Where Did They Go?

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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?

Animals That Give Their All for US

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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?

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.

A Very Manageable Marathon

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It’s the half mile mark, and we’re already drenched in rain, and mud. We’re scurrying down a steep Forest Park trail decline, which is more like a mudslide than a trail on this misty morning. We’ve got another 12.5 miles to go.

Helen, our in-house ultrarunner, leads the pack. She organized today’s half marathon to raise funds for the Forest Park Conservancy, where she runs most of her dogs each day -she knows these trails like the back of her hand. She and her canine companion Marley speed ahead.

Jen follows close behind. She’s a race veteran with a lot of miles under her belt. Today’s half marathon is great training for the Banks-Vernonia Marathon that she’s gearing up for next month.

Helen and Jen are small dots on my horizon- I’m running significantly slower than my coworkers. This is my first half marathon, and I know I wouldn’t be out in this rain if it weren’t for Helen’s encouragement. She made a good point when she convinced me to do this- on any given day I’m likely running at least 13 miles with all of my dogs, so I might as well do it all at once in good company.

So I’m here, and I’m running. I’m actually finding my stride as I chat with fellow racers about my dogs – Elsie the speedster, Remy the herder, Bella the happiest dog alive, and Maxwell the crazyman. I tell stories of how high Elsie can jump and how Remy reminds me of my German Shepherd growing up, and suddenly… I’ve arrived at the halfway point. That wasn’t that bad.

And then suddenly, I can see the finish line, and Helen cheering me on.

“You just ran your first half marathon!” she yells.

Wow, I guess I did. And thanks to my dogs and fellow dog runners, it was a breeze.
- Emily Hutto