Water from the hose nozzle splashed onto the mix of grass and mostly dirt I call a lawn. It had been a couple of weeks since any substantial rain, and I wanted to continue the progress early July rains had made in enticing stolons (runners) to fill in bare areas. I hear you naysayers—“but we’re in a drought, don’t waste precious water on your dying lawn.” Hear me out. The remaining turf left after 5 years of ongoing drought is only about the size of a 5×5 area rug—the other bare areas have been landscaped with native plants that can weather any climate—heat or cold. This little 5×5 patch will eventually follow its xeriscaped brethren, but in the meantime, hand-watering for a few minutes in the evening is peaceful meditation in nature. I love the symphony of night’s bugs as they warm up at dusk, ready to start their shift. Or more likely I’m listening to the musings of my favorite podcaster.
On this particular evening, I watched droplets of water hit the ground, making mud with the soil it displaced. In the deluge, the soil sometimes relinquishes a pebble or small piece of jagged plastic—the latter I always pick up to dispose of correctly. Today was no different, what emerged from the mud was white, jagged, and small. It was not plastic, it was a tooth. Because of my love of found objects, this was a find that spoke right to my creative heart. It’s jaggedness immediately identified it as a canine’s (disclaimer: if I had even an inkling the tooth were human, I might have told my story to 911) but beyond that—its origin was mine to create.
Was this tooth meant to be found? Was it buried on purpose by a small puppy leaving a first-fallen tooth to the Tooth Bury? (Tooth Bury is the equivalent to a Tooth Fairy for dogs.) Dogs don’t have pillows under which to tuck a tooth, so they bury it like a beloved bone, hoping the Tooth Bury will leave a doggie treat in its place.
Or did the tooth belong to a scruffy dog? A member of the gang of strays that roam the ‘hood? Members of this gang steal chewable items from unsuspecting front yards. Nothing and gnome one is safe. I have seen this gang of strays lounging comfortably on the aforementioned 5×5 patch of grass—chewing on landscape lights, shoes, dolls, or gnomes. I’m no dentist, but couldn’t chewing incessantly on hard plastic cause a tooth, roots and to fall out?
The preceding were only imagined mysteries devised for entertainment. But did you know dog dental care is considered a necessary service? I certainly didn’t. Definitely something to consider if you’re in the market for a dog…does your pup believe in the Tooth Bury? Can you afford braces or dentures for YOUR dog?