This was actually my second time here. I attended an annual pig roast right by Lake Quinault and couldn’t miss visiting the largest Spruce tree in the world. This tree is right in the Olympic National Park with a circumference of 59 ft., diameter of 18 ft. 9 inches, and it stands at 191 feet tall. Wow, it’s massive and I’m proud to have it in my home state of Washington.
Monday’s are like Friday’s here at Dog Trots. Every day is full of canine smiles and the sound of four running paws hitting the earth. Maybe it’s just the relationship that Kemper and I have together, but I can’t help but to feel like all is right-in-the-world, at this moment, when I’m greeted like this.
As everyone else across the United States has been freezing their tails off, we in the Pacific Northwest have had it quite nice. I haven’t had to break out my Gore-Tex jacket once while walking the dogs, and my rain boots have been collecting dust. Since it’s been such a mild winter, the cherry blossoms, magnolia trees and all the other blooming plants are off to an early start. You can’t help but be inspired by all the beauty while driving around in any Seattle neighborhood.
As dog owners, we’ve all been there: the day you notice your dog having a hard time getting out of bed, the day you notice her legs seem a little stiff that one morning walk.
I’d like to share a little bit about Bella and Bebe; two Border Collies that have been in the Dog Trots family for over a decade. I’ve known Bebe (Red Border Collie) since shortly after my dear friend Rita adopted her. I started taking Bella to the dog park nine years ago and she still joins us three times a week. Rita treats her dogs like family because they are. Since Bebe and Bella are getting up there in their years Rita has begun taking them to Aqua Dog Therapy with Gretchen Dietz (aquadogspa.com). I was invited to join them yesterday afternoon and watch them get massaged and swim their way into a more comfortable state.
Since Bebe has been going for the past year or more, I’ve seen major improvements in her mobility and behavior. If you have a senior dog you want to give some kind of sweet relief, I would recommend giving water therapy a splash.
We read that Sports Illustrated featured its very first plus-size model (that’s normal size in our eyes) in the Swimsuit issue this year; Asia would like to audition to be their very first dog model for next year.
I mean, really, how can they forget man’s best friend. (All those neck-lengthening tips from Tyra Banks really paid off).
I did the Polar Bear Plunge on one of the coldest days we’ve had in Seattle. We had clear sky’s and the sun joined the party. My friends and I were in the water long enough to dip and dash. We giggled, shivered and wrapped ourselves in towels elated that we did it. I looked over my shoulder to see this man in a zen state meditating in the 43 degree Puget Sound. I was astounded along with wondering how he was avoiding hypothermia. I applaud his mental strength.
DOG TROTS 