Woof!
What did I do today? Well… I’m glad you asked.
Early this morning, my owners dusted off my traveling crate and secured it firmly in the back of their snazzy Toyota Highlander. Needless to say, if you have been keeping up with my newsletters, I had good reason to be concerned. My past being what it was… I couldn’t help but think that we were probably going to the vet. What I didn’t know was what torture might be in store for me this time. What diabolical, unwanted procedure could they be planning?
Our journey started out pretty much the same as it always does. I am unable see anything from inside my cur-carrier but our trip felt pretty much as it always does. There was the vibration of our auto and the familiar budda-thump, budda-thump of its wheels, as we travelled over unknown roads, some in good repair, some not.
Occasionally we would stop… briefly… which would always give me a start. I imagined that we had, too soon, arrived at our dubious destination. In reality, we must have been merely breaking for red traffic lights or the occasional deranged squirrel, making an insane death-dash across some busy avenue. Whatever it was, we would merely pause and then quickly be off again.
Eventually, I sensed our vehicle turning a corner and coming to a rest. This time our stop had the feel of finality. I heard doors opening… and then the rear hatch of our car raised up, allowing warm sunshine to again reach my cold wet nose.
The door to my carrier opened with a quiet squeak and my owner’s strong hands reached in and fastened a leash to my collar. Scooped up in his burly arms, I was lifted and then gently put down onto a surface that was partly grass, partly crushed gray stone.
My eyes adjusted to a sudden burst of bright sunlight, which had temporarily blinded me. It was at that moment that I experienced what can only be termed as an out of body, doggy experience. Unexpectedly, I found every one of my senses simultaneously attacked. It was orgasmic! The sights… the sounds… the smells! Woof! It was as if I had been deposited right smack in the middle of an Indian street bazar.
This place was new… I couldn’t believe my eyes… it was the fabled Shangrila of puppydom… it was the dog park!! I couldn’t believe it.
As we approached the double gated entrance to this “promised land”, I couldn’t help but pull strongly at my leash. I was so-o-o very excited. Straining at my tether, however, caused me to produce a low, choking sound from deep within my throat. I hoped the others wouldn’t take notice. I didn’t want for them to think that I was too eager… that I was a first-timer… that I wasn’t bitchy cool. Apparently the others didn’t take note or if they had, it didn’t matter to them.
The gates opened and then clicked securely behind us. We entered the yard and I was delighted to be met by a sea of frantically wig-wagging tails. Surrounding me was a veritable smorgasbord of dogs: big ones, small ones, short ones, tall ones, hairy ones, short haired ones, ones with long majestic tails, others with no tails at all. And the smells! Oh God, yes, the smells! Some pups seemed perfumed… as if they had just come from the doggy salon. Others had a musty, earthy, “I haven’t had a bath in a month” smell. All were new to me and all caused my heart to beat so rapidly that I thought I just might be having a heart attack. I didn’t.
We ran and chased each other the entire length and breath of the grounds for what seemed like a heavenly eternity. Up and down, back and forth. Sometimes one on one… sometimes in a frenzied pack, we sprinted happily. What fun!
When I actually paused for a moment, in order to catch my hot panting breath and to share in a well earned gulp of cool refreshing water, there appeared other options for recreation. I refer, of course, to smell exploration. Won-der-ful!! Have you ever notice that a dog’s butt hole is at just the right height for a good whiff and a sniff? Yep, it is… no matter how short or tall the puppy might be. You might think that they’d all smell the same… but they don’t. Who-ee! No-sir-ee-Bob… they surely don’t!
I did discover one thing… when it comes to butt snorting, it’s definitely better to give than to get. I never realized that a dog’s nose could be so cold… as icy as an Eskimo’s big toe. Br-r-r-r! But there is a rule in the yard… when your turn eventually comes (and it will), you just gotta cowboy up and take it like a man. (You know, it’s really not as bad as you might think.)
Too quickly, our departure time came. I didn’t want to leave, of course, but when the ole ball and chain calls, you have no choice but to comply.
This was the end of a wonderful day that, for me, was pure bliss. Having been again loaded into my comfy dog caddy, our car’s tires made a soft crunching sound, as we pulled out of the crushed stone coated parking area. From the distance, which grew increasingly wider behind us, I could hear the barking sounds of those, who lucky enough to remain behind. It was as if my new friends were saying, “See ya buddy! Return soon!”
I hope that one day I will.
Ozzie