Jersey, the Compost Dog in Altadena

Jersey, the compost dog (Photo – George Patton).

This is a story of Jersey the Compost Dog that lives in Altadena.

By George Patton

Jersey chases
squirrels…like other dogs;

Jersey fetches balls
…like other dogs;

Jersey joins the chaos
of other dogs
…when the Fire Engines
start to wail;

But…when his human
(friends) companions
pick up the bowl,
full of kitchen scraps,
and start for the door…

Jersey
becomes the dancingest,
singingest, and most
excited doggie,
that a leash-packin’
dog walker
might ever see.

Jersey bolting out towards the compost bin (Photo – George Patton).

When the canine choreographer is about to burst upon the scene,
He bolts through the open door,
running,
jumping,
and singing
in low doggie
tones,
and shrieking in
high notes,
like children at play.

Jersey
does his doggie
Samba
(a capella)
the canine choreographer
is about to burst upon
the scene,
his choreography
without music…
he just needs the thrill
of a new bowl –
heading out to the compost bin.

Jersey’s bowl means
yummy,
but the compost bowl is doggy for:
running,
jumping,
and making howlys,
growlys,
and yelps of joy.

When his compost performance
is over,
he rests under
the dinner table…
until the next bowl
needs to travel
…back to the bin!
Until the compost ritual
begins again.

George Patton was recuperating from a fall at a friends’ house in Altadena. He was inspired by the true story of their dog, Jersey, a canine that gets overly excited every time someone made a trip to the compost bin.

Jersey circling the compost bin (Photo – George Patton).