Finally. I had all my ducks in a row. The business was in order and I was ready to head out to the tax lady then, off for a walk. I was edgy, I wanted my walk, but the threat of rain was causing me to get tense. Then I thought, “oh hell, a little rain never hurt us before. I will just wear rain boots and a slicker”. So off I we went but, first turn in my taxes. I drove up to the tax lady. Dang! She wasn’t open yet so I decided to just go for the walk and rethink my priorities for this day.

My little dog wanted her walk too, she couldn’t sit still in the car. Finally we got to the forest, in sync we jumped out of the car and started out on the wooded path. This is the best part of our walk. The sudden burst of excitement to sights, smells and sounds. It was still overcast but already shaping up to be one of my better walks. We came out into the meadow, rounded the path and weaved back into a second meadow then down the trail to the peninsula. Finally all the knots were worked out my back and I was feeling pretty good. We came to the river rambling by quiet and gentle. Just then the clouds broke and a memory flooded over me.

Back in the 1960s as a pre-teen. I was antsy just like today. Couldn’t have been more that ten years old. I wandered out the back door rounded the block and started walking. I have always loved walking and I knew exactly where I would head. Back behind the Boise Cascade Lumber Mill. I skirted around the huge piles of logs as I saw the Yakima River come into sight. Ah, now this is what I needed. A walk by the river. I loved to do that then and I love to walk the Coosa River now. And for those of you who wonder yes, I did get in trouble with my mom for disappearing by myself.

Solitude has always been something I have enjoyed. Not curled up with a book or checking into a motel for quiet time but the kind of solitude that comes from a brisk walk in the woods as the oxygen courses through my bloodstream, clearing my head, and relaxing my muscles. Oh sure, there is the occasional walker I pass. We nod, pass a few pleasantries then, I move on. Mostly it is the birdsong or a croaking frog I commune with. If I stop moving long enough it gets quiet enough to hear a deer moving in the brush. Of course once I move or my dog goes on alert the deer does what it does best. Choses flight over fight as it prances lightly away.

I don’t know why I have always loved these walks. It really doesn’t matter. I have always found a place like this to walk, by myself, in no need of conversation. Except the conversation of the wind, the smell of the air and companionship of a dog. The solitude from humans is not really solitude like most people think about it. I am not lonely or scared. I don’t need to escape to regroup from life nor am I thinking deep thoughts or trying to discover purpose in the universe. I just want to be out there. Out there in the open, having my quiet time.

I have been this way since I was a child. I don’t “need” someone to go with me, I just want to ramble. Rambling on doesn’t have the same security it did back in the 1960s. Times of changed, I have grown older and aging has set in. I can’t afford to get hurt or lost now. Now I am product of the times, I carry a Smartphone with a App that lets my husband know where I am just in case he needs to find me. Most of the time he is secure in the fact he knows where I am at and when I will return. All he has to do is check his “Find Friends” App and he can track my movement. It adds a certain amount of security nowadays so I can forget about external things and just listen to the river as it slowly rolls along, gently slapping the bank. Ah, I do the river.

The river flows quiet and swift

It twists and turns as the waters drift

It branches and breaks__

its fingers entwine

(From the The River Flows by Kailey Jennings )

Halloween is a lot of fun for is humans, but poses some special risks to our pets. Pet costumes, scary people costumes, candy, trick or treaters, and parties all have special risks for our pets so we ask everyone to plan ahead to keep your pet(s) healthy and safe.

• That big bowl of candy may be bad for our waist lines, but can be quite dangerous to our pets! Chocolate can be toxic, candies containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol can cause problems, and just think of all of those candy wrappers, lollipop sticks and such that a pet might consume! Please keep all candies safely out of reach of your pets and don’t leave Fido unattended with a big bowl of candy at the front door.

• Carved pumpkins with burning candles could be knocked over by a playful pup or curious kitten causing a fire so make sure pets and ‘lighted’ Halloween decorations are not left alone. (You might also want to keep your dog(s) up if you have candle decorations burning outside lest your male dog ‘extinguish’ your fun!)

• And you may think your dog or cat looks cute in a costume, but how does your pet feel? Some pets love playing along while others find it very distressing If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume doesn’t constrict their movement, hearing or breathing. Also check to make sure there are no dangling pieces that your pet could get caught in or chew on. And if your pet seems distressed, or even allergic, then put your pet’s comfort first and nix the costume all together.

• If you are having a party, probably best to keep your pets in a separate room so they won’t become scared or even protective when they see humans in odd and scary costumes. This will also help protect them from being fed inappropriate food, treats and candy by kind, but uninformed party guests.

• Please also keep your pets in another room or part of the house if you are opening your door for trick-or-treaters! It would be easy for a pet to escape and we certainly don’t want a pet to be freaked out by scores of children in all manner of costumes resulting in either a lost pet or, worse, a bite.
• And finally please make sure your children are aware that their Halloween Candy should NOT be shared with their special furry friend. Perhaps make a special ‘pet candy bowl’ with small doggy or kitty treats that are safe for them and that your children can safely share while they have their own ‘treats.’

“When black cats prowl and pumpkins gleam, may luck be yours on Halloween.” Author Unknown

Humane Society of Elmore County News – 24 Oct ‘11

Rea Cord, Director

I pulled the truck into the parking lot at the park by the river. Lizzie already on alert is moving from front to back looking for a way out. For her it seemed like eternity until I grabbed the keys, phone and potty bag to get started. Then I opened the door and bam! To the end of the leash with every fiber of her being ready to roll.

This is the kind of park that a dog needs to be on a leash so I know I have to pick up my pace to keep up with her until the initial spurt of energy is spent. Usually that only takes five minutes. But not today. Wet, cool ground and suddenly I lock my feet and brace while I feel all my vertebrae lock into place. A squirrel darts directly across our path. Whew! But I did it, I was able to keep my 48 pounds of overloaded springer contained.

I thought to myself, hooray we survived. Thinking we were relaxing now I prepared myself for the park ducks that waddle down to the river. We made that crossing fine. As I round back up hill I feel that we might be okay when just as we reached the last bridge there in our way sits a gauntlet! A cat sitting right in the middle of the path. What to do? I knew after the squirrel this would be suicide to move forward so I doubled back to the first trail and move back in line toward the truck.

Before I headed back around I decided to stop and take a picture of the fall Spider lilies. It is a beautiful morning on many levels.

Finally by now my Lizzie girl began to wind down. We got back in the truck. As I pulled out of the parking lot she stuck her head out the window to catch wind beneath her ears. She stayed like that all on the way home. One satisfied dog.

When we came into to the house she ran to the chair where my husband is sitting watching TV. He is wearing a white shirt, Lizzie is color blind. She leaps in his lap with a satisfied sigh. He says the shirt isn’t too muddy. It was worth the story Lizzie wanted to share. Ah, she thinks, can life get any better than this?

One reason is they are fun, eager to please, obedient and affectionate. They love their families and with that comes loyalty and companionship. Because of their energy they are good with children, but I have a lot of energy so they are the perfect breed for me because they are ready to go on a moment’s notice.

I think the only down side to a springer is the shedding and grooming. I have had two bench bred and one show bred. The difference is obvious. My bench bred dogs were shorter coated and only required a good brush out weekly to the undercoat in control. But my little show bred has the longest coat ever! It grows fast and thick causing my house to be easily be overtaken with fur everywhere. She can be very pretty when her fur is cut in a show cut. I love the look but she is a “tomboy”, she needs be outside to dig a hole, chase a squirrel or corner a lizard. None of these traits are dainty so I basically keep her cut shorter. It is not the greatest look but it is functional. When I want to show her off I take her in to the groomers to get the show cut. My groomer is very good and I get back a springer “diva” at the end of the day.

I have had two liver and white springers. I think these are the most common color seen for a pet. And I have had one black and white springer. Lately I have seen some pretty tri-color springers and thought about what they would be like to share my home with. All my springers have had their tail docked. If I had my druthers I would have never docked their tails, it has a pretty flag look to it like Golden Retrievers. I love the look of a long tailed springer.

One of my favorite things about springers is they sing. They are happy and have a joie de vivre. It would take a lot to find a springer who suffered from depression because they are so happy, they love you and they love life.

If you live with a dog you already know they have a distinct personality depending on their breed. I tend to stay away from any dog that is too much smarter than me, like Border Collies. They are the kings of smartness in the canine world. They need to be with someone who can work them and help them reach their full potential.

If you have a dog you love please feel free to share your story with me.