DEAR DAPHNE #5

WOOF!  WOOF!  WOOF!  WOOF!  WOOF!

Wow!!  This is my 5th column, so a big WOOF for each one!  Thanks, everyone, for your positive feedback!  You’re the best!  Now, I have more letters than I can use this time.  That’s also good news, as I have great material for future columns!

So, do you like my new picture?? 

Thanks, Dad, for making me look so good!  (My natural beauty, of course, must help…it’s a poodle thing.)  The scarf is a gift from Aunt Sharon (Paislee’s mom).  See how  she embroidered my name?  I love it!!  Thank you, Aunt Sharon and Paislee!

On to news:  Another new neighbor…..and just up the street from me!  Welcome, Mack the Sheltie, and your folks, Carole and Ron Anzivino! 

“Dear Daphne, Woof, woof. Woof woof woof, St. Augustine. Grrrrrr, yip growl yip. Mack. Oh…human.  Forgive me. Hi Everybody! My name is Mack I recently moved to lovely St. Augustine.

I share a place with my Mom and Dad on Heron’s Nest Lane, with three mildly psychotic kitties. I’m convinced they must be some sort of a tax write-off, otherwise why would they do it? Why would anybody? I digress.

Harry lets me sniff him and once in a while he’ll play with me. But, Molly and Margaret, “ixnay on the iffsnay”. I like biking and hiking and ketchup, love soccer, and I’m known to do the occasional parlor trick. I’m also…and I say this with all humility, quite the rock star on the agility course. If you have Whipped Cream or a Cheeseburger, I’ll be your best friend.

Not crazy about thunderstorms, fireworks or the UPS guy.  Did I mention the cats? I get the feeling that they look down on me, and not just because they’re on the counter.  I never get to go on the counter.  Talk about inequity.  

My Mom and Dad are superfab, even though my Dad tells painfully corny jokes. Holy doughnuts, they’re brutal. He might even tell you the same one, multiple times. Be forewarned. My Mom likes to bake and I like to eat, so we’re golden there. Sometimes I can be a little shy meeting other dogs, but I’m working through that. I’m also studying Mandarin and writing my memoir.

Folks I’ve met at Marsh Creek have been very nice. I think we’re gunna love it here. So that’s Whipped Cream and Cheeseburgers. Just sayin’…”

Thanks, Mack!  We’re making progress on getting to know each other, don’t you think?  

Now, a letter from a very special pooch:

“Dear Daphne and Fellow Woofers, Dudley here.  I live with my dog parents, Paula and John Hutson.  We rescued each other shortly after they lost beloved Gus, a couple years ago.  Now we are all as happy as, well, Golden Retrievers.  I had a pretty tough young doghood.  Apparently, when I wasn’t being abused, I was neglected.  When my “owners” took me to the vet in Jax to have me  put down, saying I’d been hit by a car, the vet refused because I was “too good a dog” and that I had actually been tied up and left for a long time.  As I recall, the rope got wrapped around my back leg and so she – the vet – had to amputate it.  (I don’t notice that except I can’t lift a leg to pee.)  I was also malnourished, had fleas and ticks, and heartworms.  

But that was then. This is now.  Now, I’m happy as I can be, and I hear that I’m awfully sweet and handsome.  In fact, I’m going to be the Cover Boy on the Jacksonville Golden Retriever Rescue calendar for 2021.   Pretty cool, huh!   

John says I’m the smartest dog he’s ever known.  In fact, I can tell time.  I know when it’s 4PM so I bring a ball to John because he likes to throw it even if it’s raining.  Then, I have to bring it back to him so he can do it again.  Tedious, but he likes it.  I also lay next to the refrigerator when it’s 5:00 because John or Paula generally get ice out of the freezer about then and I so love to chew ice cubes.  They must love ice, too.

You may see me walking along Heron’s Nest.  I don’t walk very far because walking is a little tough.  I’m a better runner because I can sort of lope, but I have to hop when I walk.  

Bottom line, life is good.  We all need to appreciate how lucky we are.  Hope to see ya around the ‘hood.”  

Dudley, you’re a champ!  And oh soooo cute!!

Remember my advice to Dexter about itchy paws (column #3, 9/19/20)?  Well, here are two follow-up letters:  

“Dear Daphne, Regarding itchy paws, my mom washes my feet after walks and then dries them. You know, our grass around here has so many chemicals and poisons so we wash and dry my paws after walks to lessen their effect. This may not totally solve the problem of itchy paws, but it might help.  Many thanks, Mercy BurOak (from the south side of MC), and proud pooch of Linda Oakley and Brent Burkey.”   

“Dear Daphne, Thank you for all your helpful information. Love your column! I also have itchy paws and sometimes an itchy tail! I take Apoquel every day and a really great topical medicine (GenOne spray from VETONE) that Mom sprays on my paws and tail, too. We got it from our vet, It works VERY well. Peace and Paws, Ollie (your Standard Poodle neighbor and—almost—friend).  My folks, Carol and Richard Lorenc, look forward to our becoming best buddies.”  

Thanks, Mercy and Ollie for your sage advice!  

That’s it for now.  ’Til next time, have great walks, enjoy new sniffs, and wag often!  See you soon!

Woof!

Daphne

daphne4legs@gmail.com