Entries in the Category "skylar"
Daily Awwwwwww
Here's a lovely story that's unfolded over the past weekend. I go pretty regularly to this site called Tomato Nation, where (in addition to the cookie, candy and cereal rankings that drew me there in the first place) the sitemaster, Sarah Bunting, sometimes mobilizes her mass of readers to donate to charities or contribute to various efforts. A couple days ago someone wrote in asking for publicity for her friend, whose dog Zeus needed surgery to remove his poor diseased eyes. This friend of hers had started her own blog with a place for donations on it, but the money (the procedure was estimated in the 2K-range) was trickling in rather slowly.
So Sarah posted this letter with a link to Zeus's blog. Within ONE DAY the dog's surgery was paid for, and then some.
It really is amazing--the amazing feats of kindness that can be achieved via grassroots efforts like this one. The fact that it is all due to a blog (which have such reputations for self-centeredness). Also, the level of compassion that people feel for their pets. Just looking at Zeus's blog makes me want to race home and give my girl Skylar a hug. (Look at the picture on that last entry I linked to. We have that exact same orange ball, though lately Sky's been favoring a blue frisbee.) I want to contribute money to the SPCA or something.
All the more impressive because Bunting herself is a cat person. Click here for one of my favorite of her essays, about meows in translation. This is my favorite: "I ate a leaf and you said not to and I ate it and it tasted bad and now I'm angry."
(Skylar says: "What's this 'your bed too' nonsense?" Also, "Hope you're feeling better soon, Zeus. And give back my orange ball.")
Sky is hilarious
Sometimes my dog cracks me up. When she's been alone for awhile--while I'm at school or out running errands--she gets really excited to see me come home, and sometimes she channels this excitement into chewing on one of her toys. Thus, she'll often meet me at the door with a stuffed animal clutched between her teeth. (Or maybe I'm misinterpreting this; maybe it's actually an offer. "I'm so glad you came home! Here, have a frog!")
Anyway, I always let her outside to relieve herself after I've been gone for a few hours, and she usually she carries her friend outside with her. So today, I did not consider it unusual that when I got home from the grocery store, Skylar met me at the door with a little teddy bear dangling from her mouth.
Then she decided to do something new: she raced outside, trotted over to the grass, spit out the bear, turned herself around to look at me, and excitedly peed all over the bear.
If for no other reason than that they are sometimes so stupid, dogs are a joy forever.
Notes to Dog Owners
On behalf of Skylar.
To dog owners everywhere, but especially in my neighborhood:
- Yes, you have to pick up your dog’s poop. Don’t think that because I have a dog that I am secretly with you on this whole “leaving it there” thing. I walk these sidewalks and yards every single day. I don’t want to step in that pile any more than the nice person who lives in that house does. Don’t want to pay for poop bags? Use grocery bags. Don’t buy groceries? Who are you?
- Retractable leashes are stupid. They allow you basically no control over your dog. I’m talking especially to you, teenage girl from the other day whose collie raced into the road while you waited patiently on the curb. That’s because the dog pulled a bunch of extra leash out of that contraption in your hand. And what could you do when that happened? That’s right. Nothing.
- My dog will not give your dog smallpox. It’s OK for you to walk it over to mine and let the dogs say hello, rather than giving me that wide berth on the sidewalk. My dog will not fight yours; she is sweet and just wants to say hello. If you expect that your dog might try to fight mine, it should be trained to not do that. P.S., that is your responsibility.
- On a related note, “socialization,” i.e., regular exposure to other dogs, is healthy, normal, and widely recommended for your little princess there. Look into it.
- Training your dog in the basics is not that hard, and you should do it for the benefit of you, your dog, and anyone who comes in contact with you. Associate bad behaviors with bad results (saying “NO!” or “bad” in a harsh tone) and good behaviors with good results (petting, saying “good girl”). Also, learn the difference between a dog doing something bad, and a dog who is simply distracted. Nine times out of ten Skylar only does something bad because she is bored or being ignored. Saying “no!” and then demanding that she sit in front of me and shake hands pulls her right back out of it.
- “Controlling” your dog is not a bad thing. Neither is “leading” nor “bossing.” Dogs are pack animals and want to follow someone’s lead. If your dog is acting out, it might be because the dog senses that you are ineffectual. Dogs do not want to act independently, to be left alone, or to follow their bliss. The dog does not need to be prepared to someday leave the nest and fend for itself. You can and should tell it what to do.
- Having said that, dogs are neither our punching bags nor our home furnishings. They are living creatures and deserve respect, kindness, and attention.
Skylar thanks you for reading.
