The morning at the Humane Society

Tonight’s entry is going to have to be a two parter: the morning and the afternoon were so different that to mix them would do them both a disservice. So there will be two different entries.

The morning started as all have on this trip: a run, a quick shower and breakfast, and then off to the Humane Society. This time however we had a much larger crew than normal and an extra job. We had decided to clean up the path and some of the debris on the golf course and path where the dogs are walked each day.

Why? Yes, in part because it would make the area look a bit better, which as discussed yesterday may have an amazing ripple effect in and of itself. However, this clean-up had another less philosophical purpose: the dogs walked over the land and, while unlikely, they could get injured on the debris, so a quick clean-up. And so, in spite of poor inept leadership (yes boys and girls, I was the group leader today), the dozen or so person work crew had the area not, great, but at least safe for our canine friends in about a little less than an hour. GREAT JOB EVERYONE!

It was then time to actually care for the animals. With such a large crew this was a treat. I love walking dogs, but walking dogs for four straight hours proves that you can have too much of a good thing. So today, was perfect. We walked dogs for about 45 minutes and then bathed some as well.

Today I only walked dogs that were either “special needs” dogs or in sick-bay. But that is ok since some of these dogs have become my favorites. There is the puppy who was found with a chain imbedded in his neck. No one knows for certain how long the pup had been loose (he broke the chain), but unless it was for weeks and weeks (it does not look like it), the former owners should be investigated for cruelty. But this black haired puppy with high white boots is just as playful as can be, prances on his walks, and absolutely loves any and all attention.

There is a Chihuahua that loves to walk and talk to every dog (big or small) he sees. Before meeting him, I never liked Chihuahuas (probably because of the Taco Bell ads and that they are associated with many “stars”) but he has changed that. Of course all of our cats are bigger than he is, but hey, he is still a nice dog.

And then there is the brown lab puppy that has the kind of dandruff that would make Head and Shoulders the hottest name in the industry. But who also has eyes that could melt the Gringe’s heart. He is on everyone’s top ten list.

After walking four of us stayed behind to give baths to four of the dogs. Unbeknownst to us bathers (or at least to this bather) while we were washing dogs, two others of our group were adopting dogs to take home.

All in all an amazingly productive morning.