Dogs + Snow = Fun

With the sound of generators still in the distance telling us that some people were starting day two without electricity, the Sunday morning dogs were ready for some fun in a light coating of snow. This morning we met Damita, one of the most striking looking dogs I have ever encountered, and true to her name (translation "young lady"), a gentle mannered sweetie. And fast! So fast. Athena is usually ready to race any four-footed runner, but she totally gave up. It was cattle dog day at Fort Williams, as Damita was joined by Fawnie, who also had amazing markings (I would have totally named her Polka, for the dot pattens on her fawn colored coat).

To the left, Fawnie. Above, Damita

As we finish out February in a very unusual winter, the dogs in the off-leash area of Fort Williams remind us that every day can be a great day, even coming off two days of flooding, no electricity, and yards and some roads littered with trees downed by the nor-easter that tore through Maine on Thursday night. Happily, it was only a "one dog night" on Thursday and Friday nights. Temperatures were in the 40's during the day, and even with the severe weather, it is very clear that the earth is preparing for spring. Our dogs can definitely smell it, and Athena has taken to testing sticks on the ground for signs of life. Soon the gloves and scarves and hats of all the dog owners will be able to stay home, and the feral tennis balls of the off leash area will be easier to find!

Professor Tucker

This morning at the park, Professor Tucker mosied toward us, as he does most mornings. The "Professor" designation is not part of his official name, but it is how I always think of him, as I watch him studying the edges of the path, sniffing... thinking... sniffing... it appears that he is doing very scholarly research on the smells of the off-leash area of Fort Williams Park. Once he finishes with his research, he becomes much livlier, happily fetching a tennis ball heaved from a "chucker" that is always in his person's hand.

This morning, however, as he approached, something was different. He had something in his mouth, but it wasn't the orange tennis ball that can give him a wacky clown-like smile which is always a little incongrous with his very dignified Springer Spaniel demeanor. This morning, as he came closer, I could see what was hanging out of his mouth. "Is that a rawhide chew?", I asked his person. "He won't put it down", she laughed, the tennis ball and chucker, hanging down from her hand. I should have taken his picture then, but I was giggling so much I'm not sure I could have held the camera steady. Obviously, he was on to a new type of research, or else, to him, a rawhide chew was like a Nobel Prize medal. I'll have to wait and look for Tucker another morning to see if he puts the rawhide down...

Sunday Run Day

It is very difficult to convince Athena to sleep in on the weekends. I try to tell her all the good dogs are still asleep, but usually I give in and we head for Fort Williams fairly early, even on a Sunday morning. This morning, Athena was delighted to find her friend Gibson (the yellow lab, above, with Athena as "It" in a rousing game of tag). Today it all ended well. Athena has been known to get Gibson into trouble, one time leading him off into the woods, which caused

Gibson's owner to hunt for him for a good half hour.

As you can see here on the right, Gibson is the picture of a good dog. Athena is like a kid at school you wish your kid would not hang out with.

Thanks to Gibson today for giving Athena a good work out. It will help her to be patient on a long boring day traveling to take her human sister back to school. Good dog, Gibson!

The Faithful

Every day, as the sun comes up, Athena begins nagging me. "Is it time to go to the park?" "Now is it time to go to the park?" Somehow, my dog has figured out that the sign at the entrance to Fort Williams Park says "Open at Sunrise; Closed at Sunset". And every day, as soon as I've had at least part of a cup of tea, we head for Fort Williams.

We take the same route there every day, and as we get closer, the excited whining in the back seat reaches an ear-splitting crescendo. You would think she's returning to a most favorite place after being away for decades... maybe that's exactly how it feels to a dog, because each day, when I open the back door of the car and let her out, it's as if I've just approached the entrance to Disneyland with a 6-year old.

The backside of Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, has been designated as an off-leash exercise area for dogs. There I have met some of the nicest people, and their best friends. Almost everyone is an every day visitor-- and in the middle of a Maine winter, you can tell who really loves their dog by who is out in the worst weather, because most of the dogs are oblivious to the elements. Their ability to relish every day, to celebrate every moment, to delight in seeing a friend they see almost every day, is some of the best role modeling I could imagine.
So this blog is dedicated to Athena, who may appear blurry in photos because she seldom stands still, and the dogs she plays with at the park, who make her so happy her tail wags not just back and forth, but around in complete circles.

Athena and Noodle the Poodle 2-20-2010