Dog Fascist?

Are you a dog fascist? I am, according to Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, an anthropologist and dog expert. In her book, The Social Lives of Dogs, Thomas chronicles a fifteen year time period with four of her beloved canine friends. Thomas shares story after story about the many animals that live in her home. The main thrust being that, even with multiple dogs, they chose to reside in groups with a human rather than in a group with each other. Sundog, the stray she rescued from freezing to death, was her inspiration. Not a fan of telling her dogs how to be or act, Thomas allows them have their freedom on her country property. The only behaviors she trains them to obey are:

1. the meaning of "no"
2. to go to the bathroom outside
3. to come when called

The beautiful thing about this book is her genuine love for all animals. Thomas does her best to explain their thoughts and feelings in a smart, realistic manner, asking the reader to come along and believe she's a canine mind reader. As an anthopologist, who has lived all over the world, she comes off as unpretentious with her no nonsense writing.

So, why am I a dog fascist? Thomas believes that the American way of breeding, training and locking up our dogs is inhumane. Dogs know who they want to breed with. They know who they want to live with. They can learn to behave in public without humans freaking out and always having them on leashes. The mere fact that I have a pure bred dog makes me a dog fascist. But I'm okay with that. This book opened up another perspective on pet owning. Maybe one day I'll let Charlotte off her leash and run free in a field. But until that day, I think we're doing just fine. She gets more walks than any little dog of her size really needs.

Passive Aggressive

I talk for my dog. I admit it. She has a voice and sometimes says inapropriate things. I know parents who do this with their children too. But it's called to my attention that I can be passive aggressive through her.



Hey guys, I'd really like to go outside!

 For example, we'll be walking around the neighborhood and I'll see a neighbor out watering her plants. Not feeling the most talkative, I'll stop for a few minutes and then "Charlotte" will need to get back home to eat, or nap or lay around. Why can't I just say Ok, I need to get going. It's safer for my dog to need me to leave. It's more comfortable if I have an excuse. It keeps me from any awkward silences or misteps.

But the reality is that lawn watering lady doesn't care how long I stay and chat or if I just walk by and wave. My interaction with her is a much bigger deal in my head than in real life. I think I'll keep Charlotte's voice confined to the privacy of my home where Barry can laugh at her ridiculous antics.

A Girl and her Dog

Driving through Denver on our way to a movie screening, Barry and I saw a young woman cross the street with her small, black dog. Her clothes hung off of her tall, skinny frame. She held a cardboard sign that read: "Need dog food. Anything helps." I sat at the stop light watching this woman and her little dog scurry up capital hill, wondering how they ended up this way. Did she have family? Had she been kicked out or abandoned? Was this dog her only friend, the only thing in the world she had left to hang onto?

The light turned green and I cut across traffic to turn in her direction. I told Barry I wanted to help her. We drove around the corner and saw her walking up the street. I pulled over, rolled down my window and Barry handed her a bill. She looked at us and thanked us profusely. I think I said I had a little dog. I think Barry said God bless you. As we drove away I saw her look up to the sky and say "Thank God."

I don't know why I felt compelled to give something to this particular girl. I see homeless people all the time. But maybe this girl needed it the most. Maybe she was on the verge of complete hoplessness. But there was something about her and her tiny pup. We're all only a few bad circumstances away from being that girl. But for the grace of God go I.

My only regret is that I didn't ask for her name.

Shredding Paper

It's simple. Charlotte likes all kinds of paper. She will go out of her way to grab kleenex or paper towels. When I haven't seen her in a few minutes and the house is a little too quiet...this is usually what I find.



The Evidence





The Culprit



Shredding Kleenex



Doesn't Care that She's Caught



Something Old, Something New, Something Charlotte, Something Blue

Morning of the wedding
Evergreen, CO

After a year of planning, my sister married her dream guy. It was an epic wedding held in the lush landscape of Evergreen. A whole weekend full of family, friends, amazing food and some serious rain, this event will not be forgotten.

Originally, I had planned to bring Charlotte to Evergreen for the weekend. My parents rented a house on the property, right across from the venue. She'd be able to run around and go on walks. As the wedding drew closer, I second guessed my plan. There were no fences, what if she got out? What would she do during the wedding? Be stuck in her kennel?





Beautiful Bride



My mom, ever the one for advice, told me I'd have more fun without her. Afterall, my sister would only get married once and I didn't want to be distracted, did I? DID I? So I started to figure out a new plan. I called a couple doggie overnight care places to price them out. One of them offered phone calls so parents can talk to their pets. Oftentimes it's harder on the parents than the dog, or so I'm told. At that point, I lost it. Tears started streaming down my face and I just looked at Charlotte. I think I said something like "You don't even know why I'm crying. This is ridiculous." In her sweet Charlotte way, she looked at me and cocked her head back and forth.

 At that point, Barry came home and I had to tell him why I was so upset, reliving my humiliation. Leaving her with strangers, even if they were dog lovers/experts, was not what I wanted to do. Then my friend, D, called me and I told her the situation. "What? I'll take her for the weekend. Don't send her to a kennel." Relieved, I thanked her and the plan was in place. (Yay for sweet friends!)





Chillin' at D's house


I spent three nights up in Evergreen without wondering if Charlotte was okay. Friends I hadn't seen in years greeted me and then asked if Charlotte was around. They couldn't wait to meet her. Nope. That weekend was about my sister and starting a new life with her man. I wouldn't have missed a moment of that for anything.

The Reality of Evacuating your Pet

Two weeks ago, the Waldo Canyon Fire exploded over the Rampart Range ridge and started to eat its way down to the city of Colorado Springs. Before this unexpected tragedy, I had been following the fire news religiously. Evacuations had started and people were making their way to friends houses or to the local Red Cross Shelters. Those with pets had to take them to the humane society and weren't allowed to keep their furry family members with them. Since Charlotte is my first pet, I've never thought about what I would do in an emergency situation such as this. But the thought of dropping her off during a time of tragedy did not sit well with me. As the fire burned, other local shelters advertised that evacuees could bring their small animals with them. They talked about families needing to stick together, including pets. Anxiety can be high for dogs and cats and they want to stay with their humans. Charlotte can't even handle me walking out to the garage for 30 seconds, much less being dropped off and locked in her kennel for an unknown amount of days.



Don't leave me!

Thankfully,  the city of Colorado Springs is not being threatened by this fire anymore. While the damage to property is enourmous and heartbreaking, the loss of life was minimal by comparison. Over 100 pets were rescued and taken to the humane society and animals are still being reunited with their families. I have a new appreciation for those who would have taken all three of us in, had we been in an evacuation zone. But with a seven pound pup, I may have tried to sneak her in anyway.

For those of you would still like to help out the fire fighting effort in Colorado, check out http://www.wildfiretees.com/. This website is made up of local designers and marketers who are volunteering their time. All proceeds go to local organizations like Care & Share. You can also buy a t-shirt for a firefighter!

Fuzzy, Fuzzy Buns

Taking Charlotte to the groomer for the first time was a huge milestone for both of us. One of my friends interviews groomers before taking her Yorkie. She makes sure they understand her breed of dog, how to cut the hair of a small dog and even if they will express his anal gland. (eeewwwww!) If her groomer passes that test, then she is good enough for Charlotte.



Overtaken by Fur



I took Charlotte to meet Carla. Carla immediately fell in love with her. They got to know each other and I admired the two pups hanging out waiting for their moms. They were all cute, fluffy and clean. I left Charlotte and went to lunch.

Two hours later I got a call from Carla to come pick up Charlotte. Anxiously, I asked her how it went.

"Oh, she's such a good girl! I can tell you've been working with her." Wow, really? Maybe all of the training I was doing was actually making a difference.



Cute and Clean



I walked into the groomer's room to pick up my little girl and I barely recognized her. I could actually see her eyes. She looked like a little lady. She was even more beautiful and looked less puppy.

On the drive home she poked her head out the window and looked so happy. Then she peed on Barry's lap. Still a puppy afterall.