A Lady and a Moose on a Harley
Diana Smith of Lexington, Virginia is a rural mail carrier. When not driving her Jeep on the mail route she rides her pearl white Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster with her 3lb 4oz Blue Chihuahua, Moose on the tank.
Diana grew up in Daytona, Florida riding dirt bikes. She had brothers and her dad was a mechanic so being around cars and bikes was just a part of life.
As a teen, she had a serious accident while riding on the back of a friend’s Yamaha 750 and spent a week in the hospital recovering from multiple injuries and broken bones. She decided then that she’d never again ride on the back with someone else driving. She didn’t ride for a long time—then in her twenties, she rode a bigger dirt bike and laid it down.
As she married and raised three boys she didn’t ride at all and was petrified when her sons had a little scooter. She was afraid for them and wouldn’t even get on it when they asked. Besides, her husband didn’t like women riding motorcycles.
After the boys were grown she and her husband separated. One day the Fire Department down the road hosted a Poker Run motorcycle event. As she was watching the bikes go down the road in front of her home Diana remembered how much she’d loved riding as a girl. Now she was ready to put some adventure back into her life! She went out and bought a bike!
Diana’s little dog Moose was her constant companion and often sits on her shoulder like a parrot. When they go through a drive-up window people regularly comment on how cute he is and ask to take photos. Diana says Moose has more personality than any other dog she’s ever had. He loves attention and he loves to ride in the car with her. Since he loves the car so much she wondered if he’d like the motorcycle.
At first, Diana tried riding with Moose in the sling that she carries him in for hiking. He didn’t like that so much, so she began searching for motorcycle pet carriers and found a bag that sits on the tank. It has a hole in it so that Moose can stand and stick his head up. She also bought him a vest that clips to the bag for safety and a little pair of goggles.
They’ve gotten mixed reactions riding around together. Most people think it’s just the cutest thing and want to take pictures. Occasionally someone will say they don’t think there’s any way the dog could enjoy riding and that the noise must hurt his ears. Once at a traffic light a woman shouted through her window, “That’s animal abuse! The dog can’t possibly like that!”
Diana knows Moose loves it! He especially loves riding through town where it’s stop and go. He doesn’t like going fast and slumps down in his bag when he’s ready for a break. She carries water and his favorite foods—Vienna sausages and hot dogs—when they’re riding so he gets refreshed at every stop.
Moose’s chest swells up with pride when people come over to the bike to see him, pet him and take pictures. He loves the attention!
When he’s not on the bike his ears perk up at the sound of a Harley.
“Moose is a Chihuahua but, on the motorcycle, he becomes a Great Dane,” says Diana. “He stands up looking like he knows he’s a badass when he’s on the bike!”
By Myra McElhaney
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