Category Archives: pet sitting

March 15, 2010 · 11:53 am

Wading Through the Pieces

We had some pretty crazy storms this weekend. There was no power at Ginger and Chance’s house for two days. Yesterday was a maze of fallen trees. We often had to turn around and search out a new route to get to the beach. Just getting to their house was a challenge.

The other way was even worse as a HUGE tree had tangled up in the power lines and wrapped itself around them pulling everything to the ground. I couldn’t get close enough for a good shot though.

So off we went on our adventure to a different beach this time. This one has the main entrance but then a long wall off to the side where we veered off.  Ominous skies loomed as they barreled on ahead.

I looked down and saw a starfish. As I spent more time looking down, I realized that there were hundreds where we were walking, along with crabs and all sorts of other creatures. Exhausted from the storm, waiting for the tide to take them back out, they lined the beaches. I thought about trying to save them. I flipped a bunch back over. I righted crabs that were upside down, many of whom lost limbs, and had barely enough energy to move. But I knew there were too many to help them all and that trying to help only a few would make me feel worse. My only hope was that because the sand was very wet and with the flooding everywhere, the waters would welcome them back soon enough.

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Filed under dogs, pet sitting, photography

March 13, 2010 · 3:09 pm

Dancing in the Rain

Yesterday I took two of my furry friends, Ginger and Chance, to the beach in the rain. I know it sounds kind of odd but they needed to run around and I hoped that the rain would make people think twice about venturing there.

When the parks and beaches are full, I stay far, far away. I’m not the type who goes to a beach or a dog park and stands around chatting with the other owners and caretakers waxing poetic on the dogs. Most of these conversations are filled with unwanted advice, usually given by other caretakers, or those fishing for compliments about their precious cargo. Unfortunately, parks and other public places have become infested with hired walkers who bring six dogs and spend the time missing half of what the dogs are doing and not picking up after them and yet still try to prove how spectacular they are at their job by telling you something you already know and oblivious owners who don’t understand when their dog is playing and when it’s being aggressive. I’ve personally gotten in the middle of fights between dogs to break them up while the clueless owner stands by slack-jawed.

The concept behind these places is wonderful. It frees the dogs from the leashes and lets them release the wild that’s built up inside them. They can meet new friends and romp around with their housemates. Dog heaven! But spending the entire time avoiding these people is exhausting! No thanks. I’ll take a dismal day free of the rif-raf any time.

When we arrived there were two other sets of people and dogs and with that much space on the beach, I was able to walk around admiring the rushing water while only talking to the dogs, happy as clams, making giant footsteps in the wet sand.

Today, however, we are staying in:

I’m not THAT crazy about rain!

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Filed under dogs, nature, pet sitting