Black and White Gang

Emory is a black and white canine elder.  He’s nearly 17 and has the facial hair of an ancient Asian master or a Latino Bandito. He has Schzu in his long and celebrated heritage.  He is truly the leader of the black a white gang.  Madigan met him and thinks the world of his older friend who like hm rides in a box on the back of their master’s Harley’s. The belle of the gang though is Bella, the cutest sweetest white and grey Javanese with a joyous piping back more reminiscent of an exotic bird call than a canine bark.  Her sister is younger black Lucia also Havanese.  She’s shy and often hides back while Bella greets the boys. Madigan loves her and breaks leash running a hundred yards full out to greet her and she flops over on her back to celebrate the occasion.  Emory walks with a statesman like elegance but seeing Luca and Bella with efforts puts a little extra bounce in his stop and increases his forward momentum a smidgeon.  

The black and white came to be as their masters walked about the community where Doberman’s and German Shepherds also lived. Whenever greeted though the group explained to neighbours and owners of Rottweilers that the Black and White Gang were the new ‘security force’ protecting and watching over the neighbourhood.  The other dogs were more loners who might be called in as snipers and Navy Seal reinforcements but the bobbies on the streets were the black and white gang.  Together they were a sight to behold as their walks became animated and they piddled and pissed with the confidence of belonging and being a part of something bigger than they were. 

Their masters of course decided the fate of the world in far reaching discussions.  The dogs nudged each other and gathered for a particular message left on a branch. There were heads nodding and extra sniffing and all the while the masters ambled along confident that all evil and wrong was being dispelled by the presence of the dogs, more like Tibetan monks than Rambos but somehow able to keep the bad at bay.  Sometimes once but often twice they did their rounds and flew the tail flags declaring their presence.  

The gang met with other little dogs and there was a great conference when the groups grew to as many as 6 or 8 and the volume rose and the masters and mistresses laughed and shared recipes and chat. All was well when the black and white gang patrolled.  

 It was believed that Lucha, the shy girl was the one who first found the dead body by the river. 

‘Whatever is that smell,” she asked Bella who simply wrinkled her nose and couldn’t say. Madigan knew no more but Emory who’d been napping as he walked for a bit lifted up his ancient nose and cocking his head remember, “That’s a dead human smell.”  

Like a wave or a flock of birds they all veered towards the scent pulling their surprised and scent blind masters behind them the short distance to the river where yes indeed there was a dead human.

That’s how Madigan met the police dog, Ranger.  A very handsome majestic creature who told stories of his time with the Canadian Forces in Iraq to Bella who told him about her time on the beaches off San Diego.  Lucha shyly congratulate Emory on his superior nose and Emory always the gentleman took her praise graciously as all then officious men in suits with guns and matching cars busied out while the neighbours snapped pictures with the iPhone cameras.  It was quite the festival especially when the media showed up.  A girl looking just like Lois Lane got it right according to Bella. She propositionsed the masters for a group picture which was the one that appeared on the front page and went off to be seen by millions in social media all because Bella was thought to be so photogenic and Emory looked so distinguished.  That was the first time the Black and White Gang had their photos taken.  The paperazzi came later when they solved the case of the Climate Change Arsonist.  

No one ever did find how the body had ended up by the river.  Obviously shot through the back of the head. All sorts of speculation about corrupt politicians and Communist Chinese hit man but in the end another cold case without further leads.  Not that the Black and White Gang forgot.  There were always clues and clues in the markings that would one day link the two cases but for now the dogs were more interested in supper time after all that excitement.  While their masters discussed world affairs and international crimes they discussed the merits of liver versus chicken treats.  Of course.