Hi Pet Buddies! I don’t know about you, but I sure had a hard time getting going last week, after that big Thanksgiving dinner. Not that I get table scraps as a rule, but I did get a couple of nice pieces of turkey breast – a total treat!
And we all watched the Macy’s Parade! I have a dog pal up in Manhattan (Olive, she’s a rescue from Puerto Rico) who lives about half a block from where the parade stages and she says it’s even more fun watching that then the actual parade. Anyhoo, I was just lazy all day.
Earlier in the week, I interviewed a Pomapoo (more Poo than Poma, I thought) really good looking, nice soft color, like tea with lots of cream in it, black eyes and little black button nose.
We met at the Dog Park. I was already there, on a bench, and he came trotting up.
“Hi, you must be Bonzo. I knew it was you from your picture in the paper, and, of course, you’re the only dog here with a notebook. I’m Teddy Bear Brown and this is my Human Mom, Beth.”
A quick wag-and-sniff, and we settled down. “Great to meet you, Ted … er, is it OK to call you Ted?”
“Heck, Yes,” he said. “All my dog buddies do.”
“So, tell me about yourself, Ted.”
“I just turned 3 – I was part of a litter at Cindi’s Pet Center, when my Forever Mom came in, looking for a puppy. She was pretty sad, going through some human stuff, you know.”
“I sure do,” I said.
“Anyway, I was just a little fluffball then. All my brothers and sister were bouncing around, looking as adorable as they could, but I was pretty shy, just sitting in a corner. Well, my future Mom took to me right away and, that very day, I had a whole new life. It was a little hard at first, I had some separation anxiety, because I‘d never been by myself. But she was sort of in the same situation … so we helped each other.”
“Aw, that’s so nice,” I said.
“Yep, we do everything together. I get to sleep in her bed. And I go to work with Mom, too. That way I can sort of help with the rent, you know, do my part.”
“Cool. What do you do?”
“We pet-sit. I get along great with other dogs. Mom says I do a great job. I can help them when they start missing their humans by playing with them or just hanging out. And I remind them their humans will be back soon, that they won’t be gone forever, even though it seems like it.”
“Wow! That is really great, Ted!”
“I KNOW! And Mom taught me how to behave around dogs who aren’t what she calls ‘well socialized.’ I’m calm and cool and just give them time. I really enjoy my work. Every morning, when she says, ‘Let’s go to work, Teddy Bear,’ I am always ready.”
“Who do you hang out with when you’re not working?”
My BFF’s are a West Highland Terrier and a Yorkie. But, to tell you the truth, I’m a momma’s boy, I don’t mind admitting. I’m just as happy being with her. PLUS, I love visiting Grandma and Grandpa Brown. They get out my favorite toy, a squeaky orange dinosaur. Or we play catch. And they love it when I do tricks. Humans get such a kick out of that, you know?”
“I totally do!” I nodded.
“I do the usual – I sit, shake paws, do high fives. I can even dance on my hind legs. Oh, and, I really love finding rats under the porch. Mom says that’s my poodle coming out. I find them, and scare the stuffings out of them so they won’t come back. But I don’t actually catch them. I mean, they’re RATS! Yuk!
“I’m also taking obedience classes – honestly, I didn’t really want to go … I already come when I’m called, most of the time, but Mom says I’ve got to learn to do it ALL the time. I also take agility classes, which are totally fun and I’m really good at them. You get to jump over stuff, and run up and down ladders and ramps and through tunnels and around pointy things.”
“I think it’s great that you’ve learned so much at such a young age,” I told him.
“Thanks, Bonzo. I just feel it’s a privilege to help any way I can. I’m a pretty lucky dog. I have a good job, and lots of dog pals, a great family – and the Best Mom Ever!”
“Well, it’s been fun woofin’ with you, Ted! Thanks!” I said.
Heading back home, I thought about how Ted helps other dogs and humans, too. How just the smallest little thing – a friendly wag or a little nose bump – can make dogs – and people – feel better. It was something to keep in mind.
