Loving your pets means taking good care of them
Summer is truly a great time of year, with tons of outside activities -- everything from taking walks to weekend barbecues.
One of my favorite things to do during summer is take my two dogs for a swim. They don't care where we go, as long as it's wet and fun. Heck, even if it's not fun for me, they'll make their own fun. All I need to do is throw whatever stick they bring me. Doesn't matter how far into the lake, river or creek I throw it, they always seem to bring it back. And when I get tired of throwing, they simply chase the waves as if somewhere along the shoreline they would be able to stop them from breaking.
I know they're having a terrific time because of the look, the look of happiness, known to all dog owners who see their best friends having a great time. Not to mention how they always seem to pass out when I get them home after an eventual hosing down in the backyard. That's how I know I did my job as their master and friend.
Now I'm not saying that I'm the world's best dog owner, though I strive to be. I, like many of you, have a very busy, active life and I actually have to schedule play time for my two buddies. I know this sounds ridiculous, but it's the truth. Like most of us, if I don't schedule play time, it simply doesn't get done. I like to think that it's the effort that counts and I know I'm doing my best at allowing for quality activity time.
The reward for me is seeing them sleep-running after a hard day's work of chasing down sticks and searching in vain for where that darn wave is going. Yes, I know they end up leaving a slight damp spot on the carpet, but I think it's a small price to pay for their happiness.
Last weekend I was leaving to take care of some errands. I did my usual pre-errand routine, put on my casual clothes and running shoes. I then noticed that the dogs started to get anxious. Of course, they usually do when they think we're going swimming! Unfortunately, I had to let their hopes down because I really needed to go grocery shopping and stop at a few other places for odds and ends. They were pretty disappointed and I heard them whining as I got to my car. It just tore me up, not to be able to take them swimming, but in fact, we were going swimming the next day so I didn't worry about it.
The first place I stopped was a Jewel. As I walked to the store, I couldn't help but notice that it was blistering hot outside. It had to be 98 degrees. Then I heard a faint bark from my left and saw a small terrier staring at me through the back of someone's car. I checked to see if the car was on and to my surprise, it wasn't.
Of course the owner left the windows down a whole 6 inches which, as we all know, is more then adequate for any dog being left in a broiling hot car on a blistering hot day -- NOT!
I gave the owner the benefit of the doubt and assumed that he ran in to grab something quick and would be out in a couple of minutes. I mean, what kind of dog owner doesn't know that on a hot day, the temperature in an enclosed car can begin to cause permanent brain damage in dogs in as little as five minutes? I continued with my shopping which took approximately 15-20 minutes.
To my utter shock, and not to my surprise, because I am acutely aware of animal cruelty, that little terrier was still there barking, but now, a little more slowly. So after I called the police, I couldn't help but think, "If you're not taking your dog/dogs swimming on a day like today, leave them at home!"
With that, I went home, hugged both my buddies, and reminded them that tomorrow we would be chasing waves.
Adoptable:
Lucy, a 2-year-old, 49-pound, female, lab mix, is very intelligent, loves to play and is very good in the house. Affectionate and loving, Lucy loves being around people. She needs a fenced yard and wants to be the only dog in your household.
Buddy adoption events will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 28, at PetsMart, 49 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights and at PetCo, 1018 Mount Prospect Plaza, Mount Prospect.
A Wine Tasting Party to benefit The Buddy Foundation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Aug. 8 at The Wine Cellar, 361 W. Northwest Highway, Palatine. Tickets are $50. Make checks payable to The Buddy Foundation and send, along with a S.E.S.E., to P.O. Box 334, Arlington Heights, IL 60006. Tickets will be returned by mail.