Wildlife in the City

Leonard,
great shot! Foraging into the wilds to get these types of shots must be exhausting . BTW, how was the lecture?

Jim

Leonard:

I love it!! Really cute the way he's hanging over the rim looking inside the cup. Great timing.

BTW, if you link to the image on your photo-sharing account, you don't necessarily need to upload it to NWP's server.

Jim

Thanks guys! Here's a more "normal" shot of the little raider:



Jim Garvie: "How was the lecture?" It was a combination of high interest and schmaltz. I was much more interested in how the specially trained therapy dogs help out the disabled -- especially wounded military -- than I was in the show dogs. Personally I can't stand to see animals gussied up with ribbons and hairdos and combed trimmed fur, and bred into strange shapes and sizes. I like 'em natural, where dogs look like dogs and cats look like cats (and squirrels look like squirrels)!

Leonard

Jim said: "Mostly, I was interested in whether they distinguished between Service Dogs (who help the disabled) and Therapy Dogs that entertain and bring love and companionship to adults and children in need."

The talk was divided into two subjects: show dogs and both therapy and service dogs. He had a PowerPoint presentation that mixed them together, which did proper service, really, to neither subject. Be that as it may, I was VERY impressed by both the service and therapy dogs. The rest was of the "pink tutu" variety (oh lord)...

Leonard

Leonard,
seeing Sundance -- all 135 lbs of him -- in a pick tutu makes people smile. And that's the objective. By himself, Sundance is a very imposing animal. But bows and other "costumes" soften him to the point where people are willing to touch him. And that's where the "therapy" in Therapy Dogs comes in. Once you've hugged Sundance and had him lick your ears, you'll feel much better. About everything.

Therapy Dogs share their joy of life with people who may not have had much of that recently. They do it without prejudice. They do it for children in wheelchairs or in cancer wards and Alzheimers patients in Convalescent homes. They do it without feeling pity or being judgmental.

Of all of the things I've done with my dogs over the years, Therapy work is the most important and the most rewarding personally. I give thanks every day that I have dogs that can do it. For that, we have truly been blessed.

Jim

As I said, I am 110% admiring of therapy and service dogs and their trainers. They are indispensable. And I am aware that the dedication, loyalty and protection dogs show to their owners can be total and unconditional, something many humans can't achieve. This is what David Frei expounded upon in his talk. But pink tutus...

Leonard

Leonard,
I dare you to tell Sundance that he's a sissy for wearing a pink tuto . Only real men can wear pink and still be macho. Sundance can.

Jim