Smartest Dog Ever

More sad news in my life. I just found out that Sammy, the smartest dog I ever met, has cancer. Not much they can do but keep him comfortable.

I used to play with Sammy every workday, for maybe a year, until his human had a baby and the child care worker (Grandma) took over the full time responsibility. From that point on, I was only called in when the humans went away.

Sammy is a great dog! I love him, and I am very saddened by his deteriorating health.

He is a smart dog. Tell him you love him and you get a kiss. Tell him to kiss you, and you get more kisses.

He loves to play ball. He is really good at catching the ball. I always told him that he should try out for the Mets. They need a good catcher like him!

He would bring the ball back and drop it for you to throw it again. Sometimes he'd drop it too far away, and all you'd have to say is "Bring it closer, Sammy," and he would. On occasion I would try to trick him. I had heard it said that it's not WHAT you say, it's HOW you say it. I would experiement and say "Spaghetti and meatballs, Sammy" in the same tone as "Bring it closer, Sammy," but he didn't understand. He didn't understand BECAUSE he understands. He is, and ever will be, THE SMARTEST DOG EVER!

Bless you Sammy, you will be missed. I love you!

three dog night

Lucy the Bullmastiff, Napoleon the rottweiler, and Clue the Pit Bull.
Napoleon and Clue were shelter rescues, recently adopted by fairly new clients. Aren't they a cute family??? And bless the humans that care for them!
I think I love Clue the best. He is such a pleasure to walk. He has a bounce and walks with such pride and happiness. He is contagious!
Lucy is a riot. Every day we have to walk up the street and say hello to the man who sells insurance. He is her boyfriend.
Napoleon is the newest. I have only walked him four days so far, so his personality is still emerging. But look at his face!
How could anyone not love these guys (and a doll)?

Weirdest Job Update

The amazing missing cat returned. Above is Springsteen, who finally showed up, meowing and following me around. Don't know where Springsteen, along with his sibblings, Bailey and Minnie, were hiding. At one point they got outside, through the cat door. And the culprit behind it all? A suspected--a raccoon!

The owners returned to a messy house. The cat door was broken, the cat food container had some serious scratch marks on it. Once during my care, I found the food container on the opposite side of the room and turned over. I was wondering how strong these cats really were, but it appears to be the work of at least one raccoon!

The cat door was taped up before the owners left, with a very heavy amplifyer placed in front of it, to block it, with an equally heavy container of kitty litter on top. There must have been at least 40 pounds, probably more, against that door to seal off the cat door, but some very strong raccoon(s?) pushed it aside to get inside to the food.

The owners told me that upon thier return, they found a 'coon trying to re-enter, until it got scared off by them.

I am relieved to know that I am not crazy after all! However, there is still the matter of that dog who called my name (see the May entry about Talking Dogs.)