Name: John M. Heck

Relationship to Grandma and Grandpa Heck: SON

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DOGS OF THE HECK FAMILY (the four legged kind) as I remember them.

 

In 1930 we moved from Woodbury Co. Iowa to a farm about 4 miles sourth of Homer on hiway 77. The farm was owned by Bert Thacker, the son of Mom's Aunt Clara. Hiway 77 was then a gravel road that entered Homere from thenorth, turned right at the bridge, exited from the west side of town past what is now Homer High School. I don't remember the move but apparently with the family, which consisted of nine kids age 13 to 1, came two dogs. One dog was a large Germonn sheard, often referred to as a police dog because of their frequent use as guard dogs. The other was a small, snow white chow. She was a beauty. Someone traveling hiway 77, which ran adjacent to our front yard, thought so also. They stopped their car, enticed our dog into the car and was never seen by us again. In those days it was not uncommon forfilling stations to be located in rural areas. Skinners station was ledd than a mile north of our driveway, just over the hill. Because of the ruual location security was practically nil and thus ;was a ;frequent target of thieves. In an effort to stem thefts, the station owner borrowed our shepherd and locked him in the station. He proved no problem for thieves. They simply shot and killed him.

 

Over the hill west of us was the farm home of Beck Nelson. Beck and his wife were childless but they were foster parents to the Jessen kids, Alfred, Hanse and Betty. About the time we lost our dogs they delivered a litter and gave us one of the pups. I don't know who did or why, but he was named Jack.. I'm not sure of his breed but Jack was a good family dog. One of the things he liked to do was to kill anakes. He would make a big production out of it, circling the snake barking fiercely. Ever so often he would dive in, grab the snake in his teeth and shake his head violently and release it, throwing it several feet and than start the whole process over. He could take 25-30 minutes to jinish the job providing entertainment to thekids and displeasure to Dad who did not approve of killing bull snakes because thye helped control the rodent population. Another thing Jack like to do was chase rabbits. I recall watching him chase a big jack rabbit. The rabbit loped along as if teasing Jack and Jack would make strange noises as though he could already taste him. The rabbit would soon tire of the game and take offin huge leaps leaving Jack wondering where he went. Jack did his best work helping us to bring in the cows at miling time. We could go to the gate of pasture and call Jack. He would round up the cows and chase them home. He would get behind tho;se lagging, leap and grab the tail in his teeth and fly thought the air like it was a private swing. One unfortunate animal lost about 18 inches of her tail when Jack bit amite too hard. Jack was ravaged by arthritis in his old age and could no longer herd the cattle. He wanted to but it was too painful. He would raise his head and wag his tail but he couldn't et up. It didn't matter, for we could go to the pasture, call Jack and the cows would come in. It's odd, but I don't remember Jack dying. Perhaps it was when I was in the Navy. But his living is unforgettable. We hat to move in 1935 because Bert sold the farm to Dave Nelson. A short while after moving sever miles west of town Dad came home with a rat terrior pup he named Pepper. I have no idea where he got her.

 

Pepper was not a friendly dog. She was not a dog to jump at; a visitor hoping for apat on the head or ascratch behind an ear. She would quietly sneak aaround behind visitors and creep low to the ground as though ready to pounce on a victim and, if we didn 't catch her, nip at their heels. I don't recall her ever biging anyone. And she was an adults dog. She did not tolerate kids well at all. But she was good at keeping down unwanted rodents and she was tough. Once a weasel found its way under the grainery. Pepper and the weasel had a terrific battle. Pepper vanquished the weasel but at a ;cost. After the fight was over we found a;gash on Peppers shoulder which we don't know was caused by tooth or nail but was as clean as if done by a surgeons scalpel. One another occasion we had a visit from a neighbor named Augusta Anderson. As she was leaving in her big Buick, Pepper gave chase and got run over. She lay there motionless in the weeds next to the driveway. She was alive but we didn't know for how long. Evening came and she still lay there. It was aplpaarent that it was going to be a chilly night so Dad covered here with a blanket. She survivied and stayed with us for a number of year.