Auld lang syne January 7, 2012
Posted by Daisy Doolittle in Treeing walker coonhounds.Tags: Boston, Boston Common, coonhounds, New England, shelter dogs, Treeing walker coonhounds
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Long, long, ago I was a shelter dog, unwanted, living in a kennel. Having seen my puppies taken away from me, I never thought my life would be anything but misery. Then I was transported from Virginia to Massachusetts, where I waited in a no-kill shelter for six months. On September 13, 2009, I was adopted. My life since has been a wonderful whirlwind – a rags to riches story – I never would have imagined!
On New Year’s Day, my people and I were walking around Boston, (I was gathering material for my new gig as a travel writer for The Anipal Times), and reminiscing about the first time we came to Boston on New Year’s Day. It was January 1, 2010, snowy and cold. Boston was new and exciting. I gladly posed in front of the State House, proud to be a new Massachusetts resident. I thought that trip would be a novelty – little did I know my people believe in cultural enrichment – so I have been to some amazing places since! I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I have been and done things some people would only dream of. Yes, I’ve come a long way!
At least my people thought I’d come a long way – then last night they caught me. Now I’m not perfect – I like shredding my toys, digging in the garden, and pouncing on the occasional four-legged creature who might be crazy enough to wander into my yard. My people know about these “behavioral issues”. They took me to a trainer who suggested they give me treats to overcome these “issues” (I can’t thank her enough – YUM!!). But canines will be canines – and that my furriends is why what happened last night should not come as a surprise.
I am an only child. The benefit of that is that I have no bedtime competition. Being short-furred, I get cold so I appreciate being able to sleep under the blankets with my people. Unfortunately though, middle-aged humans are subject to having heat waves. There have been times when I have feared they would spontaneously combust, burn up the bed, and fry me alive. It’s frightening. I’ve had to learn to get out of bed and save myself. Last night was such a night. It was 3am. I was forced to jump out of bed. I was hot – burning up I was sure! That’s when I decided I needed a refreshing beverage. I walked towards my water bowl – then changed my mind.
What happened next involved a “DAISY! GET OUT OF THERE!!” And a “YOU ARE NOT KISSING ME - GET OUTTA THIS BED!” I have to admit, I never thought humans would get so upset about their canine taking a drink out of the toilet. I thought they would be proud that I thought to use this cold water resource. I mean the water is just sitting – someone should use it! I thought I was showing independence and initiative. I had been practicing too!
Humans do not appreciate the skills needed to flawlessly grab a cold one. Our commode is tall – my people say it’s handicapped – and I can understand why! To get a drink you have to but your paws on the seat, being very careful not to slip and get a face dunk. It is a challenge – especially since I do not like wet! I am proud that I was able to pull off the manuever. My people however, don’t feel the same way. “Daisy”, they said, “you’ve got a long way to go”. I suppose I do – I haven’t even tried counter-surfing yet! 2012 here I come!
Happy New Year Friends!
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My Christmas Forest Walk December 26, 2011
Posted by Daisy Doolittle in Treeing walker coonhounds.Tags: coonhounds, dogs, rescue dogs, shelter dogs, Treeing walker coonhounds, wildlife, woodland creatures
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On Christmas morning, my person has a tradition of taking me for a long walk in the forest behind our house. Now some skeptics are going to think it’s because my person wants to tire me out – a tired dog is a good dog and all of that. I’ll admit, I was bubbling with Christmas excitement but I would have been much happier cuddling under the blankets for another hour (walking in subfreezing temperatures does nothing for me!) But my person wanted to go for a walk and it was Christmas after all – it’s the least I could do.
I enjoy our Christmas walks. I think it’s because there is just something magical about just the two of us on a quiet, romp with not a creature stirring – no other people, no other canines. Of course, I try to sniff out the woodland creatures to wish them a Merry Christmas, but I never have any luck. In fact, I look for the woodland creatures every time we go for a walk, but I never see any sign of them. My person swears that they are there, that my problem is that I just don’t believe, and that’s why I can’t see them. I should be able to smell a woodland fairy, right? See some visual evidence that they exist? Nothing. Ever.
Our Sunday, my person took me on a trail I had not been on in a while. It was exciting, especially when I saw a tree that had been freshly gnawed by a beaver. I was just about to step into the water to wish the beaver a Merry Christmas, when my person yanked me up the hill and told me I had to see something. What could be more exciting than a beaver? But it was Christmas, so I gave in to humor my person. That’s when I saw it. My person didn’t need to tell me what it was – I knew! A Fairy Christmas tree – right in the middle of my forest!! It was beautiful! I looked around for the fairies or the other woodland creatures, but it appeared we were all alone. My person said we really weren’t – that even when we think we are alone, there is always someone who will keep us in their heart and watch out for us. I thought about that for the rest of our walk. When we were just about to leave the woods, it suddenly hit me: we all have fairy power! When we help one another, even if it’s keeping someone in our pawcircle, they are not alone and we are not alone. When we keep anipals and their people in our hearts, than magical things can happen. And finally I realized, when we love our people and they love us there is no chewy or squeaker toy that can match that gift. Santa, please note: I really love my new hedgehog squeaky toy and the rawhide chews and the new squeaky donkey, and the new…well I’m sure he gets the point.
