A CHRISTMAS STORY
     
      This is from a column I wrote for the GRNews a couple of years ago, but it's a true story and I think it's still relevant.  I've tried to follow up on these pups but have had no success.  This happened right before Christmas in 2009.  The story began as many do these days,  with a request for help on one of my doggy email lists.  I’m quoting it verbatim with the author’s permission. 

 “Husband.... was at the farm today and found
 in the equipment shed, 2 very thin, cold, and 
frightened 

The puppies shortly after they were found

puppies - look to be
golden retrievers! It took a little convincing but they decided he
was a friend. So, he put them in a box and called me to bring a crate
and some food. Just what we need, now that we're taking care of my Mom's boston

terriers, as well as our shelties. Still, they are safely in her warm
basement, with water, and some food - we're afraid to feed too much at
a time as they are quite thin. Tomorrow, I'll take them to the vet
for a checkup, worming, shots, etc. 

They must have been "dumped" 

as there is no one nearby who has a golden.
We are calling them Merry and Chris. They are adorable!!!!
Still, what are we going to do with golden retriever puppies??
Any suggestions? ”

Interestingly enough, the puppies were given a clean bill of health by the vet, not even any parasites.  It makes us wonder where they came from and how they ended up in the shed.  No one was living on the property and there are no close neighbors.  We wondered, were they Christmas presents for someone who didn't work out, were they part of a litter that didn't get placed so were just let loose?  We sure wished they could talk and tell us how they got there.  Our weather had been extremely cold and icy, had they not ended up in the shed, I don’t think they would have survived.  

The woman who wrote about the pups has her own ideas as to what happened.  Again, I am quoting her post verbatim: “I like to think that someone got 2 golden retriever pups and something went wrong.  Maybe not a popular decision with the entire household or maybe the pups chewed something valuable.  Like you say, we will never know.  We've checked several times and found no signs of other pups - tho we can't be 100% certain that there weren't others somewhere.  It worries me to think of the coyotes in the area but then I think I would have seen some signs of a struggle - blood hair etc if the coyotes attacked.  I just don't know."  She goes on to say that this had been a very sad time for her as she had recently lost one of her old dogs and had been dealing with her mother's severe health issues and recent placement in a nursing home. She goes on to say that her husband felt that the pups were "....just the pick me up I needed at Christmas.  My priest believes dogs go to heaven.  I've read that maybe dogs come from heaven to aid us.  Silly, I guess.  But then how did those 2 pups appear in our shed?? “

 We will never know how the pups ended up on her property.  But, thanks to some intervention by my friend Sue and golden retriever rescue (www.GRRAND.org), the pups were adopted soon afterwards by a young couple in Nicholasville, KY. I’m hoping that they are having a nice, warm Christmas this year.

Happy holidays to all!

  

   

LET THERE BE LIGHT

       

    In my part of the world it's the time of year where we've got short days, long nights, and cold temperatures.  Since I'm often at work during the day, I’m outside with my dogs in the early mornings or the evenings.  I also run with my dogs a lot in the evening or very early morning.  Because of this, visibility is a major consideration, not only for me but also for the dogs.  Just the other night, I saw a man walking his dog, or rather I saw the man, then noticed his dog as I drove by. He had on a reflective vest and we very visible, the dog was wearing a traditional collar and lead, and in that dark stretch of road, I barely noticed the dog at all, and not until the car was almost up to them did I even notice the dog.  Now I'm a dog fanatic, and much more likely to notice a dog before I do a person but I barely saw the dog.  You may think that as long as someone can see you your dog is fine, but what would happen if your dog managed to get loose trying to chase a squirrel?  

Obviously, whether or not to go out and run or walk with your dog at night is a safety issue everyone needs to decide for themselves. But if you do,there are many products for you and your dog to wear while out in the dark.  Many running stores sell products for people and might sell a few things for the dog. One website I have found that specializes in lighted gear for dogs (as well as  having items for people and cyclists as well) is 
http://www.keepdoggiesafe.com/ .

  I use a reflective jacket and vest for myself when running at night, and  I make sure my dogs have reflective gear on as well. Hops has a reflective dog vest. I also have a reflective no-pull harness and leash, but I prefer lighted products when it’s really dark out. I use a blinking light collar and leash which are lightweight and put out a good amount of light. You can put the leash on a constant mode or a blinking mode, which is what I usually do. There are several different models of clip-on lights available and some work better than others; while I have a friend who uses a Puplight and likes it, when I tried it, it bounced around so  much  to the point  that it usually quit working after around 15 minutes.  If you have a lot of snow and ice, you have to be mindful of road salt and in that case  I’ll either leave the dogs at home or make sure to rinse their feet off frequently.  I always bring water with us, although there has been a time or two during a long run that we ended up with mostly ice and  scant water by the end of the run.  Of course it goes without saying that before you start an exercise program for yourself or your dogs, you need to start out slowly.  A check-up by your vet is a good idea also, and of course, your dog needs to be well trained. I’ve found that running with the dogs keeps them fit during the winter and they enjoy it. When with a group, I think the dogs look at it as running with a pack and they really like going along.  I’ve noticed that once you increase your mileage, the two of you get into a nice rhythm together.  It’s another way to bond, and it gets you out and active. It’s a way to keep your dogs fit during a time when you might not be able to train as much as you’d like.  So, get out there with your dogs this winter and you might both end up much more fit and trim when spring comes around.  

Old Dogs, Young Dogs, Dead Dogs All

A friend of mine said good-bye to her dog the other day.  Dice was a once-in-a lifetime dog, the dog with talent and personality and drive to spare.  If you live with dogs, chances are you are going to have the experience of watching them die. Some die suddenly, some slowly, but given their relatively short life spans, they all die too soon.  

Amber and I, Memphis 1985

So why do we keep subjecting ourselves to this heartbreak over and over again?  Granted, some people don't--I've had people tell me of having a dog as a pet and of being so upset after the pet died that they never wanted another one.  For me, as a dog lover, this just isn't a good solution.  Coming home to an empty house makes me feel, well, empty.  Every puppy is full of promise and hope. When you adopt an older dog, you know more about what you've got, but there's still that feeling of wondering what your lives will be like together.  My first golden retriever Amber died of cancer at 4. I always felt cheated. I never got the chance to see her grow old with me, she died at a time when she should have been at her prime.

Lacy on the Platform at the Parade

  I had another golden, Bleys, by that time,and  I didn't want another dog for quite a while. Then after a few months, I realized that the thought of NOT having one was worse, and that my other dog needed a companion, too.  I took the plunge and got another puppy only to spend almost 15 years with her before she, too, passed on.  At least she had a full doggy life; I showed Lacy to a point in conformation, she went all the way to a UD and had 2 UDX legs, she was a therapy dog, had the experience of giving birth, and two weeks before she died, she got all groomed up and became Queen for a Day at the Golden Retriever National Specialty in Monroe, OH, eating prime rib I slipped her under the table at dinner and thoroughly enjoying herself as the royal she was.

My friend Louise grooming Lacy 

We never know what life holds in store for any of us. I know this is not an original statement, but having dogs reminds us of the fragility of living things, and to remember  to focus in the present.   I've always loved how dogs live "in the moment" and can feel joy in their daily lives. I might not appreciate it all the time, as when they've rolled in something particularly dead and smelly, but their obvious pride still brings a smile to my face.   As they age, most of them (my dog Coach, excluded) seem to accept their physical limitations with a grace and dignity that I hope to be able to do half as well when my time comes.  They take much, but they give back as well. Being able to cooperate  and communicate with another species is a magical gift and one  I suspect they do much better from their end then we do from ours.  

After they are gone, we're left with some ribbons, memories, pictures, an empty collar.  Not much to show for a lifetime of experiences, but the internal essence of what they were and our relationship to them, while not visible from the outside, remains with us inside.  Our doggy friends sympathize, non-doggy people look bewildered and the more insensitive ones murmur "It's just a dog," or words to that effect.  Yes,it is just a dog, but to those who know, that in itself speaks volumes.  Just a dog....but one who was loved and knew it, that is our gift to them, and one the special ones give back to us.

Dicey Jane

Sunrise 8/19/02--S

unset 8/18/12