Category: animal rescue

Shake, Rattle and Roll

Posted in animal rescue, California, caregiver, doctor, dogs, earthquake, fires, holidays, humor, Iowa, memoir, mudslides, nature, relationships, San Francisco, tornadoLeave a comment

(re-run in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Loma Prieta quake in 1989) Twenty earthquakes happened under my town yesterday. The biggest one was under the posh community of Diablo, three miles from here. They are calling it a swarm of quakes. The quakes are just big enough to get your attention or wake… Continue reading Shake, Rattle and Roll

How to Get your Dog to Come to You

Posted in animal rescue, animal training, California, commands, dog training, dogs, ex-husband, memoir, party, pet, praise, treatsLeave a comment

(re-run) On a recent meet-up hike, there were four small dogs with 15 or more people. One person was saying how hard it was to get his one-year-old dog to come to him. I remembered back to one of the many dog training sessions I’ve attended in my life – training Tess, the spaniel/heeler, Penny,… Continue reading How to Get your Dog to Come to You

Oopsy Daisy: Month 3 with the Rescue Dog

Posted in animal adoption, animal rescue, California, caregiver, dog training, dogs, humor, memoir, relationships, teacher, teachingLeave a comment

(re-run from 2018) Month number three with the rescue dog has revealed more reasons why she was surrendered. When it’s cold and rainy, Daisy prefers to pee indoors, especially in a dark room when no one is watching. Daisy is agile enough to jump on and walk across the table, as in, where we eat.… Continue reading Oopsy Daisy: Month 3 with the Rescue Dog

The Dogs Have Met their Match

Posted in animal rescue, animals, beach, best, California, Carmel, children, cleaning lady, dogs, humor, relationshipsLeave a comment

(re-run) When you are of a certain age, and your two young dogs wear you out on a regular basis, it can be a delight to have a ten-year-old girl for the weekend while her mom works for you. The dogs have finally met their match. The ten-year-old wakes up at dawn to go to… Continue reading The Dogs Have Met their Match

Must Love Dogs

Posted in animal adoption, animal rescue, beach, California, choke chain, dating, dogs, Golden Retriever, humor, ocean, relationshipsLeave a comment

(re-run) John had a date with a woman named Sally. She had just rescued a dog and called it Muffin. John wanted to go skim boarding at the beach, and he asked Sally to come with him. Of course she had to bring Muffin, her Golden Retriever. When they got to San Gregorio beach a… Continue reading Must Love Dogs

Daisy Strikes Again

Posted in alarm, animal adoption, animal rescue, bucket, cell phone, flashlight, fountain, hiking, humor, memoir, rats, relationships, sleepLeave a comment

(re-run) After a five mile hike, my legs ached, and I wanted to go to bed. I turned off the news at 10:15, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and then headed down the hall to the main bathroom with the doggy door. Both dogs were outside barking. I turned around and went to the… Continue reading Daisy Strikes Again

First Dog, Lost Dog

Posted in animal rescue, best, dogs, farm, high school, holidays, humor, memoir, Midwestern, Nebraska, Omaha, outdoors, puppy, relationships, roommate, small town, SPCA, student, teaching, worstLeave a comment

After moving to farm country to teach high school Spanish, I watched my roommate Kristy come home one day with a German Shephard puppy. “Meet Shane!” she said. She hadn’t asked me. She hadn’t asked the landlord. When she did ask him, his response was, “Not in the house.” Kristy made Shane a bed of… Continue reading First Dog, Lost Dog

Daisy in the Spotlight

Posted in Alpha, animal rescue, animal training, dogs, fences, gates, Jack Russell terrier, leash, memoir, reservoir, Roomba, seniors, tennis balls, veterinarianLeave a comment

(re-run) Daisy’s favorite spot at the beach house is on the back of the couch. From there she can see the squirrels taunting her from the trees outside the window. She can see part of the street where dog walkers go by every five minutes or so. Pepper has taken over the antique silk wing… Continue reading Daisy in the Spotlight

The Dog Whisperer

Posted in animal adoption, animal rescue, animal training, ball throwing, California, dog whisperer, dogs, fridge, HOA, leash, massage, memoir, pandemic, poop, ZoomLeave a comment

(re-run) My son moved in with me. He’s managed to get the super anxious, high-strung Jack Russell terrier to roll over onto her back when she sees him coming. She allows belly rubs to happen. This is huge. I’ve been massaging Daisy Dog ever since pandemic life went online with Zoom. She knows to sit… Continue reading The Dog Whisperer