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!

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.

When it was my turn, Santa grabbed me and put me on his lap. I thought he was going to strangle me again, but instead he just asked what I wanted for Christmas. I told him I thought our family could use a bigger bed, a sisfur, and a home for all the animals living in the shelter. Santa told me that he thought that was a tall order. I thought about it for a second, then I told him that maybe it would be a good Christmas if all the animals living inshelters had toys! Santa told me he had heard that request before (SantaPawsDrive) and thought it was a great idea! So I decided that maybe I could get Santa to support some other animal causes I like. I made him a list. I thought I’d share it with everyone in the hopes that maybe there are other hairy fairies who grant wishes for Christmas. I sure hope so!

Lowell Humane Society

Lowell Unleashed

Hudson Dog Park

Friends for Tomorrow

Pets for Vets  (great cause for our returning vets!)

MSPCA at Nevin’s Farm

Saturday morning we woke up and decided to go for a long walk. We went to this park in Hudson, NH called Benson’s. I didn’t think it had been that long since we’d last been there but things had changed! I was amazed at all the new things I saw. I found this waterfall – which was a good thing since it was unseasonably hot and I was thirsty. I sniffed around the water’s edge, following a trail to an unusual tree. I was pretty sure that it was the hideout out of a rogue chipmunk I was tracking, so I had my person lift me up so I could take a look inside. I was shocked at what I discovered – nothing! NOTHING was in the tree! No chipmunk, no squirrel – just a hole where a tree should have been! I was stunned! I was confused!! I wondered: is it possible to discover nothing? Is nothing something? If you find nothing, does that count as finding something? Oh, my poor puppy brain! I hate puzzling things out!

We decided to walk some more and found that they had built a beautiful memorial to the 9/11 victims. My person took my picture in front of the memorial, which includes an actual piece of steel from the World Trade Center. I can’t believe I was actually able to sniff a piece of the towers – it was so big and cold. I felt so small next to it. I said a quick prayer for K9 Sirius who was an officer with the Port Authority Police in the towers that day. I bet he never had to figure out how Columbus discovered America – he just did his job like a brave canine! I wish I could be smart and brave like Officer Sirius!

My people realized that I was starting to get tired, so we went home after that. It had been a long walk and I admit I am getting a bit paunchy in middle age (I’m 4 after all!) I hadn’t realized that I had gotten dirty on our walk but apparently, when you walk in the woods and through mud it doesn’t all come off on the car seats on the way home. That’s when I discovered the terrible truth: people have mud aversion! The next thing I knew I was being thrown into the bathtub, shampooed and conditioned! I came out wet and smelling like lavender – which my people swore would relax and sooth me! I hadn’t realized I needed to be soothed and I would have relaxed if they had allowed me on their bed so I could nap! When they finally left me alone (sometime around Monday) – I fell asleep only to wake up with the answer to my Columbus question!

I realized that Columbus found all the wonderful things that were here already, but that didn’t make it any less of a discovery! It was just a discovery to him and all the other people who didn’t know about it yet. Just like I’m sure that other canines may had found the great things I discovered this weekend, it doesn’t mean they weren’t great discoveries to me! We should try to discover something new and wonderful everyday! Yes, everyday should be a Columbus day! I’m glad that people don’t have three days holidays everytime they discover something though – these three days holidays are non-stop exhausting!

This walk, was held in Lowell (which is a big city of 100,000 or so people) – on part of the campus of the University of Massachusetts. Unlike the MSPCA Walk for Animals, it lacked any turkey or porcine intruders which my people thought was a good thing. We didn’t even run into any university party animals, but the walk started at noon, so it was probably too early for them to be staggering about. Now I know you are probably thinking that without a major security incident that I couldn’t possibly have had a good time – but that wouldn’t be true. I had a pawsome time!

I met some wonderful canines and their people today! We walked along the banks of the Merrimack River as a pack, while watching a huge Regatta gathered on the other side. Crew teams were in boats on the river – which seems very dangerous to me given the risk of getting wet. I stayed on the pathways – I for one do not like WET! Apparently none of the other canines did either since no one attempted to join the crew teams – but then I don’t recall seeing any retrievers (those crazy dogs will jump into anything for a tennis ball!). Every canine at the walk was given a beautiful orange bandana to wear, so in a way we were all showing those crew teams that we had team unity and spirit too – even if we chose to keep our paws on terra firma! Frankly, I think I look dashing in my bandana and plan on wearing it on Halloween. It’s sophisticated, yet understated I think. Not frightening, yet festive…but enough of my good fashion sense.

The best part of Steps for Pets was that it featured free samples everywhere! Some I took home to try at a later date, but some I tried right at the walk. I sampled something called a Thanksgiving dinner – it was fabulous! My people said it was a speciality food which was expensive. Of course, I immediately vowed that I would have to be up extra early every morning to wake my person up for work so that they could earn enough to buy me the good stuff. I also made a note to myself about talking my other person out of retirement – it’s clear we need two people working in order for me to have the high quality diet I need and deserve! I never realized that they had been slacking off giving me kibble when I could have been having chicken and turkey everyday! Who knew?! These charity walks can be very educational.

But my people don’t bring me to charity walks so that I can see what I don’t have – they bring me so I can see how much I do have. I have a loving family, a warm house, a big yard and plenty of food. I get cuddles, hugs and kisses on my nose. I get cheese and belly rubs when I visit grandma & grandpa. I have a blog, Facebook page and a Twitter account. I have people who stop me on my walks just so they can say hello. I was a lonely, scared shelter dog once – a throw away canine – waiting, hoping to be loved. Now I walk for those canines still in shelters. I walk to give them hope.

Anyway, fall is finally here which means more outings with my people! Hooray!!! Last weekend, we went to Hollis, NH for a nature walk. Now that the air is cool and crisp, the scents from all the forest life are just amazing! People don’t realize that coonhounds need optimum conditions for proper olfactory tracking and identification (that’s a fancy way of saying things smell better in cool weather). Proper smelling is an art form! For example, because the conditions were ideal, I was able to track and identify a giant larval lepidoptera.

 Thankfully, my person had the camera and was able to snap a quick photo of me and my prey. The thing was enormous! I’m pretty sure if I had not tracked it to a corn field, it would have eaten all the small children who were gathered for a harvest festival! Imagine how awful that would have been: this giant beast crawling out of the forest ready to devour small children in a single gulp! The screams of parents as they realize their children are being wrapped in a cocoon and won’t emerge again until spring! Think how those parents would feel as the realization hits: they are free for the next 7 months!

No, I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t act! So I looked that giant larval lepidoptera right in the eye – (okay, so my person picked me up so I could stand on a hay bale…it’s not my fault I’m short) – and I said to that giant beast, ”Hi, nice day, eh? Tell you what, I if you promise not to eat anyone I’ll let you go free.” The Green Giant agreed with little discussion. We shook on it (I didn’t know which leg to shake so I shook them all – I didn’t want any sneaky caterpillar tricks!)

I expected to hear cheers from the gathering crowd, as they realized that I had saved the day, but I suspect they were all still in shock. That’s okay though, I don’t always need outside acknowledgement. I know how my powerful nose and golden heart saved the lives of those children. I know I’m a canine hero! I just thank dog that we were there that day. I just thank dog for fall!

We arrived at the farm early to register for our walk and visit the vendors before the crowds arrived. I was already excited (okay so I whined most of the way to Newbury!) but I couldn’t believe my eyes when we got to the farm – my people trainer parked right next to us – I was ecstatic! I haven’t seen Melissa since she taught my people to give me chicken when we go for walks! I could tell this day was going to be eventful! I had no idea how eventful!

No sooner had we registered for the walk, did I spot a non-canine intruder! Strutting like it owned the farm, a turkey was stalking not 25′ away! I sounded the alarm! In the loudest “AAAARRRoooo” I could muster (it was early after all), I let the MSPCA organizers know that a turkey was invading (who knows how many more could be lurking!). I could not let this bird just invade our turf! Organizers came running from every direction! My people tried to turn me away (I assume they were afraid for my safety). But how could I just tuck tail and run? I had to keep my eye on the fowl! It was my canine duty! Finally, the turkey dropped out of sight and I could calm down – but I knew I would have to be on guard for the rest of the walk!

My people thought going for a pawdicure and a massage would help relax me, (afterall this was suppose to be a relaxing event) so we walked down a path to those vendors. I got my nails cut, was given a patriotic Sept. 11th ribbon for my collar and received a wonderful massage. The people from Wash N’ Wags and Good Dog were wonderful – I can’t thank them enough! But just as I was enjoying the last of my massage, a woman walked by with the biggest dog I’ve ever seen! This thing was huge! I immediately just started kissing it on the lips (sometimes submission is the safest course of action). Then I heard my person say something about a pony. What?!? Where?!? Was this a joke? It turned out what I thought was the largest Great Dane ever was a black pony. I had equine germs all over my face! Who knows where that face had been?! YUCK!

How embarrassing! How humiliating! OMD! If my Twitter friends ever found out I’d be the laughing-stock of the Twitterverse! I knew at that moment that I had to do something dog-ish to redeem myself. In my moment of weakness, I agreed to try the agility course that was set up. Everyone knows hounds are fiercely independent (my people say stubborn). We sniff and hunt – we do not jump through hoops or lower ourselves to run through basic obstacle courses unless there is a squirrel we happen to be chasing. But I had to do something! I had to save face! I’m so happy I did! The woman running the agility course was loaded with hot dogs! My people had failed to bring along a snack for me, so by this time I was starving! I would have done almost anything for a piece of chicken or a hot dog – a dog biscuit even! I have to admit it was fun (all except the tunnel which had spiders in it – I don’t like spiders so I didn’t go in). By the time I finished, it was time to line up to start the walk part of the event.

The Walk part is where we all line up, then when a person says go, we get to walk around as a big pack! It’s pawsome! But this year as we were lining up, I noticed a ‘different’ type of canine in the mix. I gave it a good sniff (I wasn’t going to make the mistake of kissing another non-canine!). That’s when I realized that the ‘thing’ with the harness and leash was NOT a canine but 100% porcine! It was ham on a stick! Walking protein! OMD! LUNCH!!! I was starving! I started to howl! I AAAAARRRRoooooo’d as loud as I could to let everyone know we were having the other white meat (my people said I was rude since I did it in the middle of the 9/11 moment of silence) – but when lunch is needing to be served it is bad canine etiquette not to let the others in the pack know you found dinner! My AARRoooo-ing announcement started a chain reaction of barking and howling as the word was spread about the canine lunch menu. My people were embarrassed. You would think they would have been beaming with pride! You think they would have been moving me to the front of the Walk line. But no, they dragged me to the back of the line claiming I was over stimulated!

We did the walk with the rest of the canines – me somewhere in the back of the pack. We did not stick around long after (my people said we were NOT eating the pig), so I didn’t see much point in sticking around. We drove to the beach for a long walk (my people said they needed to de-compress). I have to admit it was a beautiful way to end my charity work for the day. Looking out over the ocean, you think of all the animals and their people and how lucky we are to have each other. 

     I know I have been bad about writing lately. Truth is, I have been engaged in some very important work. I’m not a hound who usually likes to howl about the good things I do, but I thought it may be time to inspire other canines to get off their couches and sink their teeth into doing good!

    One of the things I’ve been doing is helping other anipals and their people on Twitter, who do fantastic charity work through the social media site. Recently I became an Officer doing security at Pawpawties which raise money for animal charities all over the world! Sure I have fun – but I also feel like I’m a part of a great cause! I’m very proud of my furriends who have raised thousands of dollars for animal shelters, animals in natural disasters and for those animals & their people who have been struggling during these difficult economic times. High Paw to them all!

   Probably the most important thing I’ve been doing however, involves making my grandpeople smile. My granddad has had cancer for 8 years. He was recently told that his lungs are now full of cancer (he had colon cancer that spread). When I heard the news, I knew that I had an even more important job to do! So I have been visiting at least 2-3 times a week or more since my grandpa went into hospice. My grandpeople love me! My grandma like to feed me cheese, but to see the smile on her face as she’s doing it makes the cheese taste like the most delicious thing ever! They get all excited when they see me come in the door and sometimes forget to even say hello to my person! It’s okay though ’cause my person – their daughter- knows that I’m along to work my ‘happy magic’. In fact, my ‘happy magic’ has been working so well that granddad is doing fantastic!  Of course, I also have to give credit to my furriends & their people on Twitter who have kept my granddad in their pawprayers and pawcircle. They have been wonderful and their pawprayers have been so appreciated!

   Anyway, one evening my person took me for a walk along the river. I needed to get out of the house and it was cool along the river walk. When we got to a certain spot, there were these fairy wings lying on the ground. I looked all around, but didn’t see the fairy they belonged to. I assumed the fairy was probably taking a quick dip in the water. I didn’t think she would mind it I just tried on the magical wings (I also hoped it would give me even more happy magic!) I think it worked! I saw a man when I was trying on the wings and he was just smiling ear to ear. You could tell the happy magic was infecting him! I think I was suppose to find those special fairy wings (they matched my collar and everything!) Truthfully, I think I was meant to make people happy – and now that I’ve been with my people I couldn’t be happier! Yup, being happy is definitely magical!

Okay, I admit, sometimes when I don’t get what I want right away I whine – a lot. It drives my people crazy, especially when I do it in the car in their ears (but I figure one of my people is hard of hearing so whining in her ear is just courteous otherwise she wouldn’t hear me). So when I realized we were going for a ride and not my regular neighborhood walk, I whined. And whined. And whined. Finally my person said loudly something to the effect of “ENOUGH” and pulled into a driveway. 

Frankly, I didn’t know where we were, but I couldn’t believe my eyes when I looked around – we were at a new dog park! It was pawsome! I met two other coonhounds and some other very nice canines. My people told me it was the Lowell dog park and we were near my grandpeople (who apparently we were on our way to visit before the detour). But what a great, unexpected detour! By the time we resumed our journey to visit my grandpeople, I was thirsty, tired and very happy!

My grandperson gave me some water and cheese (she spoils me – but we both like it). My people talked while I rested. We had a very nice visit – but I just really wanted to be outside in the sunshine. So I politely paced. Sat. Then paced some more until my people finally got the message that the cheese and the visit were over. In the car they told me that the exploring and visiting wasn’t over – (they thought I had been a little rude) and boy they weren’t kidding!

They walked my paws off in this park in Hudson, NH called Benson’s. I guess it use to be an animal park where poor, exotic animals were on display in small cages. My person had been to the park once on a 1st grade field trip. She said she only remembers a gorilla in the small cage that sucked water off the floor and spit. I guess if I lived on display I’d be spitting mad too! Anyway, they took me to a house that still remains in the park. They said an old woman with lots of kids lived in it and we were going to visit. I was amazed! It was a very small house. We knocked, but thankfully no one was home. I peeked in the windows – there was a chair but not even a sofa! I hope she didn’t have canines, I know I couldn’t imagine living in a house without a sofa! I guess I’m lucky to live in the nice house that I do. I have a bed, my people’s bed, a sofa – so much comfort! I have people and grandpeople who love me – I’m really so lucky!! Maybe, that’s the message my people were trying to send me: Enough.When you are a blessed hound, as I am, you really have nothing to be whining about. Of course they’re right, I definitely have more than enough.

This picture, they told me, is the Goddess of Spring. I suspect her hair is a bit off balanced because my people snapped the photo as she was just getting out of bed. I’m sure being photographed with ‘bed head’ has not made her want to halt winter anytime soon – after all Goddesses are very particular about their hair (and she doesn’t even look like she’s had her morning coffee yet!) My people claimed she was not upset but this week it’s been 20 degrees, so you decide! Anyway, they said they spoke with her about needing spring because they wanted to do some gardening. GARDENING?! How about because relieving yourself in cold, snowy conditions is chilly? That’s when I realized my first mistake: I let my people talk to the Spring Goddess. I realized my second mistake when they showed me the next picture.

Apparently, my person decided to jump down a rabbit hole. Librarians do weird things, but this Alice in Wonderland/Incredible Shrinking Woman moment took even me off guard. It started to worry me where they had gone looking for spring. My person claimed that I was being an alarmist. Alarming is when you see a picture of your almost 6′ tall person in a chair and her feet can’t touch the floor! Alarming is when your person looks happy about that fact! Alarming is realizing you still don’t have spring!

Okay I admit, maybe I am getting hysterical. I mean after all the red-winged black birds are back and I have seen robins. Chipmunks have been running through the yard and most of the snow is gone. I suspect the Spring Goddess doesn’t like to be rushed – and that is perfectly okay (we don’t want to upset the Goddess!)

Still, my people claim to have seen a glimpse of it. But when I looked closely at this next picture, a glimpse is apparently all they saw due to the “Do Not Enter” sign at the bottom and the foliage lady blocking their way! My people get caught up in the big picture sometimes and miss the fine details. Sure spring is visible – from a distance! I don’t want a view into the distant future – I have needs – I need spring now! My people keep telling me that spring comes a little bit everyday. I guess maybe they’re right. So today I sat by the fence facing our shed. I’m waiting for Mrs. Marmot and her kids. I hope it gets warm soon – I’ve missed seeing my groundhog furriends!