories in the comments section!
Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
