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Saying goodbye to Oliver ...

1/25/2015

Oliver was an old soul - he was also fourteen. You know those dogs that when you look into their eyes and they look into yours, you just know. They have this wisdom of all these things they want to tell you ... and you get to be there with these old souls and walk with them for a while ... until it is time for them to continue their journey ... knowing they've changed you in ways you can't quite express, but know, without a doubt that you're changed.

Oliver was one such character. I think I fell in love with him the first time I met him and his brother Stanley (Stanley is young and boisterous and full of puppy kisses ... I adore Stanley ... it's hard not to laugh at his bounciness). I think Oliver kind of tolerated Stanley in the way a big brother does with just such a puppy.

I get to walk Oliver and Stanley intermittently based on their parent's schedule. I had the gift of seeing them both last week, starting Monday - they were both so happy to see me and I them. It was like a love reunion as I fed Oliver his treats while he lay on the couch (Stanley was right in there too).

On Saturday, Oliver's dad let me know that Oliver had died. Oliver was such a great dog ... I am going to miss him so much ... and am grateful I got to spend his last week with him ... feeding him treats, on the couch, as I always do.

I think this is the hardest part of being a dog walker ... saying goodbye.

This precious gal ...

2/1/2014

This precious gal found her forever home about six months ago and I get the absolute pleasure of walking her whenever her mom gives me a call.

She comes from the sunny climate of California ... I wonder if that is why she is not terribly fond of her rain jacket and walking in the rain. She is still getting used to our liquid sunshine here in Vancouver, I suppose.

Well, I suspect there will be lots more rain for her to be out in ... but I see the sun peeking through, these last couple days ... looking forward to a sunny spring ... here's hoping!

Looking forward to the next time this adorable gal and I get to walk together!

My handsome boys (a.k.a. the BBBB)

1/28/2014

I have been walking my handsome boys almost since the start of my business - eight years ago! I can't believe almost eight years have gone by since making these two handsome boys' acquaintance!

They are so full of personality and attitude! They make me laugh with all their antics!

Again, I am reminded how much I love sharing this time with my canine pals and feline friends (and of course all the other little critters).

I am looking forward to many more years to come with these two guys -- btw ... BBBB is our affectionate nickname with these two between their moms and me ... I'll leave it to you to come up what the acronym might actually mean :)

Welcome to the neighbourhood, Quito!

1/22/2014

I love when I get the opportunity to meet new dogs in the neighbourhood. This little one seems to like checking things out before venturing out ... a little leery, yet curious, as most all puppies are.

While walking two of my canine pals down by the Fraser River earlier today, we had an opportunity to make Quito's acquaintance. This is the second time I've seen Quito in the neighbourhood and today, thanks to my two dogs I was walking and treats in hand, I got to formally meet Quito (Quito is a little more interested in other dogs than people right now - as Quito's mom and dad told me).

So welcome to the neighbourhood Quito ... enjoy your new home!

Remembering Kato ...

1/22/2014

I received an e-mail from Kato's mom this evening, letting me know that Kato unexpectedly passed yesterday.

This guy (and his brother, Clouseau) were such a pair. All you have to do is have a look at this picture of Kato - he had the greatest expressions ... every time I had the opportunity to visit these two - Kato would run to greet me, follow me absolutely everywhere, talk to me incessantly, and loved to play games.

Even though I only knew Kato for a short time, I was instantly attached. Both he and his brother were something special ... sending a prayer out to his mom and dad tonight ... and of course to Clouseau - his faithful buddy.

What a pair!

1/20/2014

I've recently had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with these two handsome boys ... I adore them both. One is so wise, smart, and gentle and the other is mischievous, smart, and gentle. I'll let you decide who is who :)

I've been lucky enough to have the companionship of several senior dogs in my time ... most recently, my old gal Soda - she taught me so much, year after year, for 17 years. And then there is Indy, our gal today ... who we brought home when she was just 9 weeks old - she's now 6 1/2. What she has taught me as a puppy and still teaches me.

Our dogs are certainly our teachers, our best friends, our kids. And these two boys are that and then some for their wonderful parents. I love that I get to have this time - watching the little one grow and the older one watch in his own gentle way.

Those eyes make me melt!

1/14/2014

I have the pleasure of walking this little guy twice a week - every time I see him, those eyes just make me melt!

I find it so extraordinary that each of my puppy pals have hundreds of different looks. The eyes of a dog are so very expressive and speak volumes. And this guy is such a soft, gentle, loving little guy - every time I get to see him ... I fall into those eyes.

I just had to share (and if I could, I would post pictures of all my furry friends here - their eyes tell so many stories about how they are so loved by their people and then some). Sharing some time with them is a gift. Until next time, little one.

Isn't technology amazing?

1/14/2014

Being able to photograph my cat and dog customers for their parents and the joy they get from seeing their kids, either part way through the work day or while away on vacation, is so great.

I am convinced some of my furry customers actually pose for pictures (OK - maybe not, but it sure looks that way sometimes).

Back to technology ... remember what it was like before smartphones? Before we could snap a picture with our phones, attach it to a text, and the next instant, the recipient is smiling, staring at their furry kid's most adorable face? It still amazes me when I stop to think about it.

Going back to a time before e-mail and texting and cell phones. I agree the pace has picked up and that sometimes communication can get a little fragmented, but somehow, it seems worth the smiles and the laughs and the emphatic thank you's I get from my furry customers' parents.

I love what I do and am so happy I can capture some of those moments ... isn't technology amazing?

Pure joy!

1/8/2014

This is an older picture of my gal and her friend - both of which LOVE car rides ...

Imagine ... I am driving down the road and I glance to my left ... I see a car with the window rolled down in the rain. I see a beautiful golden retriever with their head in the wind, ears flopping behind, loving every moment, as their person drives the car.

This was the pure joy I saw this morning, in the car beside me, as I was driving to my first dog customer on what was an otherwise very rainy and very cold Vancouver day.

I drive all around East Vancouver to my customer's homes, each day. And each day, I get to see some amazing sites and some amazing people and some amazing animals and their people. Today made me smile ... that big smile when you know, without a doubt, for that puppy, there is nothing more important than that moment ... of having their head out the window ... not caring about the rain drops and the grey skies all around, that all that is important is the joy that comes from that feeling ... and I got to be a part of this little one's joy, for just a moment.

[BTW ... I know all the reasons why this is actually not such a good idea for our furry friends for so many reasons - I still couldn't help but feel the joy this little one was experiencing riding in their person's car :) ]

Happy first week of the new year ... wishing everyone a wonderful year ahead of "pure joy" moments like these.

This is my office ...

1/6/2014

Two of my adorable puppy customers live close to the Fraser River walk. If you haven't been down this way, I encourage you to take some time to come down and walk the river way. It is stunning - on crispy cold days like today with the sun shining brilliantly It is equally as stunning on foggy or rainy misty days. I also live less than five minutes from this walk way - so I am down here all the time with my own sweet girl ... back to my two adorable puppy customers ...

I love these two little guys - they are typically my last walk of the day and I so look forward to seeing them. They are so happy when I arrive with tons of licks and kisses and tail wags. A great way to end the day with these two little ones on a walk way as stunning as this.

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