karmadogs.org Blog

Yesterday, at the Pet Expo, we got a nifty flier from the Pet Depot, a store in Timonium that just so happens to have a doggie pool. Most dogs use the pool to build up strength for competitions or to recover from surgery or other injuries. Or you can just have fun and go for a swim. Since we recently discovered that Ernie, our blind mixed dog, has webbed feet, we thought he might like it. $18.50 later, we were about to find out. Ernie put on his life preserver with no reservations. Then again, he couldn’t see what was coming. We didn’t tell the swim-helper guy that Ernie was blind. Ernie has pretty well mastered commands like watch and wait and turn, so we just went about business as normal. Ernie walked into the pool (which was colder than I expected), following my lead. Then, in his life jacket attached to a leash, Ernie started to swim. He did laps. Or circuits. He seemed to be having fun. I would say he did not want to get out, but it’s not like he could see where to go to get out on his own. He did a few laps and got out and got a drink and then went back for more. After about 15 or 20 minutes, he decided he was finished (and our time was up) and we hit the dryers. Turns out newfie-mix hair does not dry quickly. Thankfully, the dryers were not like the vacuums at the car wash and did not need quarters. I think we would take Ernie back. We will definitly take the other two dogs there and try it out. Take a look at the pictures and let me know what you think- did he enjoy it? And if you have any guesses on what breed he might be, please let me know! I have heard rumors of a backyard breeder who breeds flat coat retrievers and newfs together. Ernie was surrendered to BARCS to be euth’ed when he was about 4 weeks old. I started fostering him at 6 weeks and never gave him back. Turns out, he is a good egg. Webbed feet and all!

Tonight, when I was leaving work, I noticed two women chatting on their phones, sipping coffee, collars up to protect them from the cold weather. As I waited for traffic to pass me by, I noticed two dogs- a spitz mix (I guess) and a tiny papillion in a coat, wandering in traffic, off leash. Concerned they were family pets that got away, I started walking after them, trying to catch up. The little Pap almost ran under a car. Surely, they were not the dogs of the two women, casually strolling down towards the pier! As I got closer, I could see the dogs trying to follow the owners, even though they were now on the other side of a concrete barrier. The dogs seemed to be taking their cues from these women, even though the women weren’t paying one iota of attention to either of these dogs. I finally got close enough to try to call the dogs and one of the women made a gesture towards the spitz. The spitz came closer as asked and in my mind I screamed, ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? ARE YOU STUPID?? DID YOU NOT JUST SEE YOUR DOG ALMOST GET HIT BY SEVERAL CARS??? Bad dog owners kill me. In my mind, I envisioned myself going up to the women and demanding that they take better care of their dogs- telling them how irresponsible they are and how they should pay less attention to matching the green color of the pap’s coat to it’s collar and more attention to their dog’s safety. In reality, I just made sure that the dogs were out of traffic and were with their owners. I don’t have time for lectures. I am taking our blind newfie mix swimming later tonight and had to walk to my car. Once I got to the gravel lot about a quarter mile from my office, I was greeted by a very sweet fluffy black cat and her two fluffy kittens. Here is my message to you: LOCUST POINT! TAKE CARE OF YOUR PETS!! Don’t make me get my cape and tell you in person!!

This weekend, Karma Dogs had a very successful library program and everywhere we turned, people had seen the recent media coverage about our little organization. Which means lots of people want to help grow our little lotus into something great! People we have never met offered amazing ideas and donations of time and products. It means there will be plenty of fantastic things in the future for Karma Dogs. What goes around might actually come back around!

I was doing some research on local statistics for the SPCA and discovered a new program. Last year, the MD SPCA started a program to helps pet owners re-home pets they can no longer keep. If you call to surrender a pet, you will get paired with a counselor, who helps you along the way. If you both determine that you are unable to keep your pet, they have an alternative to surrendering your pet to a shelter. Moving homes is one of the most traumatic events a pet can face and this new program will help alleviate a portion of that stress (the going to a shelter part). One option they now offer is to post your pet on their website. They will also guide you on topics like how to ask the right questions of potential adopters and how to make sure your dog or cat finds the right home. In their first year, they helped re-home 680 pets. Considering on average about 1 out of 4 animals are unable to be re-homed and face euthanasia, this program helped 170 animals find homes when the tradional method would have lead to their demise. Yeah MD SPCA! For more information on this program, visit their website, www.mdspca.org.

Thanks to everyone who attended the event last Sunday at Dogma. Hopefully, a few people learned how to stay a little safer around dogs. I know a boy in a brown and yellow shirt can “stand still like a tree” with the best of them. It makes us happy to know that some parents are willing to take a proactive stance on dog safety. Far too often are dogs blamed for mistakes their owners make. I promise you, there are far more bad owners than bad dogs.

This weekend also marked the return of the biggest Karma Dog, Ace. This gentle giant weighs in at 130 pounds- 10 more than the last time we met. We are glad to hear that returning to his Karma Dog duties at the library are helping him get over the loss of the mountains of Montana. Trading in long hikes for a grassy slab in Baltimore is a tough road to hoe. We are so glad you are back, Ace! To read to Ace at the Towson Library on Saturdays through March 1, call 410.887.6166 and reserve your space.

This weekend is likely to be one of the first Karma Dogs’ last weekend. Vito, the pug who likes to swim (seriously, he has a life preserver and everything), is moving to NY . Vito was one of the first 4 Karma Dogs we had and has been to almost every single Karma Dog event. Vito has read to hundreds of kids and has taught lots of children how to be safe around dogs. This Sunday is likely to be Vito’s last appearance as a Karma Dog. Come say hello and goodbye to Vito at Dogma at 1pm on Sunday (3600 Boston Street). Get his pawtograph in his coloring book. You never know what that pawtograph might be worth in the future. After all, how many pugs do you know that like to swim? We will miss you Vito, Jen and Geoff. We hope you are able to come and visit us at the library! We know we will come and visit you!

If only I could have these kind of results….
http://www.idodogtricks.com/index_flash.html

Last night’s dog evaluations were a total success! We gained 6 new dogs, ranging from a small fluffy Coton to a happy-go-lucky bullmastiff! These new dogs have tricks and some are professional doggie athletes. We can’t wait to get them started. Be on the look out over the next few weeks for new dogs in the dogpark. Congratulations to all of our new Karma Dogs! If your dog has the right stuff, our next evaluation will take place on the second Monday in Feb. e-mail goodkarma@karmadogs.org to reserve your space.