You dirty dog, part two

Timing is everything!

I just discovered that Lees Carpets is having a Muddiest Pet contest.

Entries are accepted until June 15. If you think your pet may have what it takes, go here for more info.

Just remember what you'll be going up against!

You dirty dog

Oakley and I had our first visit to our local dog park this past weekend. Walking the long path from the parking lot to the park, Oakley nearly drove herself crazy trying to sniff out everyone who'd come before her. I kept trying to tell her that this wasn't even the best part. She didn't believe me.

We were both a little shy upon entering. I thought Oakley would do well, based on her experience at her kennel, but I wasn't sure. And while I knew she performed her recall perfectly in class, she wasn't always interested in coming in from her backyard. How would she respond when given a big lot to roam?

One of the regulars greeted us, and made us feel at home. Oakley hung around me for a few minutes, but then got over her shyness. She did a trot around the center circle of trees, looking like a dog show champion. Then the fun really started.

She ran with the other dogs and chased a frisbee with them. She greeted newcomers at the gate. She raced another dog with third dog, a hound, baying a running play by play behind them. It brought me such joy to see her so completely be a dog, and a happy one at that.

Like moms at the park, I hung out around the picnic tables and talked with other owners, keeping half an eye on my "kid."Evidently I got distracted for a moment. I heard someone exclaim, "That dog just did a belly flop into the mud puddle." I saw a brown dog streaking through the grass, and wondered whose dog it was.

Then I realized it was mine. My tan and white dog was now a muddy brown all over... except for the great big grin on her face. Then she ecstatically rolled in the dirt.

Once we were home, it took two baths to get her clean, followed by a thorough cleaning of my tub. But her joy was so infectious I couldn't really be upset. We'll be back to the dog park, and hopefully soon. But this time, I'll watch out for the puddles!

This might be the one

She was working the booth across from mine, with beautiful Siberian Huskies serving as very effective attention getters. On the last afternoon I chatted with her as I enjoyed the company of an extremely sweet and loving husky. She told me that she'd gotten into fostering rescues after the death of her own beloved dog. The house didn't seem right without a dog , but her hurting heart wasn't quite ready to form a lifetime bond with another dog quite yet.

This dog was one in a line of several fosters with whom she's shared her home. "This one's special," she said. "there's just something about her." She stroked the dog's head, smiling mostly to herself. "I think this might be the one we keep."

Animals heal us in many ways. Sometimes it's the pet who wriggles their way into our hearts, teaching us how to love and to care again, teaching us that not only can we love again (or for the first time), but we are worthy and capable of receiving love. Sometimes they heal by their steady presence when the rest of our lives is in upheaval. And sometimes they help us heal by nudging us back to life.

Sometimes people who are grieving the loss of a pet volunteer at a shelter or for a rescue group. It's a way of keeping a connection until they are ready to open their homes again.

Why don't you help the people?

I've just finished up two days of exhibiting at the Denver Family Pet Expo. While the days were long, it was fun to see lots of dogs and cats and to meet the people who care about them.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be sharing some stories from the expos along with some pictures... including pictures of dogs and kitten available for adoption!

One of the women I talked with has invested a lot of her time and energy into dog rescue. She said that occasionally people say to her, "Why don't you help people?" Her answer always is, "But I do." She brings joy to the lives of families when they adopt just the perfect family dog from her. She works a lot with senior adult adoptions, both for seniors still living at home and for assisted living centers and nursing homes. She knows how much love and life those animals bring to the lives of those seniors, and she's careful to place dogs that have the right size and temperament for older adults.

I truly believe that we all have our callings, those passions that pull at out hearts. I have so many things that I love and causes that I believe are truly important. However, I only have a limited amount of time, energy and money. So, I have to find the ones that has my name on it.

For my friend at the expo, it was rescuing abused and abandoned dogs, and finding them good homes. For you, it may be building houses through Habitat for Humanity. A couple I know, whose children are long grown, are passionate about the welfare of all of the children in the schools in their city.

The beauty of this life is that if we all are faithful to those callings in our own lives, there will be more than enough hands and hearts to embrace the multitude of needs in this world.

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

Just in case you were wondering about the scientific aspect of cat ownership, check out this link:
An Engineer's guide to Cats

Caution: If viewing at work, be prepared to have to try to stifle a few chuckles and perhaps a laugh or two!

Andy's Garden

One of the things that I often suggest to people who are grieving the loss of a pet is that they create some kind of memorial as a way of remembering that pet. There's something about having work to do that helps our grief flow through our fingertips. For those of us who love digging in the dirt, there's something healing and therapeutic about that connection with earth. A garden is a lovely way to remember a pet, for the life of the pet is celebrated with the living-ness of the plants and flowers that grow.

My friends David and Teresa have just lost their beautiful white cat, Andy. Here you can read about Andy's memorial garden.

Got an event?

It's both good and bad news. Animal rescue groups and humane societies have to get creative to find ways to raise money for their work. The bad news is that they don't have an easy and unlimited stream of money for their important work.



The good news is that the fund raising events that they create can be lots of fun for us!



I'd like to help spread the word. So, if your animal rescue group or humane society has an event coming up, just let me know, and I'll be glad to give you a plug on this blog. You can e-mail me at peggy@petcaring.com.