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BROWN: Two pooches — Double doody?
By LINDA BROWN, Hold Me Up A Little Longer, Lord
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A little more than a year ago, while we were eating breakfast one Saturday morning, a guy from Animal Haven in Merriam brought a homeless golden retriever onto the morning news.
His name was Einstein. In less than 36 hours, he was no longer homeless; he was living with the Big Guy and me.
This past Saturday, we again were eating breakfast and the same guy brought another homeless golden retriever onto the news.
Her name was Greta and, as far as I know, she’s still homeless.
But she won’t be for long if I check later this week and find out she’s still there.
At the thought of having two dogs in excess of 50 pounds each, I started making a pros and cons list.
Goldens shed like it’s their job. They wake up, they shake, and it snows blonde hair for 45 seconds.
I didn’t consider this necessarily a con. Since we already have one shedder, we’re already at war with dog hair. How much more could another dog shed?
Goldens also love to play. I figure if the grandpups can come down and play without too much havoc, surely the house can survive another 5-year-old. I mean, after all, Greta is 35 in human years. Not over-the-hill by any means but old enough to know when enough is enough.
What should also have been a con was the fact that two dogs seriously tie you down. Since we never leave town without taking Einstein with us or leaving him overnight at Summer and Jeremiah’s, what difference does another dog make?
I’m fully aware that two dogs will give backyard poop-patrol a whole new meaning. I researched online to see if there are any new products out there that could help the Big Guy with that less than pleasant weekly chore.
Well, aside from the obvious — with two dogs, I might actually have to help him, which isn’t going to happen.
I was delighted to discover a product called Poop-Freeze ( www.poop-freeze.com). It’s an aerosol spray that instantly hardens dog-doo into rock-doo and makes it easier to pick up.
Cool. If we get Greta, I’ll order a case and have it over-nighted; wouldn’t want the Big Guy to be daunted by that first two-dog poop-patrol.
Another thing that should have been a con was bath time. Einstein hates water. The Summer Olympics have nothing on us on bath day.
We twist, we contort, we have near misses in the water but we win. It’s not quite the same as the “Star Spangled Banner” playing in the background, but the sounds of our heavy breathing is rather satisfying.
Our past goldens loved water, so I’m thinking it’s a quirk in his personality.
I think Greta is going to like bath time. Maybe she’ll even teach Einstein to like it. If not, well, if you’re going to hogtie one golden you might just as well tie two.
The pro list grew faster than dandelions in April.
A friend would be good for Einstein. They could grow old together, kinda like the Big Guy and me.
It’s also a good way for the Big Guy and me to give back. We are truly blessed and if, by adopting Greta, we could allow Animal Haven to help another four-legged critter, then we should do it.
Greta deserves a better life. Trust me, there is no better life than to be a dog at the Brown’s house. I know humans who are hoping to be reincarnated as a homeless animal so they can be adopted by Linda and the Big Guy.
Oh, my. Is that whimpering I hear?
Hang on, Greta, Mama’s coming. Mama’s coming.
Linda Brown is marketing director for The Ottawa Herald. E-mail her at lbrown@ottawaherald.com.
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