Truth, whose mother is history, who is the rival of time, depository of deeds, witness of the past, example and lesson to the present and the warning to the future.
This quote is from Wishbone Episode 11 and taken from the lesser known work of art, Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes. Wishbone played the brilliant Sancho Panza who brought humans and dogs alike unparalleled wisdom.
For the uncivilized, Wishbone was a masterpiece that aired on PBS Kids from 1995 to 1997. Weekly, Wishbone the dog brought us the written word given life. In 1997 Steve Jobs returned to Apple which makes one speculate how much of that guiding influence came from Wishbone?
The 1990s were a dog renaissance. Shortly after the airing of Wishbone the dog employment rate skyrocketed as seen in the TV show, Dogs with Jobs. In sports, dogs were taking over. Airbud reigned supreme on the basketball court. Soon, Mr. Bud was also dominating football, soccer, baseball and volleyball. His children even made it into space as portrayed in the documentary Space Buddies.
Dogs also took the lead in fighting for justice. Blue’s Clues- a revitalized Turner and Hooch initiative- saw Blue the dog training his human Steve in the art of detective sleuthing by leaving clues throughout the house. However one can’t help to wonder if Blue went to college maybe she could have been destined for bigger things like leading the CSI: Special Victims Unit. Scruff McGruff is rolling in his grave knowing Blue never reached her full potential. For Blue, crime remains unbitten.
But this was all in the 90s. It’s been 20 years and the state of the dog education system has declined. Wishbone reenacted Romeo & Juliet, Oliver Twist, Frankenstein, Pride and Prejudice and countless more. Yet, go to any dog park in our nation and ask owners what classic literature their dogs prefer and the result is always the same, “Who are you? What kind of stupid question is that? You don’t even have a dog, get out of here you weirdo.”
Unlike the Oscar’s or Emmy’s, where humans are allowed to give speeches after winning an award, the dog show circuit offers canines no such opportunity to speak. In fact, dogs are given disturbing commands like roll over and play dead which is increasing tension for the dog-human alliance.
With no dogs intelligent enough to learn their lines, Hollywood has resulted in using animated dogs voiced by humans. This can be seen in Bolt, Paw Patrol, Isle of Dogs, Call of The Wild, Pets, and many others. Many believe the decline of Hollywood dog stars began with the lukewarm reception of Look Who’s Talking Too and it was only Wishbone that was able to prevent the immediate death knell.
In the same way that the internet killed the carrier pigeon industry it seems the lackadaisical management of the dog education system has led to too much unskilled dog labor in the workforce. Humans have continued to care for dogs letting them live rent free but in the back of everyone’s mind is the question, are dogs heading back to the lifestyle of the Littlest Hobo in the 1963 Canadian show?
The future may give us paws but we must not bark up the wrong tree of skepticism. Focus instead on the tennis ball of hope that lies on the other side of the dog park waiting to be fetched.
What’s the story, Wishbone?
What’s this you’re dreaming of?
Such a big imagination
On such a little pup