Have you experienced this kind of devotion from a pet of yours? Have you had to make this difficult choice; saving yourself or saving your pet? This is an inspiring story from KCTV 5 News, also blogged at Life With Dogs. Hopefully the first of many changes in domestic violence shelter policies.
So, I was settling in to a basket of fresh-from-the-dryer laundry today and I turned on the TV. We have weird cable at my house, which includes so many channels that most of the time I don’t even bother looking. If I feel in need of some senseless diversion I just watch whatever’s on. (Lucky for me, it usually L&O.) But today, today was special – today was Little House on the Prairie! And it was just starting!
Ok, I grew up on this and so although it’s not exactly cutting edge, it’s interesting to see what my little mind was taking in from 1974-1985. (Hopefully not that whole time…) I’ll get to the point; I think one of the reasons I love dogs so much is because the horrible Harriet Oleson hates them! Witness Nels Oleson, the kind man and his devotion to his dog. Enjoy.
Everybody Everybody!
Now is the time! Get thee to the store and tell Heidi Happy Birthday!
If you haven’t been, Meat is one of those wonderful magical places. Not only do you get to shop for all of the best ingredients for the life of your pet, but you get great service and you’re bound to meet someone who can answer just about any question you have. (Really – almost anything – it doesn’t even have to be about pets!)
Heidi really knows her stuff. Meat is the kind of place where you not only feel good about what you buy, but you have confidence in the people she trusts that make up the Portland pet community. As far as I’m concerned, Meat is not just a pet supply store, it’s an indispensable resource! So, stop in and party down this week! See you at Meat!
Sunshine, Vitamin d!
Flowers blooming, dry trails and dry fur! Running around with dogs is an great job no matter what time of year. But this time – this time of year is amazing. Sunny but not hot. Pretty, but not Summer. Inviting.
There’s a big part of me that loves the Winter time, for the selfish reason that it sometimes feels like I’m the only human on earth that is outdoors. That’s a peaceful feeling to me, having the whole entire outdoors to myself.
Of course I pay for it by getting soaked in rain and mud and slobbery wet dog hair…and I do enjoy the elements – keeping a close eye on nature – and actually, I don’t have the outdoors all to myself, do I?
This always becomes more evident as Spring sneaks up and the sun comes out. The people emerge like out of a trance, out of hibernation…yawning and stretching. The sun is waking us up and sending us outdoors to meet others like us – on the trails, the tracks, in the streets, at the parks, on the sidewalks… The sun gives us the energy and cheery dispositions we need to chat amongst one another and smile happily at being dry outdoors…running around or just throwing a ball for a four legged friend. Just being dry and feeling the sun on our faces.
So now it’s time to share. I share the sidewalks, the roads, the trails and the tracks.
I share with kids, cats, bikes, dogs, pedestrians, cars, motorcycles, strollers, squirrels, garbage cans, frogs, tricycles, free sofas…
I am so excited it’s finally time. See you out there!
I’m watching the World Series right now, game 5.
My laptop is warming the muscles in my stretched out legs as I stare at the screen wondering what I should write.
It’s been a while since I’ve had a TV in my main living area, but here it is, in it’s 32″ glory- and it”s on! The moving picture box generally doesn’t bring much inspiration but I love baseball and…
A car commercial just came on with a perfect couple, in a perfect car driving around trying to catch their dog! The driver and passenger were holding squeaky toys out the window and squeaking them, trying to entice their little runaway to come back to them.
I thought was kind of cute and a little charming- car makers are finally tapping in to what we use our cars for these days.
But then, from out of nowhere comes my fearless soldier, Polly, running straight to the TV! Now this was good…Polly wants the squeaky toys!
She stares at the screen and whines, until the perfect couple drives away and she walks over to look behind the TV and find out where they went with those toys.
This is fun, but her all time favorite commercial is still that one with Lassie showing off some Kung-Fu.
I wonder how many dogs in the US are staring at this commercial tonight, whining to play with the squeaky toys on television?
How often do you look to your dog and think, “what would you do for me?” I don’t mean in that way of, “bring me my slippers”, but more like- if we encountered a challenge, how would you act, or react?
I find myself running around, maybe caught somewhere not too familiar after sunset wondering of my pup Polly…”if I am attacked, will she all of a sudden become the vicious animal that will save my life or sanity?” I can picture the scene of someone coming at me and her going to chomp a leg with her gleaming white teeth. The truth is, I’m not sure she would do this. She is just too friendly. She would probably just be happily smiling with those pearly whites. But this is the story of a city dog and a human with too much time to think while running. This is an urban canine whose challenges are chasing squirrels, being patient and running around on the end of a leash.
In the New York Times Science section today is a story of a very different way of canine life, and how we are finally honoring these dogs (and ponies) of valor. Hooray!
I recommend this quick read: Polar Sidekicks Earn a Place on the Map.
I get a little puffed up just thinking that my urban canine could possibly be as brave, courageous and adventurous as the sidekicks in this story. At the same I am perfectly happy to never really find out for sure.
How often do you look to your dog and think, “what would you do for me?” I don’t mean in that way of, “bring me my slippers”, but more like- if we encountered a challenge, how would you act, or react?
In the New York Times Science section today is a story of a very different way of canine life, and how we are finally honoring these dogs (and ponies) of valor. Hooray!
I recommend this quick read: Polar Sidekicks Earn a Place on the Map.
I get a little puffed up just thinking that my urban canine could possibly be as brave, courageous and adventurous as the sidekicks in this story. At the same I am perfectly happy to never really find out for sure.
