Most days as a volunteer at the animal shelter, I wash pet bowls or do laundry. But recently, I've gotten more involved in pet walking. The joys of interacting with these pets and letting them enjoy the great outdoors. Days in kennel can be quite long and dreary and very noisy as all dogs try to catch the attention of the walkers as if to say, "Me first!"
Two terriers named Murphy and Sam are in constant motion.
I took the dog-walking class and learned how to get the leash on an excited dog in a kennel, how to turn the dog around if he pulled too much. What I didn't realize is the woven plastic leashes give you a horrible case of rope burn, and I didn't learn how to capture those escapees.
Spot, Mr. Personality, is ready for a new home.
I also assumed the sweet-looking dogs would be gentle walkers. I'd start with them!
Sasha, a barrel-shaped bulldog, walked me around the perimeter at a fast pace.
Cleo, a tan, lanky dog with a kind face, also pulled then braked, giving me a bungee-like experience. The easiest dog was a Shiba Inu, who looked like a wolf. After several more energetic dogs, I had to stop--my hands were bleeding.
The following week I took a pair of thick gloves to protect my hands. I chose Spot, who has been a favorite due to his courage in battling a skin condition (he is better). But he thought the gloves were a play thing, so we spent our walk with my trying to keep them on and his struggle to take them off and give them a good shake.
O.k.,only small dogs from now on. How difficult could it be to take Murphy and Sam? Two pint-sized dogs on two leashes. But then one squirmed out and headed straight for the pit bull on his walk. This pair of terriers were known to staff--they squeezed through fences and gates and often got off their leads.
After these dogs, I welcomed the return to washing pet bowls. Next week, I'll return with new strategies that will enable me to spend more outside time with dogs and less with the pet bowls.
The dogs are adorable. Thank you for helping them!
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