BEST FRIENDS

QUOTE OF THE DAY:  "One dog barks at something, the rest bark at him."  Chinese Proverb

THIS IS:  Responsible Pet Owner's Month

I can't complain.  Mom and dad are really good to me.  I get meals and treats, and lots of hugs and kisses.  They make sure I get plenty of exercise and fresh air every day.  Like clockwork, mom takes me on a morning walk...no matter what the weather.

On cold, wintry mornings, well, cold by Floridian standards, mom dons a warm jacket, a scarf, gloves, and...sandals.  Yes, sandals.  We are, after all, in Florida.  Her toes may get cold, but, as mom says, at least she's "not trudging through snow"...whatever that is.  All I know is that mom and dad hate the snow, sleet, and slush.  So I'm glad she doesn't have to trudge through snow.

Mom and dad also make sure I get the right food for a healthy and strong body.  I also get plenty of treats!

But sometimes mom and dad go away, and they need to take me to day care.  They do this sometimes when they go to one of those theme parks that have all the stuffed Mickey toys that don't squeak.

I heard mom tell dad one day that they only allow service animals in the parks.  Mom told me that if I wasn't so excitable, she'd put me in a harness and pretend I was a service dog in training so I could go with them.

Mom trained me to heel while wearing a harness, and  I learned quickly how to walk properly on a leash.  I remember wiggling all over the place trying to avoid that harness.  I really hated it.  I think it's best I don't go with them to theme parks.  Even I know that just wouldn't work.

So when mom and dad think I need doggie day care, they take me to Best Friends Pet Care.  It's a fun place to go, and they have all sorts of activities.  Of course my favorite is group play.  I love playing chase with the other canines.

Recently, though, I had to spend the night there.  The accommodations were nice, and I was well-cared for.  I was just a tiny bit worried, though, that mom and dad might not come back for me since a few other owners left me at the SPCA and didn't come back.  But then I remembered that mom and dad came back for me other times.  I just knew they'd come back for me again.

I wasn't disappointed.  When the counselor came back to my cage with leash in hand, I knew mom and dad were waiting out front for me.  I practically dragged the nice girl down the hall in an effort to get to them faster.  When I saw mom and dad, I wagged my tail so hard mom almost fell over.  I even licked mom's make-up right off her face.  She gave me hugs and kisses, and I was jumping all over her.

On the drive home, mom read off my report card that Best Friends had given her.  It told mom and dad that I ate all my food, and that I "enjoyed the outdoors and the beautiful weather."  And, I was feeling pretty proud when mom read to dad that my personality was "happy, friendly, and energetic."

But after reading to dad that my favorite activities were "wrestling with my friends" and that I liked to "cuddle with my counselor", mom became a little sad.

When dad asked why she was sad when I obviously had a good time, she said, "Daisy didn't miss us."

"Of course she did," dad said.  "Why do you think that?"

"Because there wasn't a check mark on the report card where it said that I 'enjoyed myself, but missed you.'"

I snuggled up to mom, gave her a bunch more kisses and wagged my tail wildly to show her how much I missed her.  Mom smiled and petted me.  I think she understood.

But I gotta admit, I really had a lot of fun at the kennel, too!

Daisy Dog Blog is written bi-weekly, with a new post entered every other Wednesday.  If you would like to subscribe so you don't miss a posting, please send an e-mail to daisydog1@cfl.rr.com with "subscribe" in the subject box.  Ditto to "unsubscribe."

Next entry:  2/22/2012

e-mail:  daisydog1@cfl.rr.com
Copyright 2012