Merry Christmas!

The spirit of Christmas.

That is what someone called me last week.

What an honor!

As Christmas is just around the corner, this week I have to make sure my spirit is in top form.

That might mean extra kisses, more vigorous tail wags and an added bounce in my step.

And of course, my wardrobe, I can’t forget to wear my Santa hat and jingle bells so people can hear me coming.

Probably the most important part of the Christmas spirit are the things you can’t actually see.

Like a warm heart or that tingly feeling you get when you see someone special.

Or a touch from a special friend that seems to put your worries to rest and makes you feel as light as snow.

Next time I see you I hope that your heart tingles with joy!

Wishing you and your family all the joy and magic of the holiday season!

Oh, Christmas Tree

My family and I visited a Christmas tree farm this past Sunday.

It was one of those farms that you get to pick and cut down your own tree.

There were so many trees to choose from.

There were short little ones just my size and there were trees so tall they could fill a Christmas palace.

With so many trees to choose from, it was hard to select just the right one that would make our living room bright with Christmas cheer.

As I closely examined the trees I began to think about what qualities would characterize the perfect Christmas tree.

The list included things like bright twinkle lights, hand-made ornaments, candy canes and a beautiful star to top the tree.

I realized it didn’t really matter which tree we picked, because every Christmas tree needs love and it is what we bring to the tree that makes it festive!

Barketplace

While some shop at the market for gifts and goodies, I prefer to shop at Barketplace.

Barketplace is like a big candy store for dogs and dog lovers alike.

Before I shopped, I put some time in as a volunteer to help get the festivities underway.

I volunteered for the meet and greet committee.

Since I am a bit shorter than some (well, most) of the dogs that attended, I sat up on the table to greet each shopper with a smile and encouraged them to buy, buy, buy!

Although Barketplace was full of treats, toys, doggie clothes and cool leash sets, it was hard at times to find the perfect gift.

Should I buy my friends a bone or a chew toy?

The choices and pressure to find just the right gift can make your head spin.

As I took a moment to step away from my shopping frenzy, it hit me.

It is not necessarily the gift itself that matters, but it is the process of giving a gift to let someone know you care.

The act of giving is a gift in and of itself.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a time to share in turkey, pumpkin pie and thankfulness with friends and family.

It is a time to remember and appreciate all the blessings that surround us each and every day.

Sometimes it takes a holiday to make you sit back and take note of all the beauty that surrounds you.

For me, I am so thankful for my family who provide a loving and nurturing home.

I am thankful for my friends who come to play and wag their tails with me.

I am thankful for all the people I meet during my pet therapy rounds, especially the ones who give backrubs and treats.

I am thankful the sun when it shines and for the rain when it provides water for the plants to grow.

And I am thankful for you for reading my blog and being a part of my virtual pet therapy.

All the best to you and your loved ones this Thanksgiving!

Gobble! Woof! Gobble! Woof!

Obama's Dog

Rumor has it the president elect is going to get a dog.

What a great first policy decision to make. Every home, especially the one that is leading the country needs a furry friend.

I think I should call over to the White House to cast my vote for my breed recommendation.

Are you wondering what breed I’ll recommend?

Havanese, of course!

The Obamas should know that the Havanese is known for being friendly, affectionate, sociable, curious and quick to learn.

Perhaps I should offer my services to tutor the new first dog to make sure it has proper social skills.

For instance, it will need to know how to give tender puppy kisses and how to merrily wag its tail.

President Obama might want to bring more dogs into the White House and maybe he’ll want to hire me as an ambassador as everyone seems to fall for my deep-set brown eyes and fluffy convivial fur.

And as you can see, I have friends that come in all different shapes, sizes and colors.

Either way, I do hope that a dog resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and that our new furry friend enriches the Obamas’ lives and gives our country something to bark about!

The Giggles

You’ve been told that when you are feeling stressed, to try to picture yourself somewhere peaceful and relaxing.

Some people pick the beach.

Others pick a festive place like a birthday party.

And still others pick a different kind of place, me!

When I dressed up as a witch for Halloween, patients and staff members cracked up at the site of me.

Apparently they have seen a witch before, but never a cute furry barking witch who will do anything for a treat.

The next week after Halloween when I returned to the hospital as my regular fluffy self, some of the staff members were still laughing.

One of them explained that she could not get the image of me all dressed up as a witch out of her head.

And as soon as she accessed that image in her head, just the thought of it made her giggle uncontrollably.

So if you need a giggle or if you need a place to go to relieve your stress, think of me and I will take care of you.

Wicked Good

Do you prefer the good witch or the bad witch?

As you can see from my picture, I prefer the good witch!

Yesterday I attended the second annual Halloween party at a little retirement home I visit.

Last year the party hinged on my participation.

The residents said to the social worker that they would only attend if Bella comes dressed up.

So like a good witch, I put on my costume and rode my broomstick to the community room.

When I think of Halloween parties and parades, I usually think of little kids all dressed and sugared up.

Although there were no kids and no sugar, there were lots of happy faces. You could even see people smiling through their masks.

I guess I was a really good witch this year because the residents gave me a gift card to PETCO.

What a treat! I guess now they expect more tricks!

Happy Halloween and I hope you have a wicked good time!

Bronze

It feels so rewarding to bring home the bronze.

Especially when it is accompanied by a bag of treats!

Saturday I took third in a Halloween pet costume contest.

It was pretty stiff competition, but I strutted my stuff in my plump little pumpkin costume.

Some of you say, how could my mom make me wear such a thing?

Treats, I tell you! Mmmm, good!

Although for the amount of funny things my mom makes me wear, somehow I think the bag of treats should be bigger!

Just kidding!

Stay tuned for my next Halloween costume – the pumpkin outfit is just a warm up!

Rainbow of Love

If only each day was as beautiful as a backdrop vibrantly colored fall mums.

I wish I could have brought my friend Sally to see this rainbow of mums. I feel bad that I made Sally cry last week.

Some might assume that I neglected my pet therapy duties by making her cry.

But, I think the cry was good for Sally as she learned an important lesson that day.

When Sally saw another little boy wrap his arms around me and enjoy my puppy kisses, she ran straight home crying all the way.

Sally sobbed and sobbed and thought that I no longer loved her.

Poor little girl, I still love you silly Sally!

Sally’s grandma called to let me know about the situation and as soon as I received the news I trotted right over to Sally’s house.

As Sally stroked my back and cuddled up next to me, I explained that it is important to share our love with others, especially our family and friends.

Like the rainbow of mums, my love is an endless ray of color and cheer and there is plenty of it to go around!

A Blessing

As I sat quietly outside of the church waiting for the “blessing of the animals,” I though about a dog I met at the park today.

He only had three legs.

When I first saw him, I could feel a lump begin to form in my throat.

I couldn’t help but feel sad for him and I wondered how he got around with just three legs.

And then I saw my answer.

Just fine!

In fact, I think he was one of the happiest dogs I ever met.

Watching him romp around with his friends made me feel so warm inside.

I admired his ability to make the best of his situation and continue to enjoy the simple pleasures of life like spending a sunny day outside with friends.

His joy for life was moving and the memory of him running in the park will be a reminder for me to count my blessings.

The Hot Seat

So the adage tells us we have to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes to really know how they feel.

But I think that saying should be revised.

I think it should say that you have to sit on someone else’s seat.

Last week I visited the dialysis unit to see a friend who goes there on a regular basis.

The word dialysis didn’t mean much to me, as I only vaguely understood that it meant that people needed to have their blood cleaned.

As I step foot in the dialysis unit for the first time I froze.

All the people lined up with tubes and blood circulating throughout the room was overwhelming.

Each patient was set up in a big cold-looking chair and most of them would spend the day at the unit receiving treatment.

This wasn’t one of those hospital visits where a patient is admitted and receives flowers, cards and visitors.

Rather, the hospital was a regular part of these people’s lives.

As I regained my composure and walked into the unit, the patients all gasped with disbelief.

“Oh, a dog,” many of them exclaimed.

At first I wasn’t sure if this was a good or bad thing.

The arms that seemed to have been weighted down with tubes of blood began to rise and so too did the smiles on their faces.

The smiles began to flow around the room like a chain reaction and as I like to believe, the energy warmed the patients’ hearts and soon they were all sitting in the hot seat rather than the cold hospital chair.

The Little Engine

Remember the story of the little engine that could?

Boy that was one tough little train!

At agility class the other night, I played out my own version of this story.

During one of the exercise sessions, we had to practice jumps in pairs with another dog.

The dog I was paired with, Rex, was a little shorter so our jump was set at 8 inches (I’ll have to jump 10 to 12 inches in competition).

While it was Rex’s turn, I watched the dogs next to us impressively jump over 20 inches.

Suddenly the big dogs left their 20 inch jump for a potty break.

I though to myself I bet I can get over that jump and certainly no one would expect it.

So I closed my eyes, mustered up all the strength I could find and flung myself over the 20 inch jump.

Just like the little train I kept thinking I think I can I think I can.

And apparently I could! To my own amazement I cleared the jump!

The instructor stopped the class next to us and shouted, “That is one awesome little dog.”

While I was flattered to be called awesome, the best feeling was accomplishing something that at first appear to be way out of my reach.

I'll just have to remember I think I can I know I can when times get rough.

A Surprise Ending

On Thursday I went on one of my regular visits to a retirement community.

Predictably one of my favorite residents, Estelle, told me a story of when she lived down in Georgia.

If nothing else Estelle is consistent as she tells the story exactly the same each and every time.

Habitually, the story centers on a friend who tried to give Estelle a dog, but due to uncontrollable circumstances Estelle was not able to accept the dog.

As Estelle tells the story, you can hear the cavernous regret in her voice.

At the point in the story when Estelle acknowledges that she was not able to accept the dog, she takes a long deep sigh and strokes my back.

For whatever reason this time, however, the story took a different turn.

According to Estelle, an elderly woman who was lonely was able to take in the dog. As Estelle narrated her new tale she lit up inside.

I couldn’t help but think that Estelle was talking about herself. Maybe in her heart she has always had a place for that dog and in some way I fulfill that need for her.

I am glad that our time together has brought a happy ending to Estelle’s story. I will be sure to visit her every week to make sure that ending stays “happily ever after.”

LIVEDOG

Cancer.

You see the word or hear the word cancer and suddenly it feels as if the world around you comes to a screeching halt.

But not for a group of people I came across the other weekend.

My family and I participated in the Lance Armstrong Livestrong Challenge bike ride to benefit cancer research and support programs, but most of all to provide hope to all those battling cancer.

The turnout for the day was amazing! Over 5,000 people came together as if they were an army to stand up and fight first-hand against cancer.

There was a lot of hugging, smiling and crying going on throughout the day.

Although you couldn’t see it, there was a remarkable connection or spirit floating in the air that brought us all together.

By the end of the day I had made many new friends, some who affectionately named me the “LIVEDOG.”

If nothing else, I promise to hold onto the hope and inspiration from the day and share it with my patients whom I visit during my pet therapy rounds.

For those of you who continue to battle cancer, keep up the good work and know if you need a furry friend to stand by you, I am here to walk by your side.

The Real Stars

If your television was on this past Saturday and you like animal shows, you would have seen me on the series Wild About Animals with Mariette Hartley!

Don’t worry if you missed the show, you still have time to tune in.

This episode of Wild About Animals will air again on Fox on Saturday, November 22nd in the morning.

In the meantime, I am practicing my paw-ographs at home for my fan club.

Although I have to admit I am enjoying my new-found stardom, I believe the real stars of the show are the patients who so bravely battle cancer each day.

Friends

There is nothing like sharing a good tail wag with a friend.


Whether it be chatting at the picnic table, playing ball at the beach, or howling together in the park, it always feels good to be surrounded by friends.


Friends have a way of making the world feel like it is full of eternal rainbows and gumdrops.


Even when that occasional cloud appears, it is good to know that you have friends to be with you until it passes and another sunny day appears.

So until I see you again dear friend, hold me tight in your heart.

The Lifeguard

While I was sunning myself on the beach, I deftly watched the lifeguard on duty.

What an important job, I thought. As the title suggests, lifeguards literally guard our lives while we swim and frolic on the beach.

I decided to study the lifeguard and see how I could apply some of his skills to my pet therapy work.

Just the presence of the lifeguard seemed to make people feel safe and at ease.

Since I am a small dog, maybe I’ll have to make sure to bounce around a bit more (if that is even possible – many of you know I am a bouncy dog to begin with) at my pet therapy visits to make sure all the patients know I am there if they need me to help with their healing.

And fashion is crucial too. All the guards wore red with a safety symbol on their shirts.

I have to remember to proudly wear my pet therapy ID badge and uniform so that patients know I am official and have taken the proper courses to prepare myself for the job.

Most of all. I took notice of the lifeguard’s smile.

People were walking up to him asking questions and just saying hello.

Like the lifeguard, being approachable is a central part of my job too.

I have to remember that even when I am tired, other people are relying on my bark and grin to make them feel better.

Dirt Bed

When you are out in the middle of nature you have to roll with the punches.

Literally!

Check out this video of me making my own ad hoc dirt bed.

If nothing else, I am one resourceful puppy!

Nature's Agility Course

As some of you know, I am taking agility classes.

Every week I dutifully practice and do my homework like a good little doggie.

In addition to my usual studying routine, this weekend I took part in some experiential learning outside of the classroom as they say.

To celebrate my parent’s anniversary, we went on an adventure trip to the Adirondacks.

We packed up our hiking bags and spent most of our time exploring different trails and soaking in all that nature has to offer.

Every turn there was a branch to jump over, stream to cross, or a rock wall to scale.

The fun was endless!

On the trails we encountered some other dogs, but most of them were of the stocky, large breeds.

When we passed some of our fellow hikers, they all seemed so worried about me because I was a “little” dog.

As you can see from the pictures, I can jump and climb with the best of ‘em!

Don’t let my pretty little pink bow fool you! I am an agility fanatic!

Duck Patrol

Quack! Quack!

That sound always gets me going!

For some reason the ducks always swim away when I jump in the bay to say hello.

What could they be afraid of?

They probably weight more than I do, even when I am soaking wet!

Nonetheless, I keep trying to make new friends and I’ve noticed that each time I jump in the water, the ducks let me get a little closer.

Maybe they want to build a bond of trust before they make the plunge to friendship.

It might take a while to meet one of the ducks face to face (or should I say beak to dog nose), but I am willing to wait and put in the time.

Until that day arrives, I remain faithfully on duck patrol.

Hope

I wish I could record people’s reactions when I enter a room.

My mom tells me that oftentimes patients and staff members will stop what they are doing and smile in my direction.

Usually the smile leads to a pet or a belly rub which leads to a conversation. It is like a chain reaction of fun!

Sometimes, however, patients cry.

At first that made me nervous as I thought I was doing a bad job by making patients cry. Maybe I needed to brush up on some of my pet therapy skills!

But as I helped to wipe away the tears I learned that the tears were a good sign as they were a release of pain and suffering.

As one patient told me while she was sobbing, I was a sign of “hope for a better day.”

Just Clammin' Around

When it comes to taking pictures, some might say I am a ham, but as you can see from the picture I look more like a clam!

Joking aside, you can check out this web site:

reclamthebay.org

to learn more about how our ecosystem functions and how we can help keep it happy, healthy and clean!

Even the clams need a helping hand!

My Dad Is A Hero

On Saturday my family and I attended a pet rescue fair.

If you could have seen those wagging tails and heard their jovial barks, your heart would have melted.

I am proud to say, one of my family members is a pet rescuer. Just last week my dad courageously saved a dog’s life.

Driving home from work, my dad spotted a dog in the middle of a very busy road. As my dad explains, the dog was so big it appeared that it was trying to play with the cars like toys as they sped by.

But my dad knew if the dog played long enough the game would not end well.

So my dad jumped out of his car and tried to call the dog to him.

The dog was a friendly guy and merrily trotted (yes trotted – this dog looked like a horse) over to my dad.

To contextualize the size of the dog, my dad is used to dealing with small dogs as I weigh 12 pounds, and this dog weighed in near 160! When the dog stood on his hind legs he was taller that my 6’3” dad!

With enthusiasm, the dog jumped into my dad’s car. The dog was so carefree and you could tell by his happy disposition that he really didn’t understand that he was in grave danger.

In the end, my dad brought the dog to safety and by doing so saved his life.

To put yourself on the line and rescue someone is one of the most selfless acts. Sometimes it only takes a few minutes to offer assistance to someone in need. What feels like a few minutes to you can make all the difference in the world for someone else.

Thanks dad for making the world a better place, I love you, my hero.

Lights, Camera, Action!

From the hospital floor to the big screen!

Get your DVDs and DVRs ready to record this fall 2008 as I am going to be on television!

Yes, you heard me correctly – television!

Yesterday I spent the day with the film crew and producer from the show “Wild About Animals.”

I was honored to be selected along with two other dogs, Margaret Mary and Beau, to be filmed in action doing pet therapy.

Prior to the filming I waited like most other stars in the green room (well actually it was the blue volunteer office), primping my fur and making sure my yellow bow was in tact.

It was such an exciting day and hopefully you’ll tune in to see me prancing around the hospital strutting my stuff.

You’ll probably see my jolly face as I receive lots of treats and belly rubs – I just love my job!

But I also hope you’ll see the smiles and grins from the patients as we spent time with them.

As you’ve heard me say, I am a very lucky dog to have the opportunity to meet all of these amazing people.

Their courage, determination and fortitude are inspiring.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July !


I hope everyone has a barkin' good holiday!



Woof ! Woof !

The Leash Craze

Whenever I leave one of my pet therapy sites, I always have a few residents who ask if they can hold my leash and walk me to my car.

Whoever thought a leash could be so popular.

But, my mom tells me they are not really interested in the leash itself, but rather what is on the end of the leash (me!).

It is so interesting how a little piece of rope can bring about such a connection.

As soon as someone grabs onto my leash I can see a change in the way they hold their head and heart. Something seems to open up inside and a calming energy flows back and forth from the person to me.

My leash has become so popular that I am making all sorts of friends. Even statues of tigers!

Hopefully someday we’ll get to meet and you can have a turn too at holding my leash!

In My Dreams

When I went to visit Sister Edith Alice on one of my regular pet therapy visits, she wasn’t there.

I was confused and began to sniff around hurriedly searching for her scent.

Where could she be?

One of the staff members came over and told me that Sister Edith Alice had passed last week.

My heart sunk to the floor and tears uncontrollably burst from my eyes. The kind of tears that leave little burn tracks around your eyes because the pain hurts so much.

I wanted to stop crying but my heart just wouldn’t agree.

One of the residents came over to console me. After some hugs and rubs on my back, we started to share our favorite memories of Sister Edith Alice.

The spirit of Sister Edith Alice will forever live in my heart and although I won’t see her on my routine pet therapy rounds, I promise to continue to visit her in my dreams.

Keep on Paddling

Some might say life is a journey.

This weekend my journey began in a kayak.

As I prepared for my trip I tried to think of all the things I might need: an energy drink, a life preserver, a paddle, sunscreen and my GPS watch.

That morning the sea appeared so peaceful and tranquil.

About half way into my journey, out of nowhere, the water started to get rough and my kayak was spinning out of control.

Waves crashed all around me without warning.

As I gripped my paddle with my paws and calculated the quickest route home with my GPS watch, I closed my eyes and hoped someone would save me.

Although I was vigorously paddling, the current kept pulling me farther and farther from my destination.

I was ready to give up, but I realized that if I stopped and didn’t fight back I’d never return home.

I took a swig of my energy drink and determinedly fixed my eyes in the direction of home.

Even though I couldn’t see anything in the thick fog, I had faith that if I kept paddling eventually I would get there.

Little by little my home came into focus.

As I approached the inlet in front of my house, the storm seemed to subside and a beautiful rainbow appeared.

Again, the sea was tranquil and I was thankful to be home.

A Salute

My family and I recently took a short vacation to Gettysburg.

One can’t help but learn a little history along the way.

As many of you know the main attraction in Gettysburg is the battlefields.

The vast grassy green fields extend for miles and are covered with monuments and tributes to all who valiantly lost their lives in battle.

On one of the battlefield tours our guide asked us to imagine what it would have been like to be a soldier at that time.

First thing that came to my mind was, scary!

Thinking about it further, it made me more deeply appreciate the selflessness that those soldiers exhibited.

To sacrifice their lives for the sake of our country is something we will never be able to repay them.

The closest we can come to a form of repayment is by being thankful and respectful of each other and honoring the spirit of our country.

So here is a salute from me to all of our troops both near and far. Thank you for making us proud!

The Puzzle

Many of you know my heart was broken a few days ago.

Not to fret though, my heart is on the mend.

A broken heart is sort of like a jigsaw puzzle. Some puzzles only have a few pieces while others have many.

I have a feeling this is one of the puzzles with a lot of pieces. Little by little, though, the pieces are coming together and a beautiful picture is surfacing.

The picture is full of the love from my family and friends – how lucky I am to have you all.

The Agile Picnic Participant

And who said the playground is just for kids!

Today I attended a picnic party with a bunch of my pet therapy buddies.

It was a blast to get together to share stories and sample some traditional picnic cuisine (aka the scraps that fell off the picnic tables).

After barking with a few dogs, I learned that a few of my furry friends are accomplished agility competitors.

So I decided to take a crack at some of the agility course obstacles.

It took a lot of coaxing and treats, but as you can see by the end of the day I made it through the circular jump.

At first some things in life may appear too difficult or scary to approach.




But with a little help from friends and a sweet treat waiting on the other side of the jump, I believe anything is possible.

A Good Hand

They tell me you have to play the hand you are dealt.

Well, someone dealt me five aces. I keep checking to see if I am seeing things but, go ahead and count ‘em – there are five!

What luck!

Some might say my life started out unlucky as I almost died as a puppy and had to be hospitalized for a week to recover.

It was very traumatic, but somehow with a little oxygen, medication and love I pulled through.

As you see, I kept on playing my cards and here I am today – licking my chops, spreading cheer and always having faith that tomorrow will be an even better day!

The Throne of Kisses

The other week I was giving out my usual puppy kisses and for some reason it caused quite the stir.

One of the senior residents, Bertha, was hanging onto my coattails following me around the center.

Each time I visited someone, Bertha would run up to them and asked if they got a puppy kiss. And each time she became more enthusiastic with her questions.

I think Bertha’s zeal made the other residents think that something super special was being given out. And who would argue – my kisses are special!

So many residents were eager to get their kiss that they lined up at my feet. Since I am so short, I jumped up on a wheel chair – sort of used it for my throne.

It cracked me up especially since the residents would hurry to line up for a kiss and then wipe off the puppy goo with laughter.

Kisses, puppy goo and laughter- the perfect recipe for fun!

Iced Tail

Some people have to ice their knees or shoulders from overuse.

For me it is the tail. I have to ice it on a regular basis as I wag it so much!

Friday I attended a health and wellness fair for senior citizens. Part of my job was to make sure that everyone was smiling and having fun.

I roamed all around the room (off leash I might add!) and even helped to announce the raffle winners by barking the numbers into the microphone.

One visitor chuckled and asked my mom if my tails was going to fall off as I appeared so happy.

Well, my tail is still attached and I better go to bed and ice it so I can use it again tomorrow!

One

Happy birthday to my cousin who just turned one!

My cousin used to be the runt of my family’s litter, but he grew up so fast and he now weighs more than I do. For a while he was the runt, but I now reassume that position as I only weight 12 pounds. Maybe our family will be blessed with another baby so I can enjoy not being the runt again!

A first birthday is truly a celebration of life and growth. So many milestones just in the first year: smiling, eating, laughing, playing, crawling, walking and soon talking.

Although my cousin probably won’t remember his first birthday – I certainly will.

Everyone was so excited to celebrate the newest addition to our family. There were lots of yummy treats and kids to play with. I even had a taste of a homemade meatball.

On to preparing for the next birthday party and making more memories to last a lifetime.