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I hoped you enjoyed "Believe" - last night's story about Stuart and his new puppy Dixie! This story brings back so many memories for me. My brother Stuart did indeed get an English Springer Spaniel puppy for Christmas one year and her name was Dixie. My father actually did spend Christmas Eve night in the basement of our home trying to keep Dixie quiet until we all woke up Christmas morning. Thankfully for Dad, we were usually up around 5am Christmas morning to open gifts. Our house was always the first one on our block with lights on and any sign of activity inside Christmas morning.
My parents had a rule for us all on Christmas morning; after we were up and had used the washroom, we all had to "wait" in the hallway and line up in order of age, youngest being first to walk into the living room. Dad would then capture our reactions on his camera when we saw the unwrapped gifts under the tree that Santa had left. I guess I was about four years old the year that Dixie was under the tree and being the youngest, I will never forget seeing her waiting for us all! Magic!
My parents certainly did not take the steps that Stuart's parents did in preparing us kids for dog ownership but I truly believe the purchase of dogs should not be made before lots of research, preparation and planning has been done.
Dog shelters are indeed inundated in the first quarter of each year with puppies that have proved to be too much work for the owners who bought them for Christmas gifts. A good way to think of those first three months in a pups life is that it equates to about the first two years of a babies life. LOTS of time and attention is required.
I had a friend who owned a kennel and grooming business and I have indeed helped with the cleaning process - not an easy or pleasant task, but you do what you do for the love of the animals. Volunteering at a pet shelter is a great way to get kids familiar with the realities of pet ownership. Pet shelters usually operate on "bare bone" budgets so keep that in mind when you are boxing up things to donate. Blankets, towels and pet store gift cards are great ways to help them operate all year long.
The house that young Stuart and Skipper walk by in the story was inspired by a home a few blocks away from where we lived in Saskatoon. The owner always had an amazing Christmas display each year and took donations in a box by the sidewalk to help cover the costs of all the lights. I think everyone in Saskatoon used to drive by that house to see the display each year. Yet another great Christmas memory!
There is nothing greater than the love of a dog - completely unconditional. If humans could all love one another as a dog loves his owner, the world would be a better place.
"Believe" is dedicated to all the pet lovers I know, including my friends Carolyn, Darryl and of course Kathy and Brent who love our little Emma to bits!
Shine On!
- K
My parents had a rule for us all on Christmas morning; after we were up and had used the washroom, we all had to "wait" in the hallway and line up in order of age, youngest being first to walk into the living room. Dad would then capture our reactions on his camera when we saw the unwrapped gifts under the tree that Santa had left. I guess I was about four years old the year that Dixie was under the tree and being the youngest, I will never forget seeing her waiting for us all! Magic!
My parents certainly did not take the steps that Stuart's parents did in preparing us kids for dog ownership but I truly believe the purchase of dogs should not be made before lots of research, preparation and planning has been done.
Dog shelters are indeed inundated in the first quarter of each year with puppies that have proved to be too much work for the owners who bought them for Christmas gifts. A good way to think of those first three months in a pups life is that it equates to about the first two years of a babies life. LOTS of time and attention is required.
I had a friend who owned a kennel and grooming business and I have indeed helped with the cleaning process - not an easy or pleasant task, but you do what you do for the love of the animals. Volunteering at a pet shelter is a great way to get kids familiar with the realities of pet ownership. Pet shelters usually operate on "bare bone" budgets so keep that in mind when you are boxing up things to donate. Blankets, towels and pet store gift cards are great ways to help them operate all year long.
The house that young Stuart and Skipper walk by in the story was inspired by a home a few blocks away from where we lived in Saskatoon. The owner always had an amazing Christmas display each year and took donations in a box by the sidewalk to help cover the costs of all the lights. I think everyone in Saskatoon used to drive by that house to see the display each year. Yet another great Christmas memory!
There is nothing greater than the love of a dog - completely unconditional. If humans could all love one another as a dog loves his owner, the world would be a better place.
"Believe" is dedicated to all the pet lovers I know, including my friends Carolyn, Darryl and of course Kathy and Brent who love our little Emma to bits!
Shine On!
- K