Old Leashes

We got our first dog in 1998, and little yellow lab puppy we named Abigail Adams IX. We accumulated the standard supplies kongs, bones, crate, crate pad (aka a giant chewing toy), collar, 6' leash and a flexi-lead.

Dogs have come and gone, the box of collars and leashes has grown, but still we're using the flexi-lead. It's been gnawed on some. But it's like a Timex watch, it takes a lickin but keeps on tickin.

It still extends smoothly. It is the retraction that isn't working so well. Old age is like that too I'm finding. Now with the leash you need to hit it on your palm or against your side for the rewind function to work. I imagine, as I walk the yard with Sophie, I look like someone playing a tambourine. Hit against the palm, or hit against the hip. Shake it baby, shake it. Frankly, I've always wanted to play in a band, or be a back up dancer. Tambourine would be right up my alley. So I think about that as I'm walking Ms. Sophie. Sure, I could get a new flexi-lead. But how much fun would that be?

Besides I walk all the dogs from my past and present when I use that leash. I spend time with Abby, Fancy, Kobe, Pete, Sidney, Bo, Jackson, Mickey, Sidney, Maddie, Hank and Sophie.

That leash holds some very special memories. And, a little hit on the palm or hip, is no big deal. If I look like I'm playing percussion with a dog, so be it. They are music to my heart.

Famous Last Words - It's As Simple As That

Just when you say - It's as simple as that - it's not as simple as that. One should never start a sentence with "it's as simple as.....or my dog never.....my child wouldn't.....or I've never had that happen...." It's like jinxing the God's of irony. Or, tempting the laws of possibility. As soon as you say it all the planets align for incredible things to happen. Leaving you, with egg on your face, not to mention a complete look of bafflement.

Such is the case of the blog situation. I implied it was a simple thing to just click "follow" and presto chango you could follow me. Plus, by following me (psst, I'm over here) you would get to see some photo's I post as well. Come to find out if you have a G-mail, AOL or Yahoo account it's just that simple. For the rest of you, it must not be that simple, but I still want you to feel the love.

If you have problems (with following the blogs, that is) let me know. I can send the blogs direct to up to 10 addresses. So the good news is spaces are still available. Maybe I should raffle them off to the highest bidder. Okay, maybe not.

I won't leave you in the dark, or out in the cold, or having blog withdrawls. Stick with me, one way or another, the best is yet to come.

Enabling & Enabling

Owning it is the first step. I am an enabler. In fact I have enabled you. I've spoiled you, or maybe I've forced some of you, to read my blogs by virtue of taking time to send them directly to your mail box. Perhaps you have been a captive audience, or a lazy audience, maybe you have been reluctant, I hope you've chuckled a time or two. Well, I have good news and I have bad news. Which is which is up to you. The good or the bad (your choice) is that I won't enable you any more. The good or the bad (again your choice) is you can still get them in your mailbox. That requires one brief moment of participation on your part. If you want to follow the escapades of my Doggy Dog World go to http://doggydogblog.blogspot.com and register to follow my blog. As Reno says sometimes, "it's as simple as that". And, you can still leave feedback, if you so choose. In a moment of pure indulgence, I will say I do love feedback and comments!! I like to know others can relate to the stories I share.

Speaking of enabling. I/we are trying to enhance Sophie's social skills. Let me just say this, she has very few so she can only improve! Last night I took her for a "walk" to enable her confidence to grow. Of course walking wasn't so much what we did. It was more of a begging forward event, a pleading process, a marathon of encouragement, a test of patience exercise. There really wasn't exercise involved. But we did get two doors down to visit a neighbor. I was happy to get that far and Sophie was happy to drag me home.

So there you have it. The enabler is me feels bad I'm changing how I'm doing things. But, the enabler also feels good. Life is like that a mix of guilt and satisfaction, often at the same time. Kind of like Sophie, one step forward, two steps back - it still counts as progress.

Happy Anticipation

Every time we feed Mr. Hanky it is like his first meal after a years of starvation. If only mankind had his enthusiasm and gratitude the world would be a better place.

He waits at your feet as you scoop the food into the bowls. He watches with anticipation, he watches with faith. Pavlov would be so proud of him. I could be dishing up fillet Mignon or paper mache. He is in the "oh boy, oh boy, oh boy its kibble time" zone.

So what can we learn from Mr. Hanky? Anticipation rocks. Happy is a choice. Good things come to those who wait. Regular meals are da bomb. Enthusiasm is positive energy squared.

And, of course, he eats with gusto. Most days I'm surprised the bowl doesn't get consumed too. He is not like Mick who some days picks at his food, or like Sophie who eats depending on who's in the room. Hank eats like there is no tomorrow.

We should all embrace life like that.

Keeping The Faith

I am, by nature, optimistic. I believe in people and that good things are just around the corner. Reno is more of a pessimist so we balance each other out.

There are times when even I wonder what makes people so vile and reprehensible. This is one of those days. Today one of the dogs in our rescue program was deliberately run down and killed. This happened because the man was angry the dog may have been on his property. I cannot fathom the anger in this man's heart. How do you purposely inflict such pain on an animal, and on the foster Mom who witnessed it. We see dogs all the time who have suffered at the hands of heartless people. We work tirelessly to save just one more. We take in sick dogs, abused dogs, pregnant dogs, frightened and abandoned dogs. We look at those dogs and see a life full of value and worth a second chance.

Those of us who foster long enough eventually lose one in our care and it is devastating. It happens because we simply are not part of the bigger plan, even though we do the best we can. So we grieve for those who cross the bridge while under our roof wishing we could have done more. We know, they were loved.....they were cherished......and they had value.

And we know we will not let the savage souls of the world take our hope away. Because our love for animals is, and always will be, more powerful than their anger.

RIP Tia - you were loved.

Confirmation

Sometimes we just need confirmation. Sometimes it's called feedback. Other times it is affirmation. We all long for it, need it to thrive, give it out, and on the good days get it back.

I'd like to confirm at Sophie is learning that the Scary Man is not totally Scary. He is getting positive feedback from her. Of course it's taken a million treats to affirm this. But, some people take baby steps, we give out baby treats.

Hank of course affirms my every move. I was in the bathroom today, with him sitting beside me. He was looking at me with such adoration. I am his bliss. He would have gotten the toilet paper for me, spun it in gold and offered it on a silver platter if he could have. That's what his eyes told me. Instead he was content just to be with me.

Mickey is more independent. Of course that depends on what's going on. Today he brought me the remains of a large piece of fireworks. He was delighted to have it, pranced in the house with it and was just as thrilled to drop it on command. It's all good in Mick's world.

I'm wondering if dogs just don't second guess themselves like people do. Well, except for Sophie, she second guesses everything. How sad that she does, and how wonderful she's learning it doesn't have to be this way. Would that we could all learn this lesson.

July?? Where Did June Go?

Growing up, the 4th of July was the middle of the summer. Now I think we go right from Memorial Day to July 4th without pausing for a breath. Once the 4th is over the summer is gone. Okay - so a slight exaggeration. But some truth just the same.

Kind of like just yesterday my kids were babies. Or just last week Hank came into our lives, or last month Sophie became our foster. Not to long ago Mick was just 9 months old. You get my drift. Truth is Hank has been with us for 14 months, Sophie for 6 months, and I don't want to count how old Mickey is getting to be.

Sophie is making progress although it's certainly more of a marathon than a sprint. And, I must confess we've been lax in getting her fence trained. This weekend, I tell you, this weekend I'm getting the flags out. Feel free to nag me on this. She has to be tired of going out on leash, and I know we are probably tired of taking her. It's just such a habit that one doesn't realize the effort involved. Labors of love are like that.

After the noise of the July 4th weekend it's fence training time. Guess you could say I'm drawing a line in the sand on that. Except that we don't have sand, and despite 9 inches of rain last month it so dry you have to water again. But I digress....someone please hold me accountable.

We get so caught up in the day-to-day, we miss seeing the pages fly on the calendar. Before you know it it's July - and it's time Sophie learns a little about independence.....